The 63rd Mahasamadhi Anniversary of Sri Swami Sivananda was observed on Tuesday, 14 July 2026 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. A morning Sadhana programme commenced at 6am and concluded at 6.25am. Akhanda Chanting was from 5am until 5pm.
The Satsang programme in the evening comprised a reading, Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message, melodious Kirtans and Bhajans and a DVD of the Master’s messages.
The reading entitled, The Great Soul Enters the Cosmic: Sri Swami Sivananda attains Mahasamadhi, extracted from Path to God-Realization, published by Divine Life Society of South Africa in September-October 1963, was a riveting account of Sri Gurudev’s final moments on the earthly plane. Even on this last evening, the Master’s habitual humour and spontaneous, gracious hospitality were manifest during the visit of the doctor from Dehradun. As he tapped him for his reflexes, the Master jokingly told him, "Your military training has made you rough. You are being hard on my body”.
The reading vividly captured the Master’s failing health and love for Mother Ganga, as is indicative in, “Though he had difficulty in swallowing even liquid diet, he surprised the attending disciples on this last evening by asking for fresh Ganges’ water and gulping down half a glass of it without any apparent difficulty. He loved the Ganges, and satisfied himself upon his last day by quenching his thirst from the fresh water of the Ganges' ice-cold flow.
“The last rites of His Holiness were carried on in the traditional mode that is followed in regard to monks of the Paramahamsa Order. The body, seated in meditation pose with hands interlocked, was borne in a palanquin. There was an expression of serene repose and majestic calmness in the face. Earlier, during the entire past 36 hours, a continuous stream of devotees and disciples from far and near came into his humble little Kutir on the bank of the Ganges. They all went into the inner cave-like room where he had spent most of his life, and where he lay on his sick bed during the illness that proved to be the last. He had been made to sit up, as is the custom, and the devotees offered their obeisance and took a last look at him, who was so very dear to them all. It was with great difficulty that many could bring themselves to wrench their last gaze away from him…
“His body, clad in ochre robes, was borne aloft in a palanquin (Palaki) decorated with flowers, after the sacred bath given to the body with the various articles of ‘Abhisheka’ and with the holy waters of the Ganges, right on the bank of the Ganges…Wending its way along the side of the Ganges, the procession, to which thousands had thronged from Rishikesh and the neighbourhood, turned into the hill-side road and climbed up the path leading to the Ashram's temple—Sri Viswanath Mandir. A place for his Samadhi had been got ready by the side of this temple, and to the resounding chant of God's Divine Name and Sri Sivanandaji Maharaj ki jai, his mortal remains were solemnly lowered in the vaulted chamber prepared on the ground-floor of the Guru-Murti Temple. The chamber was then filled up, according to customary procedure, with adequate quantities of salt camphor, sandalwood, incense and other fragrant ingredients. With the completion of the Samadhi-kriya (holy burial ceremony), the chamber was closed up, and a lamp placed upon the spot, together with a pot filled with the holy water of the sacred Ganga.
Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message focused on Sri Gurudev’s writings and his literary charity to the world. The Master saw the dissemination of spiritual knowledge as his core responsibility. He said that the “written word will go to the homes and remain there”, and that eventually thousands will benefit from his writings, for “Mother Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning imparted power and glory to his every word”. Sri Aurobindo also said that he infused his power in his own writing. Pujya Swamiji also adopted Sri Gurudev’s example of making the dissemination of spiritual knowledge his fundamental duty, and said that all other activities of the Society are secondary. Sri Gurudev’s letter dated 8 August 1950 heaped tremendous praise on the booklet Light, Power and Wisdom, that Pujya Swamiji printed, describing it as exquisite and grand, and that he will advertise it in the journal in Rishikesh.
The DVD entitled Sri Swami Sivananda’s Messages focused on Raja Yoga and Sadhana. The Master describes Raja Yoga as “an exact science” that seeks to “control all thought-waves or mental modifications” through the purification and mastery of the mind. Known as Ashtanga Yoga, it comprises eight limbs, beginning with Yama (self-restraint) and Niyama (right observances), which form the ethical foundation for spiritual growth. By cultivating virtues such as truthfulness, non-violence, purity, contentment and self-surrender, the aspirant develops inner peace and prepares the mind for concentration, meditation and ultimately Samadhi, the highest state of spiritual realisation. Sri Swami Sivananda teaches that “you must know the technique of thought-control” and the principles of “right living, right thinking, right speaking and right acting”. He concludes with the inspiring exhortation: “Practise Raja Yoga, control the thoughts, discipline the mind, meditate regularly and attain independence, immortality, freedom and perfection”. In respect of Sadhana, the Master taught through delightful Kirtans, the benefits of Sadhana and prayer. He said, “Sadhana is stilling the mind and fixing it on the Lord”.
The sacred observance of Sri Swami Sivananda's 63rd Mahasamadhi Anniversary is far more than a remembrance of his leaving his mortal being. It is a reaffirmation of the timeless ideals that continue to illuminate the path of countless seekers. Through prayer, chanting, inspiring readings, Pujya Swami Sahajananda's illuminating message and Sri Gurudev's own teachings, devotees were reminded that the Master's physical departure marked the beginning of his universal spiritual presence. His call to "Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise", remains as relevant today as ever. May this commemoration inspire us all to deepen our Sadhana, disseminate spiritual wisdom, and strive to embody Sri Swami Sivananda's message of Divine Life and selfless service, and aspire to God-realisation in our daily actions and lives.
