The Pietermaritzburg Branch hosted the Society’s Centenary Celebrations and Sri Hanuman Jayanti jointly at Sivanandashram, Northdale, Pietermaritzburg. The day’s programme commenced with the 108 recitals of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa at 5am and concluded after midday. Ganga Arati commenced at 3pm followed by Satsang. The Centenary Celebrations at the Pietermaritzburg Branch focused on Pujya Swamiji’s 100th birth anniversary, his life and legacies, as this year marks Pujya Swamiji’s 100th birthday, having been born on 10 July 1924.

The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, Sri Gurudev’s audio message, a message from the Society, a dance, the Sivananda Arati and a children’s item.

The message from the Society focused on the life and legacies of Pujya Swamiji, and how we can sustain Pujya Swamiji’s vision and work. This is evident in, “Today we are all beneficiaries of this great spiritual wealth. All that is required of us is faith, obedience, loyalty, devotion, and keen aspiration for spiritual progress. How do we honour a great being like Swami Sahajananda? One of the ways is to obey him and follow the path he chalked out for us; to have faith that what he chose for us was for our best interest. Swamiji stated that perfect obedience is the same as perfect self-surrender, and that obedience is greater than reverence. Let us obey some simple rules to improve our lives. Pujya Swamiji stated, “Obedience is the most important law of life. It has to be practised not only in spiritual institutions, but also at home, on the road while driving, and at one’s place of work. Health rules also have to be observed. Check yourself carefully every day and see where you are faltering. Our Divine Master’s books will be your guide”. 

Referring to our roles and responsibilities, the message stated, “Pujya Swamiji has said that if we cannot be obedient as adults, how can we expect our children to obey us? It is not enough to be associated with a saint or with an Ashram. We must all become ambassadors of our Master by living a Divine Life, with wholesome values and putting God first. We must be sincere. In putting God first, let us all attempt to repeat the Divine Name as often as possible. Take up any Mantra that appeals to us, like Om Nama Sivaya, or the Om Sri Ram Jay Ram Jay Jay Ram Mantra, and make a habit of repeating the Mantra as often as possible. Our saints have told us how the Mantra offers protection, and brings innumerable other benefits in our lives. Pujya Swamiji lived a life of faith and self-surrender, and coincidentally this is the title of the first book that Swamiji had written in 1996. We invite all to obtain a copy of this booklet from our bookstall. It is filled with great power. Pujya Swamiji said that the knowledge came directly from Sri Gurudev within, as he typed the booklet onto the computer without any draft. It is sure to inspire and uplift all readers in this age that is plagued by the challenges of Kali Yuga”. 

Sri Swami Sivananda’s farewell audio message after Pujya Swamiji’s Sannyas initiation, on 10 April 1956, paid glowing tributes to Pujya Swamiji. (As this message has been replicated in several other reports, snippets are herewith quoted). Sri Gurudev, in reference to Pujya Swamiji, said, “Swami Sahajananda is styled as the spiritual king of South Africa, Durban. He is also called the African Chota Guru. He does not want anything. He is a silent worker. He is a man of renunciation, Vairagya and meditation. He is a very good organiser. He has organised some 20 branches of the Divine Life Society in South Africa…. He is established in Sahaja Avastha…. He does not forget Brahman when he is working. He has got double consciousness. He is resting in his Satchidananda Swarupa and he is utilising his mind and Indriyas (senses) for the good of humanity. He likes Sahaja Avastha. He is in Sahaja Avastha. In the scriptures you will find that any man who attempts to practise Yoga is also a Yogi and a Yogarudha,… So, he who is attempting to be established in Sahaja Avastha is also a Sahaja Avastha Yogi…;. He is a thinker. He has in Durban a small press for the dissemination of knowledge, and the Path to God-Realisation is his magazine, running for three or four years……He will now go with redoubled energy, charged with Himalayan vibrations and Mother Ganga’s Grace, and will work like a lion, Vedanta Kesari, Yoga Kesari…..His devotion to teacher is unique. He has a pure heart. Such a Yogi is now going from here and he will thrill the whole of Africa, and again he will come. He has the spirit of renunciation. He has given his whole property to me. Just see his noble qualities, devotion, discipline, Shanti and humility”.

The Master’s high praise for Pujya Swamiji’s Yogic discipline is evident in his reference to Pujya Swamiji as a Yogabhrashta, and that his heart is full of renunciation, Vairagya and meditation, which are the key to open the chambers of the heart, the Atmic store.

The children’s musical item was a tribute to Sri Swami Sahajananda, describing him as the epitome of loyalty, obedience and devotion.  The song, “By the Grace of Vayudev” compared Pujya Swamiji’s devotion to Sri Gurudev, synonymous to Sri Hanuman’s devotion to Lord Rama. The words, “If loyalty, obedience and devotion were the hallmarks of this sage, then Param Pujya Sri Swamiji, is the Hanuman of this age”, reminded us of the importance of especially loyalty and obedience to the spiritual instructions of Pujya Swamiji. The line, “By the Grace of Vayudev, Anjani Ma gave birth to the greatest servant who walked upon this earth”, resonates with deep meaning. The item described Pujya Swamiji as the “Hanuman of this age”, a fitting tribute to one of the greatest Karma Yogis amongst spiritual giants in this country. The item also recounted the love Pujya Swamiji had for Sri Gurudev and Mother Ganga. The song, “From the Feet of Maha Vishnu”, compared Pujya Swamiji’s ‘arduous toil to lure Mother Ganga to grace our African soils, and to that of Bhagirath who pleaded to Lord Vishnu to permit Mother Ganga to leave the heavens and come to earth. 

The Pietermaritzburg Branch is commended on their fine standard of organisation, dedication and Guru Bhakti in organising this Centenary Celebrations’ function in honour of Pujya Swamiji. The devotees’ quiet sense of dignity, aspiration for excellence and attention to detail in all aspects of the organisation, are worthy of commendation. We express deep appreciation and gratitude to the Branch.

May Our Divine Master and Pujya Swamiji bless all abundantly.

The 69th Sannyas Anniversary of Pujya Swamiji was observed at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, with a morning Sadhana programme from 6am to 6.25am, after which devotees took Darshan at Sahaja Kutir, Pujya Swamiji’s kutir and the Sivananda Sahajananda Diamond Jubilee Hall. Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Pujya Swamiji’s audio message, Kirtans, Bhajans and reading of Sri Gurudev’s farewell message after Pujya Swamiji was initiated into the holy order of Sannyas on 10 April 1956.

Pujya Swamiji, in his audio message, focused on the theme of fear. He said that he had immense fear, and explained as follows, “…the day I took Sannyas, I could suddenly feel that I was courageous”, because Gurudev showered this Grace upon Pujya Swamiji.  He said that through complete surrender to God and that “through spiritual practices, you can overcome everything and turn your life upside down”. When we turn to God, marvelous things happen. We should welcome problems and face them courageously. “If you see God in all names and forms, then everything can be overcome”. If one’s surrender is incomplete, the desired results will not be achieved. He used the analogy of the devotee who called for God, but when God went to help him, the devotee had a stone in his hand. The message provided hope and direction to us all, especially now when the challenges of the modern world afflict us repeatedly, and we begin to lose hope, become despondent and disillusioned.

Sri Swami Sivananda’s glowing farewell message on the occasion of Pujya Swamiji’s Sannyas initiation 69 years ago, is resplendent with praise and admiration for Pujya Swamiji. The Master said, “Swami Sahajananda is styled as the spiritual king of South Africa, Durban. He is also called the African Chota Guru. He does not want anything. He is a silent worker. He is a man of renunciation, Vairagya and meditation. He is a very good organiser. He has organised some 20 branches of the Divine Life Society in South Africa”. Referring to Pujya Swamiji’s spiritual merits, Sri Gurudev said, “There is Savikalpa Samadhi, and then comes Nirvikalpa Samadhi, and then comes Sahaja Avastha. He is established in Sahaja Avastha. He does not forget Brahman when he is working. He has got double consciousness. He is resting in his Satchidananda Swarupa and he is utilising his mind and Indriyas (senses) for the good of humanity”.

The Master’s eulogy in the following words was prophetic, as Pujya Swamiji ignited in South Africa, a spiritual flame that grows daily and has touched millions of lives by way of spiritual growth, humanitarian initiatives and poverty alleviation programmes. The Master said, “Swami Sahajananda is spiritual king of Durban, a great organiser, a great supporter, a pillar of the Divine Life Society”. This is again resonant in, “He is a thinker. He has in Durban a small press for the dissemination of knowledge, and the Path to God-Realisation is his magazine, running for three or four years. What more can you expect from a small boy Swami? He has done everything. He will now go with redoubled energy, charged with Himalayan vibrations and Mother Ganga’s Grace and will work like a lion, Vedanta Kesari, Yoga Kesari. All these titles a man deserves when he becomes a Yogi. When a man becomes God, any number of titles are not enough. His devotion to teacher is unique. He has a pure heart. Such a Yogi is now going from here and he will thrill the whole of Africa, and again he will come. He has the spirit of renunciation. He has given his whole property to me. Just see his noble qualities, devotion, discipline, Shanti and humility”.

The Master’s high praise for Pujya Swamiji’s Yogic discipline is evident in, “He is a young Yogi; a Yogabhrashta. He was a Swami in his previous birth, so at such a young age his heart is full of renunciation, Vairagya and meditation, which are the key to open the chambers of the heart, the Atmic store. It is not so easy to get renunciation and Vairagya. That man lives in vain who has got no Vairagya, no renunciation, no spirit of selfless service. God has given you in this birth a little wisdom. Yoga and Vedanta are complimentary.

“There is no wisdom without Yoga. There is no wisdom without Bhakti. All are complementary. Vedanta without Bhakti is dry, and Bhakti without wisdom is not complete or perfect. So let us pray for the health, and long life of this small Yogi full of strength”.

Indeed, Pujya Swamiji has touched the hearts and souls of many, as is evident in Sri Swami Sivananda’s description of Pujya Swamiji, “One who can transform the materialistic intellect of the whole of South Africa; what tremendous influence, what tremendous purity, what tremendous Yogic power, what tremendous meditation, his spiritual aura, selfless aura!”

We have observed many, many Sannyas Anniversaries of Pujya Swami Sahajananda. What implications do these spiritual observances have for us? We can glean lessons from Sri Gurudev’s message, his teachings, and Pujya Swamiji’s life and legacies, and translate these into practical realities of truth, service, spiritual aspirations and attempts at leading a divine life. Sri Santhanagopal, in his tribute, “An Unforgettable Saint”, lends credence to this view, when he said, “Swamiji’s disciples adore him. They pour their affection, regard, and money in great abundance. Swamiji can easily afford to build great Ashrams of opulence, grandeur and luxury, like many Ashrams in India and abroad. Swamiji’s Ashrams are simple and functional and absolutely clean and neat. There is never any extravagance or show. One can easily see divinity in the place and the people and in their actions, all unobtrusively guided by this incredible saint who does everything in the name of his Divine Master.

“I am afraid to salute him. Because I know that he would immediately prostrate towards me. If the rains fall, if the flowers bloom, if the birds sing, if children smile in happiness and in innocence, I know why.

“It is because there are persons like Swami Sahajananda living amongst us, for our own sake”.