(11) Swami Madhavananda Saraswati

Swami Madhavananda Saraswati

Disciple of Swami Sivananda saraswati

Born: dt. 15th December 1917




His Holiness Sri Swami Madhavananda Saraswati Maharaj
Born on the 15th of December 1917, and known as Karunanidhi, he hails from Andhra Pradesh. As he lived in both the outskirts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, he is very conversant with the atmosphere of both the States and knows Telugu and Kannada languages.

When Karunanidhi arrived at the Ashram, he found that revered Sri Gurudev was away upon his "All-India Spiritual Awakening Tour". He was cordially received by Swami Krishnananda who was the in-charge of the Ashram during the absence of Gurudev and all the other office-bearers. He awaited Gurudev’s return and met him for the first time on 8th November, 1950. It would appear that right at this first brief meeting and talk Gurudev immediately recognised his potentialities. Very surprisingly and to the wonder of many people, Sri Gurudev at once gave him the work of the Cashier of the Ashram. Those were very hard days as the funds were almost nil, and it was not easy for anyone to perform the duties of the Cashier. Karunanidhi as a Cashier, prior to his being ordained a Sannyasin, spent very difficult times of course with shop-keepers who were creditors of the Ashram. But with his calm, quiet and reticent nature he managed his little function of the Cashier those days very well. Recognising his spiritual worth, Sri Gurudev gave him Sannyasa within months of his arrival, i.e., on Mahasivaratri, the 6th of March, 1951 and named him Swami Madhavananda. After two or three years of his service as a Cashier, he was appointed by Gurudev by nomination as a Secretary, which, of course, increased the weight of the work he had to perform. This position of responsibility he ungrudgingly accepted and immediately commenced this performance spread over a wide area of the different departments of the Institution. Not only this; together with the responsibilities as Secretary, he took upon himself, of his own accord, the additional burden of supervising the construction works of the Ashram, sheerly with the intention of seeing that there is no wastage of any kind and the building works are efficiently carried on in the interest of public good. Those were days when the Ashram was inordinately hard-pressed with inadequacy of financial resources and the work of the Secretary was indeed not a happy job. It was something which would wear out anyone and fatigue even a strong personality. The Swami indeed worked very hard and steered the course of The Divine Life Society’s functions at the Headquarters during those difficult days when the income side of the Institution was hardly worth mentioning. There were many occasions when it looked that it was difficult for the Ashram to make both ends meet and one could not predict the fate of the Ashram the next day. Such was the nature of the problem created by the financial stress. Swami Madhavananda did indeed bear the brunt of the pains that an Executive of the Institution would have to undergo under such circumstances. The entire saga of the history of the Ashram at its Headquarters during those years would speak eloquently of the sacrifice which the Swami personally did, as the times required, without rest and without even adequate sleep.

The several years of such strenuous work naturally told upon his system, particularly the condition of his heart, which called for special attention by way of medical treatment. All this did not deter the Swami from continuing his Seva to the Institution, and it, indeed, did not cease at any time.

At the same time, he is a very religious type of person, meticulously following a daily routine of prayer and worship for several hours. He is a reserved type of person who minds his own business, as one may say, not interfering and unconcerned with anything in the world, except whatever work is entrusted to him, and always confined to his own Kutir of prayer and worship.

Swami Madhavananda was elected as the Treasurer of the Divine Life Society in August 1963, soon after the Mahasamadhi of the Master. And in due recognition of his glorious services, he was elected as the Vice-President of the Divine Life Society, in the year 1975, which position he continues to hold till this day. This was really as it ought to have been, considering not only his elderly personality but also the intense sincerity with which he has always been identifying himself with the Ashram’s spiritual ideals, the amiableness of his nature and the goodness of his hearth to mention only a few of the exemplary characters which are embodied in his person.

Source : http://www.dlshq.org/saints/madhavananda.htm

*********************************************************

(10) Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Himalayas

Swami Dayananda Saraswati

Disciple of Swami Sivananda Saraswati


Born: 1923




His Holiness Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati Maharaj
Born in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, in the year 1923 to prosperous parents, he was known as Ramalinga Raju. Even when he was studying in college, he was interested in the literary side, particularly philosophy and religion, and he was an admirer of Dr. Radhakrishnan, especially. Suddenly he felt an urge to renounce the world and found himself at the feet of Swami Sivananda, in the year 1946. Reading, doing Japa and meditation were his specialities. Swami Sivananda recognised the great spirit of renunciation in the young man and initiated him into the holy order of Sannyasa within two years of his joining the Ashram, on 14th January, 1948 and gave him the monastic name of Swami Dayananda. He accompanied Sri Gurudev during the All-India tour in 1950 and did untiring service to him, day and night, with great love and care.

Swami Dayananda is known as the active participant in the work of The Divine Life Society from the time Sri Gurudev felt it necessary to have a wing of the Ashram helping in printing work. The very seed of the Printing Press, it may be said, was sown by Swami Dayananda. Over night he worked a miracle, as it were, and brought a printing machine (a tradle machine) from Rishikesh town and saw to it that the very next day (20th September, 1951) the inauguration of the Printing Press so dear to Sri Gurudev was performed. He also worked and struggled tooth and nail to bring electricity to the Ashram, which he succeeded in bringing, a few years after the founding of the Printing Press. Actually the manner in which he brought electricity to the Ashram is an epic, a saga by itself. No person would have succeeded easily in doing that work, since it required permission from the Government which was not eager to spend money, for the sake of bringing connection to the Ashram. Anyhow by moving the District Magistrate of Dehra Dun, Swami Dayananda succeeded in doing this work. Thereafter he concentrated himself entirely on the Printing Department, even till today. Due to his persistent and tenacious concentration on this work the Press has increased its dimension. It has become one of the top-most Printing plants in the Garhwal region, which is all due to his indefatigable work and totally unselfish labour. Sri Gurudev loved him so much that once he said, "Ah! I am proud of you, Swami Dayananda," and added, "You are an embodiment of Nishkama Seva." Today, he is the main-spring behind the management of the Printing Press. Swami Chidananda paid his tribute thus: "Swami Dayanandaji Maharaj has been a pillar of this Institution over these decades. Today he is a ‘Veetaragi’, a ‘Nirlipta’, ‘Tyagi’ Saint. He is a rare Sadhu who in the midst of intense Guruseva is yet ever engaged in trying to abide constantly in the state of ‘Atma-samsthiti’. He is also ‘Iccha Rahita’ Yogi in the sense that he has no personal self-desire of any sort in his life. He has one overwhelming desire and that is Sri Gurudev’s Jnana Yajna. Other than his desire to meditate, meditate, meditate, his only second ambition in life is to see each and everyone of Holy Master Sivananda’s books in print and to make them available to thirsting spiritual aspirants all over the world."

In the year 1970, Swami Dayananda was appointed as one of the Secretaries of the Divine Life Society, in which post he continued till September, 1975 when he was elected by the Board of Trustees as a member of the Trust Board and Treasurer of the Divine Life Society, which position he is holding till today.

Source : www.dlshq.org/saints/dayananda.htm

***************************************************************************

(9) Swami Venkatasananda Saraswati, Himalayas.

Swami Venkatasananda Saraswati

with GURUJI Swami Sivananda Saraswati

Born : Dt. 29th december 1921.

Passed: Dt.2nd december 1982

Swami Venkatesananda with beloved Gurudev on his right.

Parthasarathy (as Swami Venkatesananda was called before he entered the holy order of Sannyasa) was born to the pious and noble parents, Sri Srinivasan and Srimati Lakshmi Devi, in a village called Koil Venni in Tanjore District, South India, on 29th December 1921. Many incidents happened in his childhood and boyhood which reveal his inborn divine qualities. The boy's mind began to turn to devotion and love towards Lord Venkatesa of the famous shrine of Holy Tirupati. When Parthasarathy was a boy of twelve years, he came across books written by Swami Sivananda who was destined to become his spiritual Master and Living God. In course of time Parthasarathy held a responsible position at Delhi as a personal assistant to highly influential Secretary to the Government of India. But the call of the spirit was irresistible. His contact with Swami Sivananda through books had developed into contact through frequent letters. Then it flowed into regular visits to the holy Ananda Kutir, whenever Parthasarathy managed to get leave from his office duties. The personal contact with the Master soon overwhelmed Parthasarathy and he cut off all bonds that bound him to the secular life, renounced a promising career and offered himself as a dedicated Sevak (servant) at the lotus-feet of his Divine Master Swami Sivananda.
Coming thus into the spiritual fold of Swami Sivananda at a very young age, Parthasarathy took to the renunciate in the year 1945 when he resigned the excellent position he was holding. He came with the specific intention of placing himself entirely at the service of Gurudev's Universal Spiritual Mission, with intense devotion, utter dedication and unparalleled spirit of service. He soon made himself indispensable to worshipful Gurudev, especially, in his global spiritual dissemination work. From early 1945 up to the time when he breathed his last, his entire life was whole-souled absorption in the sublime good work of Gurudev Sivananda. Parthasarathy was ordained as a monk on 8th of September, 1947, the sacred Diamond Jubilee of Sri Gurudev. He became Swami Venkatesananda.

The Swami was a versatile personality. He placed his great talent in the service of the holy Master. He was one of the pillars of the Divine Life spiritual movement. At a certain period he was the very right hand of worshipful Gurudev. Such was the great confidence reposed on him by worshipful Gurudev, that every morning, when Gurudev stepped out of his little cottage on the banks of the holy Ganga, he would first go directly to Swami Venkatesananda's room situated right in front and sitting there, he would many a time consult him and seek his opinion on matters concerning Jnana Yagna (dissemination of spiritual knowledge) and publishing activities of the Society and at times on other important matters as well.

He was a tower of strength to Sri Gurudev during the latter's unique "ALL INDIA SPIRITUAL AWAKENING TOUR OF 1950" which had electrified the entire nation and powerfully stirred up the spiritual consciousness of millions of people creating a wave of religious awakening and inspiration throughout the country. Gurudev declared about Swami Venkatesananda: "He is the Crest-Jewel of my Mission. He is the resplendence of my work. Will I see anyone else shine brighter than him! Surely none have I seen so far. He is a tower of strength to me and my Mission." During the tour he took down notes of every word spoken by Sri Gurudev at each centre and has brought a voluminous work "Sivananda's Lectures: All India Tour."
He came especially to work vigorously in the correspondence section of the Ashram. One can say that volumes of typewritten material connected with correspondence is to be turned out, even during night hours by this Swami. The entire career of his in the Ashram was devoted to writing, recording of Gurudev's speeches and editing the day-to-day messages and conversations of Gurudev which he did to the point of perfection and perhaps most of the Sivananda: Day-to-Day that we have these days recorded are the works of Swami Venkatesananda, principally. After tireless service and winklessly working in the Ashram for Sri Gurudev's glory, his main mission was to bring glory around the aura of Gurudev's Centre, The Divine Life Society, which task he fulfilled very commendably. He has produce a superb work entitled "Gurudev Sivananda" which is not merely a detailed biography of Swami Sivananda but also an authentic record of the history of the Divine Life Society, - a reference book involving great labour.

The Indian devotees in South Africa, headed by Swami Sahajanandaji Maharaj, required a powerful spirit of the Divine Life Society to enthuse them and Swami Venkatesananda was the man chosen by Sri Gurudev for the fulfilment of this Mission there. Thus in 1961 Swami Venkatesananda was deputed to South Africa, where he did a marvellous work. Reports came from there Swami Venkatesananda shook the whole of South Africa and he hoisted the banner of Sri Gurudev's Mission. After working there for some years, he moved to other countries - Mauritius, Madagascar, and some countries in Europe, - and later on to the East, particularly to Australia. Most of his later days were spent in South Africa only, where again he did vigorous literary work, writing and compiling excellent text books on philosophy, Yoga and scriptures. He produced more than 50 books covering a wide range of subjects pertaining to philosophy, religion, metaphysics, ethics, self-development, spiritual Sadhana (spiritual practice), the different Yoga paths, Gurudev'special teachings, comparative religion, psychology and the different scriptures like the Ramayana, Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Yoga Vasishtha, the Gita, the Devi Mahatmya, etc., the very latest volume being a compilation of the teachings of Lord Buddha, entitled "Buddha Daily Readings." No other single disciple of worshipful Gurudev has made such an admirable, substantial contribution on such a scale to the great Master's world-wide spiritual ministry of the present-day mankind. The crowning glory of his contribution was the spade-work he prepared of the "Complete Work of Swami Sivananda" in 18 volumes, of which 6 volumes have been printed under the auspices of the Birth Centenary Celebration by the Divine Life Society, Freemantle Branch of Australia.

A scholar without ostentation, a writer without pedantry and a speaker without idiosyncrasies, Swami Venkatesananda has made himself lovable and valuable to all. As an exponent of Yoga, as an Organizer of Bhajan (singing of the Lord's Name) Group, as an inaugurator and promoter of a Society Branch, as an editor and prolific writer of many books, as a versatile genius, he always carried distinction in serving the cause of the Society in many countries of the world.

The great saintly soul passed away on the 2nd of December, 1982 at the Sivanada School of Yoga, Johannesburg, South Africa. In the special services offered at the Rishikesh Ashram, Swami Chidananda paid the following tribute to him: "I offer my homage to the sacred memory of our departed brother Revered and Worshipful Sri Swami Venkatesanandaji Maharaj whom his own pre-monastic, earthly, physical mother used to regard as younger brother of Chidananda—like Rama and Lakshmana. He was unparalleled and versatile genius, Chronicler-Editor. I pay my reverential homage and my most loving prostrations and adorations to one who had become in many ways an integral part of this Ashram, a part of our very lives and, as such, he is within the hearts of all those who have been closely moving with him, and in the hearts of all of us enshrined as an inseparable part of our inner being. He had the rare capacity of endearing himself to everyone, to children, to his equals, to the venerable old and to everyone. He is the universal being. He was in harmony with all. The part that he had played in Jnana Yajna work or the dissemination of spiritual knowledge by teaching and preaching the spiritual culture of India, the knowledge of Vedanta and the science of Yoga to the people all over the world, is something unequalled. He was a tower of strength to Gurudev and one of the greatest contributors in his World Awakening Mission, both from the Ashram and later throughout the world after Gurudev's physical passing."

Source : http://www.dlshq.org/saints/venkates.htm

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

(5) SWAMI KRISHNANANDA SARASWATI, DISCIPLE OF SWAMI SIVANANDA SARASWATI, HIMALAYAS

    SWAMI  KRISHNANANDA  SARASWATI


SWAMI  KRISHNANANDA  SARASWATI
DISCIPLE of SWAMI  SIVANANDA  SARASWATI
Born : 25th April 1922
Passed Away : 23rd November 2001

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Krishnananda

Sri Swami Krishnananda Saraswati Maharaj (April 25, 1922 – November 23, 2001) was a Hindu saint. He was a foremost disciple of Swami Sivananda and served as the General Secretary of the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh, India from 1958 until 2001. Author of more than 200 texts, and lecturing extensively, on yoga, religion, and metaphysics, Krishnananda was a prolific theologian and philosopher.


Swami Krishnananda was President of the Sivananda Literature Research Institute and the Sivananda Literature Dissemination Committee. He served as editor of the Divine Life Society’s monthly paper, Divine Life, for 20 years


Biography
Sivananda Ashram, headquarters of the Divine Life Society
The eldest of six children, Swami Krishnananda was born on April 25, 1922, into a highly religious and an orthodox Madhva[disambiguation needed] Brahmin family. He was named Subbaraya by his parents. He had his high school education at Puttur, Karnataka.


By the study of Sanskrit works like the Gita, the Upanishads, the Vedas, etc., Swami Krishnananda became rooted in Advaita Vedanta philosophy, though he belonged to the traditional Madhva-sect (Dvaita Vedanta), which follows the dualistic philosophy. In 1943, Subbaraya took up Government service at Hospet in the Bellary District, but it did not last long. Before the end of the same year, he left for Sivananda Ashram, where he arrived in the summer of 1944 at the Divine Life Society.

 First meeting with Swami Sivananda

When he first met Swami Sivananda, Subbaraya fell prostrate before him and the saint said: "Stay here till death; I will make kings and ministers fall at your feet." In later years, Krishnananda came to realize the prophecy of the saint's statement. Swami Sivananda initiated the young man into the holy order of Sannyasa (Hindu monasticism) on the Indian sacred day of Makar Sankranti, January 14, 1946, and he was named Swami Krishnananda.


 The young scribe

Swami Sivananda found that Krishnananda was suitable to do works of correspondence, letter writing, writing messages and even assistance in compiling and editing books. Later on he was given the work of typing up the hand-written manuscripts of Sivananda, which were brought to him daily. For instance, the entire two hand-written volumes of the Brahma Sutras of Sivananda's were typed by Swami Krishnananda. He confined himself mostly to literary work and never had any kind of relation with visitors; people who came from outside never knew he existed in the ashram. It was in 1948 that Sivananda asked him to do more work, along the lines of writing books in philosophy and religion, which he took up with earnestness. From that year onwards he was absorbed in writing, conducting classes and holding lectures, as per instruction of Swami Sivananda. During these early years at the ashram, Krishnanada experienced the heights of God-consciousness and became a perfect Jnani.


   General Secretary of the Divine Life Society (1958 -2001)

When it became necessary for the Divine Life Society to co-opt assistance from other members in regards to management, Swami Krishnananda was asked to collaborate with the Working Committee of the institution. It was at this time that he received a position of secretary, concerned especially with the management of finance. He continued this work until 1961, when, due to the extended absence of Swami Chidananda—the President of the Divine Life Society from 1963 to 2008—Sivananda nominated him as General Secretary of the Divine Life Society. Krishnananda served in this capacity until his death in 2001. He was the longest serving General Secretary in the history of the institution.


    Sivananda Literature Research Institute

Due to his considerable literary skill and understanding of the entire gamut of the works of Sivananda, numbering about 300, Swami Krishnananda was appointed President of the Sivananda Literature Research Institute, by Sivananda himself, when it was formed in 1958. Krishnananda was also appointed as the President of the Sivananda Literature Dissemination Committee, which was formed to bring out translations of Sivananda's works in the major Indian languages, simultaneously. In 1961, Swami Krishnananda was made Editor of the Divine Life Society's monthly publication, Divine Life. He held the position for 20 years.


 Death
On the morning of November 23, 2001, Swami Krishnananda related to those attending on him a dream he had the previous night in which it was indicated that he would soon leave his body. He had further said that his cook and the doctor from Rishikesh who had been attending on him must be paid their dues that very day. According to those close to him, Krishnananda was very cheerful that day and met with Ashramites and visitors as usual. He also talked very freely to the persons attending on him. In the afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Krishnananda asked for a copy of the Bhagavad Gita with the commentary by Swami Sivananda to be kept by the bedside. When the holy scripture was brought, Krishnananda began to read it periodically. Around 3:30 p.m. he had his usual light supper. At 4:25 p.m. he felt a little difficulty in breathing and asked his attendant Swami Satyakamananda to recline him on the bed indicating that the last moment had arrived. He died at 4:30 p.m.


An excerpt of an article that was published in the December 2001 edition of Divine Life entitled "His Holiness Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj Attains Mahasamadhi" read:
"Our Guiding Light over the past five decades, His Holiness Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj, whom Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj used to call as our 'Dakshinamurti' and 'Sankaracharya', has merged in the Cosmic Being. Revered Swamiji Maharaj, who has been our General Secretary since 1958, our guide, administrator, philosopher, mentor and much more, entered Mahasamadhi on Friday, the supremely auspicious and holy Gopashtami day, the 23rd of November 2001, at 4.30 p.m., in his Kutir in Sivanandashram on the banks of the sacred Mother Ganges, in Shivanandanagar, at the foot of the Himalayas. The Divine Life Society records its deep reverence to the towering stature of the Spirit of Worshipful Swamiji Maharaj as well as its heartfelt gratitude to a sublime career of unremitting labour of love that came to a glorious close in that momentous afternoon. Though Swamiji Maharaj had not been keeping well for quite some time, the END came rather suddenly. Swamiji was conscious till the very last moment."

The last rites were carried out on Sunday, November 25. Many devotees and most of the local people came to pay their last respects. Thousands of people were present. Krishnananda's body was carried in a sitting position in a palanquin covered in flower garlands. He was carried in procession to the Samadhi Shrine, the Viswanath Mandir, and the Bhajan Hall of the Sivananda Ashram, then along the road to the Sivananda Ghat where abishek was performed.

As Swami Krishnananda was being taken in the boat to be immersed in the Ganges, three large flocks of birds appeared in the sky, each flock in a V formation. They were flying in the direction of Badrinath, the abode of Lord Narayana and the holiest temple in India.




%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%