SIVANANDASHRAM, SANDTON;BRANCH LAUNCHES SANDTON BRANCH SIVANANDA WISDOM GROUP (SWG): WEDNESDAY, 12 JUNE 2025

Divine Life Society of South Africa launched its Sivananda Wisdom Group (SWG) at Sivanandashram, Sandton Branch on Wednesday, 12 June 2025. The inaugural session, held from 10am to 12 noon, was attended by thirty devotees and guests, many of whom are long-standing members and former residents of KwaZulu-Natal.

The Sivananda Wisdom Group is a spiritual initiative open to all age groups, aimed at promoting collective study, reflection, and the practical application of the teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda. The Sandton SWG is the third to be established within the Society, following the formation of the first group at the Sivananda Sunlit Path Centre in Arena Park over a decade ago, and the second at the Society’s Headquarters in Reservoir Hills in October 2024. At Sivanandashram, Sandton, the SWG will be held on a fortnightly basis on Tuesdays.

The core principles of the SWG will be Sri Gurudev’s teachings on Divine Life, and fostering spiritual harmony and unity. The establishment of the Sandton Sivananda Wisdom Group marks a meaningful step in strengthening the Society’s spiritual outreach. It is anticipated that this initiative will inspire ongoing growth through shared learning, devotion, and service, in the noble tradition of Sri Swami Sivananda’s divine teachings.

The 62nd Mahasamadhi Anniversary of Sri Swami Sivananda was observed on Monday, 14 July 2025 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. A morning Sadhana programme was held from 6am until 6.25am, after which, devotees took Darshan at Sahaja Kutir and the Sivananda-Sahajananda Diamond Jubilee Centre. 

In the afternoon, Ganga Arati commenced at 5.30pm, followed by Satsang. The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, a reading and Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s audio message. 

The reading, extracts from, I Live to Serve – A Promise and A Fulfilment by N. Ananthanarayanan, on the last days of the Divine Master’s life, were both prophetic of the Master’s imminent departure from the physical plane, and sad. Excerpts herewith attest to these sentiments. “The sight is getting dim. Take whatever you want (on the tape) now itself. The hearing is getting dull. Tell whatever you want to tell now itself. The tongue is getting inarticulate. Ask whatever you want to ask now itself”.  As Sri Gurudev was signing some letters one day, he said, rather jokingly, “Sight is getting dim. Hereafter I can’t sign, Sir”,  and glanced at the Swami who took the letters to him.

Ananthanarayanan says that the Master, after his Satsang on 21st June 1963, said to some visitors, “Oh, the Viman (flying vehicle) is going to arrive from Brahmaloka. Who are all coming?”  As far as Sri Gurudev himself was concerned, the Viman was to come just twenty-three days hence. 

The Master’s burning passion to continue with his work till the end is evident in the fact that he attended to correspondence, dispatch of free book packets and other work in his Kutir, even though he had a pain in the hip-joint. As much as he wished, he could not go to the night Satsang.  He also did his tape-recording of the day’s quota of spiritual exhortations. 

The Master’s last dictation is a stark reminder of his deep spiritual literary legacy and his high state of spiritual evolution, as is indicative when he said in his last dictated message, “Happiness comes when the individual merges in God”, a potent message that sums up his teachings contained in his more than 250 books. Prophetically, he merged in God totally, within weeks of the above utterance. Ananthanarayanan says, “Happiness comes when the individual merges in God”: that forms the concluding sentence in the book Elixir Divine which contains the aphoristic dictations of Gurudev for many weeks prior to the date of stoppage of dictation. The book has been printed in tens of thousands and has already found its way to many a distant corner of the globe”.

Pujya Swamiji’s audio message focused on Sri Gurudev’s literary charity to the world. Sri Gurudev mentioned that dissemination of spiritual knowledge was foremost in his work. He said that if he remained in his Kutir and wrote, then far more people would benefit than if he went out and visited persons. In 1956, the Master, pointing to the hospital, told Pujya Swamiji, that the hospital is half-built and that all the money is going into the printing press. The Master infused his Shakti into his writings. Even in South Africa, Pujya Swamiji said that the primary objective of the Society is dissemination of spiritual knowledge, and that other work is secondary, for, “knowledge dispels ignorance forever”. Even the Srimad Bhagavad Gita talks highly about the dissemination of spiritual knowledge. Referring to the book Light, Power and Wisdom that Pujya Swamiji had sent to the Master, the Master heaped tremendous praise, saying that the book was “exquisite, grand and precious”. 

That scores of devotees, well-wishers and visitors attended the Mahasamadhi Satsang is a testament to the great Sage of the modern era, Sri Swami Sivananda, whose divine life continues to inspire and uplift countless souls across South Africa and the globe. A beacon of light in the spiritual renaissance of the 20th century, Sri Swami Sivananda’s life is a sublime expression of selfless service, divine love, and spiritual wisdom. His sublime teachings transcend barriers of caste, creed and nationality. He taught the unity of all religions, the brotherhood of humanity, and the importance of inner transformation. His foundational message — “Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realise”, encapsulates the path to God-realisation in simple, practical steps. 

The Divine Master’s legacy lives on in South Africa through his illustrious disciple, Sri Swami Sahajananda. The Master’s life was a scripture in action - radiating peace, purity, and divine joy. Even decades after his Mahasamadhi in 1963, his spiritual presence continues to uplift humanity. 

O Divine Master, O Sri Swami Sivananda, may we walk in your footsteps, imbibe your teachings, and dedicate our lives to the higher ideals of truth, purity, and universal love. May your divine legacy continue to ever shine and inspire us all.

Youth Day was celebrated on Sunday, 15 June 2025 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. This coincided with the Sunday morning Satsang. Registration and breakfast commenced at 8.30am. Ganga Arati began at 8.50am followed by Satsang at 9am. The second part of the programme was from 10.30am until 12.30pm. 

The Satsang programme comprised Kirtans, Bhajans, readings and a presentation on the Four Yugas by the youth boys. On the latter topic, the presentation focused on the concept of time in Hindu cosmology, where time is cyclical and divided into four Yugas, known collectively as the Chatur Yuga or Maha Yuga. These Yugas represent ages or epochs, each with a progressive decline in virtue, Dharma (righteousness), and spiritual knowledge. In Satya Yuga (also known as Krita Yuga), truth and Dharma reigned supreme and was characterised by the "Golden Age" of truth and perfection. People were spiritually advanced, lived long and were free of suffering. Truth was innate. The Treta Yuga saw a slight decline in virtue, emergence of rituals and sacrifices (Yajnas). The Dvapara Yuga was characterised by further decline in morality and lifespan. There was a rise in disease, suffering and conflict. The Mahabharata and Lord Krishna belong to this Yuga. Kali Yuga, which we are presently in, is the "Dark Age" of ignorance, strife, and materialism. Spirituality is diminished and virtue is at its lowest. 

The presentation highlighted the ills of Kali Yuga, namely humanity’s chaos and loss of moral and spiritual values. By the time Kali Yuga ends, the Vedas will be forgotten completely, and man will be mostly atheistic. The following predictions in the presentation attest to these scenarios, “The leaders will be thieves; the occupation of men will be stealing, lying and needless violence, and all the social classes will be reduced to the lowest level. Cows will be killed, and spiritual institutions will be no different from mundane houses. Family ties will extend no further than the immediate bonds of marriage. Seasons will go awry; homes will be devoid of piety and there will be no morality.

“At that time, the Supreme Personality of Godhead will appear on earth and rescue the eternal Dharma. It is in this age that Lord Vishnu will incarnate on this earthly plane as the Avatar Kalki. This will be the only descent of supreme consciousness during the Kali Yuga. Riding a white horse named Devadutta with a drawn sword, Kalki will mow down the evil and corrupt and ensure the reign of Dharma. The Kalki Avatar will establish the principles of eternal Dharma once again and the people of earth will turn to the path of righteousness. This will mark the beginning of Satya Yuga, an era of virtue, enlightenment and spirituality”.

The address on Sleep Health, in the second session focused on why we feel sleepy at night, and what happens to the body, mind, emotions and spirit when we are asleep. The following questions were also addressed: What happens if we do not sleep? What prevents us from getting a good night’s sleep? What are the benefits of sleep?  How can we improve the quality and quantity of our sleep without sleeping tablets? Swami Sivananda’s advice on sleep and Yoga techniques for sleep, were also addressed. 

On the topic of sleep, Sri Swami Sivananda said, “Next to breathing, sleep is the greatest biological necessity. If breathing enables life to continue, sleep provides the most essential interval for the life-force to carry out the general repairs to the system. If breathing preserves life, sleep recoups the life's energy spent during the day's activity. If breathing points to the power that pulsates in all creation, sleep gives us a clue to the unmoving tranquil Reality. If breathing manifests the infinite diversity of phenomena, sleep describes to us the essential unity of existence. If breathing draws to us energy, vitality and power from the cosmic Power House (Hiranyagarbha) that surrounds us, sleep derives them from the Atman within. 

“Glory to the Lord! Glory to the Prana Sakti who maintains the universe! Glory to Nidra Devi who lulls you into unconsciousness so that you may be revitalised for the morrow's service! 

“The happiness of sleep is really the bliss of the Soul”.

The second session also had an interesting talk, entitled, Social Media. The presenter alluded to Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s warning of the harmful effects of cell phones and excessive television viewing. Applying Pujya Swamiji’s logic we can conclude that social media has the danger in social interactions, of feeding the ego and weakening our will-power. It robs us of time that could be used for productive activities such as prayer, study or Sadhana. The presenter advised that social media can be used positively, for example, in promoting Dharma., in that before posting, we need to ask ourselves: Is this true? It this kind? Is this necessary? Will this post bring the viewer closer to God or will it bring me closer to my ego? Rather than using our platforms to promote ourselves, we can promote truth, peace, love and wisdom. The presenter advised that one can use platforms to share the messages of Gurudev, Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda. She further advised us to share a message of hope, and advised us to “Make your social media grid a spiritual garden. We can also turn our scroll time into soul time”. The notion of social media fasting (abstinence from indulgence in social media) for a day or more, was also suggested. 

The final item of the day was a game, The Amazing Race, wherein two teams (males and females) competed against each other in a series of challenges and obstacles. Teams were given cues leading to a specific location. Once at the correct location, teams faced a range of challenges. Team building, group dynamics, leadership, speed and efficiency were also tested.  Teams worked together to make strategic decisions to succeed. The Amazing Race was an exciting and spiritually inspiring exercise that gently pushed teams to their limits, testing their physical and mental abilities, teamwork, and strategic thinking.

The youth are complimented on an eventful and stimulating Youth Day Celebration comprising a diverse range of topics, catering to different age groups. The attention to detail in all aspects of organisation and execution of the day’s activities, is highly commendable.

The 41-Day Recital of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa commenced on Tuesday, 29 July 2025 and will culminate on the 138th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Sri Swami Sivananda, on Sunday, 7 September 2025 at Sivananda International Cultural Centre (SICC), La Mercy. 

Pujya Swami Sahajananda advised that the Sri Hanuman Chalisa is very powerful and effective for the removal of all mental problems. It brings good health, success and prosperity. It cures diseases, counteracts evil forces and the effects of "black magic", which are so prevalent today. It was recommended to Pujya Swami Sahajananda by Pujya Mother Krishnabai of Anandashram, one of the greatest saints of recent times. 

In the book, Essence of the Ramayana, Sri Swami Sivananda says, “Hanuman ranks first amongst the heroes of the world. His heroic deeds, wonderful exploits and marvellous feats of strength and bravery cannot be adequately described. His sense of duty was extremely laudable. He had great skill in all military tactics and methods of warfare. His crossing the sea of thirty miles in one leap and lifting the crest of a mountain in the palm of the hand, his carrying of the brothers on his shoulders from the nether world to Lanka are all astounding, superhuman feats which baffle human description”.

The 41-Day Recital launch on Tuesday, 29 July 2025 at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, commenced with Ganga Arati at 5.30pm. Signed pledges were offered at the shrine. The Satsang Programme comprised Invocation, a reading of the rules for the 41-Day Recital, and the recital of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa 11 times. 

The rules which appear in the Divine Life Society of South Africa Prayer Book, are enumerated below and are useful to anyone who wishes to do this Vrat. 

• 1. The Sri Hanuman Chalisa should be repeated regularly for 41 days, either in the morning or in the evening. 
• 2. Have a bath and wear clean clothes. 
• 3. Sit in any comfortable posture in front of a picture of Sri Hanuman. 
• 4. Keep some fruit as Prasad in a little tray. 
• 5. Keep 11 flowers in another small tray. 
• 6. First commence repeating some Guru Mantras.
• 7. After the repetition of the Guru Mantras, commence the Sri Hanuman Chalisa from “Sri Guru Charana Sarojaraja…”
• 8. Complete the repetition till the end, until “Hridaya Basahu Sura Bhoop Sita Ram”. This is one repetition. 
• 9. On completion of the repetition once, offer one flower to Sri Hanuman. 
• 10. Do the repetition 11 times at each sitting. Each time a repetition is completed, offer one flower. In this way offer all the 11 flowers. 
• 11. After the completion 11 times at one sitting, repeat some Shanti Mantras, prostrate and get up. 
• 12. The fruit can be distributed to all as Prasad. 
• 13. While sitting in the posture, do not change it or look around. Keep the eyes closed and concentrate on the picture of Sri Hanuman, or concentrate on his picture with eyes open. 
• 14. On completion of the Mantra 11 times for 41 days, perform Havan with the help of a qualified Pundit, and do some Puja in a Hanuman temple with the guidance of a priest. 
• 15. You can also do poor feeding or some charity on completion of the Yajna. 
• 16. Women undergoing the monthly cleansing process should not repeat the Mantra during this period. 

May Sri Swami Sivananda’s profound description of Sri Hanuman’s prowess, Bhakti and loyalty to Sri Rama inspire us all. Sri Gurudev said, “He conquered innumerable difficulties which cropped up in his way through his courage, patience and undaunted spirit. He made untiring search to find Sita. At the time of danger, he exhibited marvellous courage and presence of mind. He was steady and firm in his actions. He was always successful in his attempts. Failure was not known to him. He gave up his life in the service of the Lord. He had not a tinge of selfishness in his actions. All his actions were offerings unto Lord Rama. No one reached the peak in Dasya Bhava like Sri Hanuman. He was a rare jewel among devotees, the supreme head among Pundits, the king among celibates and the commander among heroes and warriors.

“Where Hanuman is, there are Sri Rama and Sri Sita, and wherever Sri Rama and Sri Sita are praised and their deeds recited, there Hanuman is”.

May the Blessings of Lord Hanuman, Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda be upon us all.

On Saturday, 24 May 2025, Divine Life Society of South Africa participated in the Annual Career Fair hosted by the Nelson Mandela Community and Youth Centre in Chatsworth, from 9am to 1pm. This well-supported event brought together a wide range of educational and vocational organisations, and was attended primarily by learners accompanied by their parents, many of whom were exploring opportunities for skills’ development and personal growth.

Devotees of Divine Life Society of South Africa, including those from its Sivananda Sunlit Path Centre in Chatsworth represented the Society and shared information about its community-based programmes. Among the offerings that drew interest were the Sewing Classes and Computer Skills’ Courses, which provide valuable vocational skills aligned with the Fair’s theme of empowerment and development.

Visitors engaged with devotees, expressing appreciation for the Society’s ongoing contribution to community upliftment. In addition to skills’ training, the Society also offers counselling services to individuals facing emotional, health, or personal challenges further demonstrating its commitment to holistic support and care.

 A range of publications was made available, particularly those focused on youth development, self-discipline, and moral living - messages that resonated with both learners and parents.

Amongst those who visited our stall, were representatives of the South African military services. The participation of the Sivananda Sunlit Path Centre in this Annual Career Fair once again provided a sacred opportunity to foster spiritual and vocational upliftment, promote values-based education, and share the life-transforming teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda with members of the wider community.