Divine Life Society to celebrates Guru Purnima and Swami Sahajananda's 100th birthday
Honouring spiritual legacy
Sri Swami Sahajananda was affectionately known as Pujya Swamiji.
Image: File
THE Divine Life Society of South Africa will celebrate Guru Purnima and the 100th birth anniversary of Sri Swami Sahajananda, the society’s spiritual head, with events in Durban and Johannesburg.
Born in Estcourt on July 10, 1924, V Srinivasan Naidoo became a teacher, but later renounced the material world. He was initiated into the holy order of Sannyas on April 10, 1956, in Rishikesh, India. Swami Sahajananda led the society for 58 years, and printed and distributed the writings and teachings of Gurudev, Sri Swami Sivananda, the founder of Divine Life Society in India.
"Within a few decades, his tenacity to spread Swami Sivananda’s teachings, saw a virtual Hindu renaissance in KwaZulu-Natal," said Dr Mawalall Chatrooghoon, chairperson of the society's centenary celebrations' committee.
He said the story of Divine Life Society of South Africa was inextricably bound to the life of Sri Swami Sahajananda, affectionately known as Pujya Swamiji, who breathed life into every facet of the society’s work.
To commemorate the Guru Purnima and centenary celebrations, a series of events will be held:
* The Sivananda Conference on July 6 will be held at the Sivananda International Cultural Centre (SICC). The theme is “Sri Swami Sahajananda’s legacies: how can we repay Sri Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda?”. The conference will pay tribute to Swami Sivananda and Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s life and legacies. The conference, from 6am to 3pm, will include a havan, cultural items, plays, and musical presentations.
* Guru Purnima and Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s 100th birth anniversary coincide on July 10. Guru Purnima is when devotees and spiritual seekers honour and revere one's guru, who, according to Sri Swami Sivananda, is God Himself manifesting in a personal form to guide the seeker. There will be a Sadhana programme at the Sivanandashram in Reservoir Hills in Durban from 6am to 8am. The programme will include an invocation, darshan at Sahaja Kutir, Pujya Swamiji’s sacred Kutir, and the Sivananda-Sahajananda Diamond Jubilee Centre. This will be followed by a havan. The afternoon programme will be at the SICC starting with ganga arati at 2.30pm and satsangs from 4 to 6pm.
* The Sivanandashram, Sandton branch, will also celebrate Guru Purnima and Pujya Swami Sahajananda’s 100th birth anniversary at 73 Parkvale Place, Buccleuch in Sandton, on July 10. Ganga arati starts at 6pm followed by satsangs. On July 13, ganga arati will start at 9am followed by satsangs. There will also be a children’s play and the Sivananda gymnastic drill display.
For more information, call 031 262 2314 or log on to www.sivananda.dls.org.za