Over 250 devotees, donors, well-wishers, members of the public and representatives of sister organisations attended Divine Life Society of South Africa’s first Centenary Celebrations’ Sivananda Tour held in Howick.  Havan commenced at 9am and Satsang was from 10am to 12.30pm. A complimentary copy of the booklet Glory of Hinduism, and a recently published booklet with a selection of Kirtans and Bhajans, were distributed.

Senior male devotees and community members participated in the Havan conducted by three of the Society’s pundits. The soulful and mellifluous chants of sacred Mantras, created a deeply spiritual ambience in the peaceful and quiet suburb of Howick West. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans and Bhajans sung by both Divine Life Society of South Africa and the All-Souls’ Seva Association of Howick, a Ramayana recital, a message from the Society, a talk on “Sri Swami Sivananda on Hinduism, the importance of Sadhana, meditation, prayer and benefits of Satsang”, a group dance, guided meditation and an overview of the benefits of Mantra chanting.

The message from the Society provided an insight into the life, legacy and teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda, Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s enormous work in promoting Hinduism in South Africa, and the work of Divine Life Society of South Africa and its service activities over the past 75 years. The message also encouraged all to engage in spiritual practices, and to attend Satsangs in their areas, so that we may be equipped to face the challenges of life and understand the fundamental tenets of Hinduism or Sanathan Dharma. The talk also gave pertinent advice on the importance of repeating the Divine Name and Mantra chanting. This is evident in, “In the midst of the very hectic lives that we lead, we encourage you to choose any one Mantra that you may have an affinity for, and chant it day and night. A short Mantra like Om Sri Ram Jay Ram Jaya Jaya Ram Om, or Om Namasivaya may be repeated. Children can be taught this Mantra as well. It should be chanted before going to bed and on awakening. Learn the Om Tryambakam Mantra and teach it to your children. It is a powerful Mantra that will protect you from danger. We also encourage you to recite the Sri Hanuman Chalisa which has tremendous power and benefits”. 

The talk, “Sri Swami Sivananda on Hinduism, importance of Sadhana, meditation, prayer and benefits of Satsang”, encapsulated some of the Master’s important cardinal teachings. The following gems from the talk give credence to this statement. In respect of Hinduism, Sri N. Ananthanarayanan, in the book, From Man to Godman, said, “By teaching and by personal example, he made it plain that there was no easy road to Moksha or liberation, no short-cut to God. The laborious way was the only way. It was the way of service and love, of abstraction and meditation, of dispassion and discrimination”.   On Sadhana, the Master said, “Stern self-discipline is absolutely essential…. The spiritual path is rugged, thorny, and precipitous. The thorns must be weeded out with patience and perseverance. Some of the thorns are internal; some are external. Lust, greed, wrath, delusion and vanity are internal thorns. The company of evil-minded persons is the worst of all the external thorns. Therefore, shun evil company ruthlessly”. He gives the following advice on meditation, “Meditation is keeping up an unceasing flow of God-consciousness. All worldly thoughts are shut out from the mind. It is filled or saturated with divine thoughts, divine glory and the Divine Presence…... It helps meditation a great deal and makes the approach to God easier”. Some of the benefits of meditation according to Sri Swami Sivananda are: it takes us to God, enhances focus, concentration and intellect, increases feelings of compassion, empathy and kindness, supports personal and spiritual growth, and reduces stress. Meditation is an important aspect of spiritual practice.