Live up to Your Ideal

Hari Om,

You should have your own ideal in life and should try hard to accomplish the ideal. People vary in their capacities, mental and intellectual calibre, and in physical and mental strength to do things. Therefore, different people should have different ideals. Then only they can evolve quickly.Then alone they will realise sure and rapid progress. The ideal of one man will not suit another man.If one keeps an ideal that he cannot realise, an ideal that is beyond his reach and capacity, he will get disappointment. He will give up his effort and become Tamasic.
 

You should have your own ideal. You may realise the ideal this moment or after ten years with faltering steps. It does not matter much how long it takes. Every man should endeavour his level best to live up to his ideal. He should put his whole energy, nerve-force and will in the realisation of his ideal. You can chalk out your own ideal according to your own standard. If you are unable to do this, have your guide to do so, and he will select for you the ideal that is suitable to your capacity and standard.
 

One man may say: “I will teach the village boys and will give them free education. This is my ideal in life.” Another may say: “I will serve sick people and nurse them carefully. I will join any Seva institution and render free service till the end of my life. Service of the sick is my ideal.” A third man may say: “I will beg from door to door and start a Kshettar for feeding Sadhus and Sannyasins. This is my ideal.” A fourth man may say: “My ideal is Self-realisation. I will go to Gangotri and live in a cave and do intense meditation. This is my ideal.” All are quite correct according to their capacity and standard. You must gradually bring the ideal to the realisation of God or Brahman. The highest ideal is Self-realisation. Service, worship, etc., eventually result in the realisation of the inner Self. The ideal to have ethical perfection is just below the ideal of Self-realisation. But this will lead to Self-realisation. Self-realisation is the greatest ideal in life. It is the most difficult of all ideals to fulfil. One who attempts Self-realisation does the best service to mankind.
 

One should not treat a man who has a low ideal, with contempt. He may be a baby-soul who is just crawling on the moral and spiritual path. Your duty is to help him in all possible ways in the realisation or accomplishment of his ideal. You should give him all sorts of encouragement in his sincere endeavour to live up to his own highest ideal.

It is deplorable to note that the vast majority of persons have no ideal at all. Even educated persons do not cherish any ideal. They lead an aimless life and therefore drift hither and thither like a piece of straw. They make no progress in life. Is this not a very sad plight? Highly lamentable indeed! It is very difficult to get a human birth and yet people do not realise the importance of keeping up an ideal and living up to it. The ideal of ‘eat, drink and be merry’ is adopted by the Epicureans, the gluttons and rich people. This school of thought has countless followers and the number is increasing by leaps and bounds daily. This is the ideal of Virochana. This is the ideal of Asuras and Rakshasas. This ideal will lead a man to the darkest regions of misery and sorrow, the ‘eternal lake of fire’. Blessed is the man who keeps up an ideal and struggles hard to live up to his own ideal, for he will soon attain God-consciousness. Glory unto sincere struggling souls!

Source : Swami Sivananda's Practice of Karma Yoga

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

What is this Ego?

Hari Om, 

Ego or Egoism or Egotism or Ahamkara in Sanskrit is the self-asserting principle or Tattva born of ignorance or Prakriti. Abhimana is egoism. Garva is egoism.

The seed of this ego is the differentiating intellect or Bheda Buddhi. It is the ego which has created the idea of separateness from God or the Atman. It is the ego which is the root cause for all human sufferings and births and deaths.

This ego identifies itself with the body, mind, Prana, the senses. Wherever there is ego, there are mineness, selfishness, likes and dislikes, lust, anger, greed, hypocrisy, pride, jealousy, delusion, arrogance, conceit, impertinence, Vasanas, Trishna or cravings and Vrittis or Sankalpa, clinging to this earth-life (Abhinivesha), agency, doer (Kartha) and enjoyer (Bhokta).

You must have very clear understanding of the nature of this ego, if you want to annihilate egoism. Killing of egoism is killing of mind only. Destruction of thought, desires, cravings, mineness, selfishness, jealousy, pride, lust is really destruction of mind or egoism. Control of senses also is annihilation of the mind or egoism.

This egoism assumes a subtle form. The gross egoism is not so dangerous as the subtle egoism. Institutional egoism is a subtle form of egoism. The man identifies himself with the institution and gets attached to the institution or cult. He has no broad-mindedness or catholicity.

The working of egoism is very mysterious. It is very difficult to detect its various ways of working. It needs a subtle and sharp intellect to find out its operation. If you practise introspection daily in silence you will be able to find out its mysterious ways of working.

This ego likes his own birth place and district, people of his district, own mother tongue, his own relations and friends, his own ways of eating, mode of dressing. He has his own predilections and preferences. He dislikes others' ways of eating, dressing etc.

This ego wants to exercise power and influence over others. He wants titles, prestige, status, respect, prosperity, house, wife, children. He wants self-aggrandisement. He wishes to domineer and rule over others. If anybody points out his defects, his vanity feels offended. If anyone praises him he is elated. This ego says, I know everything. He does not know anything. What I say is quite correct. What he says is quite incorrect. He is inferior to me. I am superior to him. He forces others to follow his ways and views.

This ego will lurk like a thief when you start introspection and self-analysis. It will elude your grasp and understanding. You must be ever alert and vigilant. If you obtain the grace of the Lord through Japa, Kirtan, prayer and devotion you can easily kill this ego. Through Lord's grace only your self-surrender will become Perfect.

When this ego melts in the cosmic ego you will attain communion with the Lord or Self-realisation.

May you realise the goal of life and attain everlasting Bliss through annihilation of this little ego! 

Source : Divine Life Society Website

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya ! 

 

Thoughts and Life

Hari Om,

Man thinks of sensual objects and gets attached to them. He thinks that fruits are very good for the body. He exerts to possess them. Then he actually possesses and enjoys them. He now clings to the fruits. He develops a habit of taking fruits now and when he fails to obtain them any day, he gets pain.

From thinking comes attachment; from attachment desire is born; from desire proceeds anger, anger arises when desire is frustrated by some cause or the other; from anger arises delusion; from delusion, failure of memory; from failure of memory, loss of intellect; from loss of intellect man is totally ruined. If you want to attain everlasting peace, do not think of objects, but think always of the immortal blissful Atman alone.
 

Desires by themselves are harmless. They are galvanized by the power of thought. Then only they do much havoc. Man muses or thinks on the objects of the senses. He imagines that he will get a great deal of pleasure from them. This imagination excites the desires. This power of imagination co-operates with the desires. Then the desires are invigorated or vitalized. They attack the deluded Jiva vehemently.

Source : Swami Sivananda's  Thought Power

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Thought-control by Practice of Concentration

Hari Om,

Silence the bubbling thoughts. Calm the surging emotions. Concentrate on a concrete form in the beginning. Concentrate on a flower, on the form of Lord Buddha, on any dream picture, on the effulgent light of the heart, on the picture of any saint, or your Ishta Devata.

Have three or four sittings; early morning, 8 a.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Devotees concentrate on the heart, Raja Yogins on Trikuti (the seat of the mind), Vedantins on the Absolute. Trikuti is the space between the eyebrows.You can also concentrate on the tip of the nose, the naval, or the Muladhara (below the
last vertebra of the spinal column).

When irrelevant thoughts enter the mind, be indifferent. They will pass away. Do not drive them forcibly. They will persist and resist. It will tax your will. They will enter with redoubled force. But substitute divine thoughts. Irrelevant thoughts will gradually fade out. Be slow and steady in the practice of concentration.

Concentration is practiced for stopping the modification of the mind. Concentration is holding the mind to one form or object for a long time. To remove the tossing of the mind and various other obstacles which stand in the way of one-pointedness, the practice of concentration on one thing alone should be made.
 

Concentration is opposed to sensuous thoughts and desires, bliss to flurry and worry,sustained thinking to perplexity, applied thinking to sloth and torpor, rapture to ill-will. It is easy to concentrate the mind on external objects. The mind has a natural tendency to go outwards. Keep the picture of Sri Krishna, Rama, Narayana, Devi or Lord Jesus or any picture, in front of you. Look at it steadily without winking. Gaze at the head, then at the body, then at the legs. Repeat the same process again and again. When your mind calms down look at a particular spot only, then close the eyes and mentally visualize the picture.You should be able to visualize the picture very clearly even in its absence. You will have to call up the mental picture at a moment’s notice. Keep it there steadily for sometime. This is concentration. You will have to practice this daily.
 

If you want to increase your power of concentration, you will have to reduce your worldly desires and activities. You will have to observe silence everyday for some hours. Then only can the mind concentrate very easily and without difficulty.

In concentration you will have only one thought or wave in the mind-lake. The mind assumes the form of only one object. All other operations of the mind are suspended.

Source : Swami Sivananda's  Thought Power

On Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

The Part of Technique in Spiritual Life

Hari Om,

Radiant Immortal Atman! Beloved sadhaks and seekers! The name of Swami Vivekananda is known to all of you. He was a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and had the distinction of being one of the earliest of the monks of India to take the great message of Vedanta and the universalism of Vedanta to the Western countries. His Guru had many disciples, many of them young men, some of whom were very highly educated and qualified, a few of them unlettered. But they all became accredited spiritual leaders after the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna.

The second most important disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, whom even Swami Vivekananda treated with great deference and reverence, was one Swami Brahmananda. He was the first president of the Sri Ramakrishna Mutt and Mission when it was founded near the end of the last century. Swami Brahmananda was a very serious person, always dignified, not given to easy change of moods. He was patient, understanding, and a kind teacher. Disciples who took initiation from him sometimes used to go to him a year or two later and complain that they could find no progress in their sadhana, bemoan the fact that they had had no “experience”—they had not seen any light, their kundalini had not risen, they had not had any vision of Gods or Goddesses, there was no higher consciousness. He used to listen to them patiently, and after they had fully stated their problem, he would tell them: “Yes, yes, I understand your difficulty. I understand your eagerness to have experience. Yes, it will come. Continue your japa. Repeat your ishta mantra regularly without fail every day for another year. Please come back to me after the end of the year·”
 

He used to reassure them, tell them to continue their japa, be very regular, gradually increase the time, and practise for another year. After a year the same people would return and repeat the same story. He repeated his patient hearing also. He heard them patiently as before, repeated his same instructions and asked them to come back again after a year. Sometimes this was repeated a third time also, and then after the fourth year or the fifth year when they came, they no longer had a complaint. They had found an answer. The agitation had gone. They gradually began to feel peace and inner joy.
 

Later on he used to say: “Sadhaks are very impatient. Before they hardly start their spiritual life and sadhana, already they want to have experience; they want to have experience as the very beginning of their spiritual sadhana, not as the later part. And they think that such experience only, constitutes the sign that they are progressing. So what could I do, what could I tell them? I could only tell them to carry on with their sadhana, continue their japa, be very regular in it.” Therefore, he used to tell them: “My dear son, you should not be too impatient. You must have sufficient abhyasa (practice) before you start looking for results and before you want or wish to complain.You want to have a tree within days of planting a seed. You want to have fruit before the tree has become a real tree.”

Source : Swami Chidananda's Ponder These Truths (Early Morning Meditation Talks)

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Impurities of the Mind

Hari Om,

An aspirant complains: “As I continue meditation, layer after layer of impurities keep rising from the subconscious mind. Sometimes they are so strong and formidable that I am bewildered as to how to check them. I am not perfectly established in truth and in Brahmacharya. The old habits of lust and of speaking lies are still lurking in me. Lust is troubling me vigorously. The very idea of women agitates my mind. My mind is so sensitive that I am not able to hear or think of them. As soon as the thought comes in the mind, my Sadhana gets disturbed, and also, the peace of the whole day is spoiled. I advise my mind, coax it, frighten it, but it is of no avail. My mind revolts. I do not know how to control this passion. Irritability, egoism, anger, greed, hatred and attachment are still lurking in me. Lust is my chief enemy and it is a very strong one too. I request you to be kind enough to advise me as to how to destroy it”.

When the impurities emerge from the subconscious mind and come to the surface of the conscious mind with formidable force, do not try to resist them. Repeat your Ishta Mantra. Do not think of your defects or evil qualities much. It is enough if you introspect and find out your defects. Do not try to attack the evil qualities. Then they will show their long faces. Develop positive virtues. Do not worry yourself often: “I have got so many defects and weaknesses”. Cultivate Sattvic virtues. Through meditation, and by the development of positive qualities, through the Pratipaksha Bhavana method, all the negative qualities will die by themselves. This is the right method.

 Source : Swami Sivananda's  Practice of Brahmacharya  

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

 

Pain is a Blessing in Disguise

Hari Om,

Unknown to you, the Divine has been shaping you gradually for the noble, sublime life spiritual through various means. He has been putting opportunities in your way, and bringing obstacles; giving bitter experiences. God does more miracles through painful and unpleasant experiences than He does through pleasant experiences.

Pain is an eye-opener. When one realises the ground truth that association with all temporary things is fraught with sorrow, then only our journey to Eternal begins. Sorrow, therefore, seems to have some purpose. Pain is a blessing in disguise. Pain turns your mind towards God, in whom alone there is lasting happiness and peace. This mundane life is full of miseries. Life is not a bed of roses. Ups and downs, troubles and tribulations are common in this world. There is no way to escape from them. The reactions of one’s past actions have to be gone through.

There are many instances of those who had to undergo a lot of sufferings: Harishchandra, Nala, Dharmaraja, Savitri, Damayanti and Draupadi. Even Lord Christ had to undergo a lot of suffering.

God sometimes puts His devotees in difficult situations in order to strengthen them spiritually. Face them bravely. Each obstacle will strengthen you. Each failure is a stepping-stone to success. Please be happy in whatever circumstances God has placed you. Have intense faith in Him. Rely on Him, He knows what is best for you. Pray to God to give you strength to face them calmly. He will protect you and guide you.

Difficulties come in our path to test our strength. As such, we should welcome them. And with faith and trust in the Lord and His holy Name, we should tide over them. Remember: even this will pass away. God’s ways are mysterious. The world is the play of God. Be a witness in this play.

God is kind and merciful. Therefore, despair not. Be calm and serene. It is worry that weakens the mind and body. You cannot remove worries by worrying. Be ever cheerful and happy. All unpleasant happenings are so much ‘account settled’, and makes your burden lighter. There must be unshaken faith in God during trials, disappointments and difficulties. Ever be rooted in God. Hope and help come when one is utterly helpless. He is Karunanidhi, kind and all love. There is no end to His mercy. Those who surrender to Him will have no fear.

Source: Swami Chidananda's  'Daily Swadhyaya'

 Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Caring for Fellow-Beings

Hari Om,

Once the All India Divine Life Society Conference was organised at Bhavaniputra (Orissa). Normally everyone comes earlier and Sri Swamiji is the last person to arrive at the camp. But this time from Sonabada, Swamiji arrived earlier than other Mahatmas and Guest Speakers. Immediately after reaching his camp-residence he inquired, about the whereabouts of other Mahatmas. Swamiji desired to see their accommodation personally to satisfy himself about the arrangements. 

Swamiji indeed is knower of the Self. When he arrived at other Mahatmas guest house, the place was found very shabby, full of stink and dirt. At once without wasting any time he found out a broom and started sweeping the floor and then cleaning the bathrooms. He was state guest of Orissa and is worshipped as Sri Chidananda Mahaprabhu like Sri Jagannath Mahaprabhu and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

It is only because of his feelings for fellow beings, his reverence for smallest one, which for him is the reverence to Almighty Lord. He sees, perceives and experiences nothing else but God at all times, and at all places.

Source - Harih Karta - Thy Will Be Done
 

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Prayer for Health and Long Life

Hari Om,

Swami Vishnudevananda performing Vrischika Asana(Scorpion Pose) before Swami Sivananda

O Adorable Lord of compassion and love,
Prostrations and salutations unto Thee.
O Lord, give me good health and long life,
Free me from my disease, O Lord of my Life.
Let my limbs be strong and firm.
Let my senses function vigorously.
Let my mind be fixed in Thee.
Let the three humours be harmonious.
Let the Koshas vibrate harmoniously.
Let me be full of vim, vigour and vitality.
Let my body, senses, serve Thee.
And let them not do any mischief or wrong.

Source : Swami Sivananda's A Boon To Diabetics

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Meditation on Atman

Hari Om,

Meditation on the fearless Atman removes all sorts of fears in toto. A sage beholds the immortal fearless Self only everywhere. How can there be fear for him then? There is fear only where there is duality. If one feels that there is a second object besides himself, at once fear is generated. He is afraid of the other man. Separation, duality, perception of objects are all due to Avidya or ignorance.

Start the anti-current from today. Deny the body, and identify yourself with the all-pervading, immortal, fearless Atman. Entire denial of the body cannot come in a day or a week. Constantly think of the Atman. Gradually you will become fearless. You will have to fight against the Samskaras of Anadikala (beginningless time). The more you think of Atman, the more courageous you will become. By constant hammering only can you entirely drive the nail into the wall or a plank. Even so, by constant and protracted thinking on Atman alone you can become absolutely fearless.

Meditate. Assert. Recognize. Realize.

Source: Swami Sivananda's Conquest of Fear

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Universal Prayer

Hari Om, 

O Lord! I do want to serve the world disinterestedly and practise Nishkama Karma Yoga to get Chitta Suddhi. I am sometimes perplexed, agitated and depressed. I am in a dilemma. I do not know what to do. I have no clear idea of right and wrong. I have no knowledge of the Sastras and the Smritis. I do not know Sanskrit, Laghu nor Sidhanta Kaumudi. I have no training to hear Thy shrill inner voice.
 

This world is full of apparent contradictions, paradoxes and puzzles, peculiar troubles and difficulties. This world is peculiar. Thou hast given me a peculiar mind with peculiar habits. Nay, this world is full of temptations. I have no strength to resist temptations, public opinions, criticisms,oppressions, pressures and even assaults. I am not able to please anybody to the fullest extent. Enemies do crop up, though I keep quiet, though I do not interfere with anybody.
 

O sweet adorable One! Give me strength to control the restless turbulent Indriyas and the mind that ever wanders.  Stand behind me always and guide me in every inch of my action. Give me good Preranas((thoughts). Give me Chitta Suddhi. Give me a calm, pure and balanced mind. OLord, give me light,knowledge and purity. Om. Om. Om.

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Source : Swami Sivananda's Practice of Karma Yoga

Divine Grace

Hari Om, 

Sri Jagdish Badoni of Baroda writes: 

My father came home after 50 days of hospitalisation. He was treated for an illness called hallucination, in the most modern and well equipped hospital by a galaxy of reputed and experienced medical specialists. At home  a top Neurosurgeon regularly attended him. He was receiving the best treatment known in the medical science for this type of sickness. The treatment cost was very heavy, about Rs. 1.4 lacs. Despite all efforts there was no improvement in his mental condition. He was not aware of the present - he would slide back in the past.He was in a strange condition and lost to himself.

As willed by the Divine, in the month of January, 1993 Swami Chidanandaji - my Gurudev - came to Baroda, and I went to have his Darshan. By sheer grace Swamiji accepted my request to see my father.

I escorted my father to see Swamiji around 1.45 p.m. While talking to him, Swamiji's face was radiant with his usual benign smile, there was unique compassion and love in his eyes. He took an apple, cut it in to pieces, peeled off its skin and with his own hand, put in the mouth of my father. It was a unique moment. How much love was there! How much compassion was there! My whole being was permeated with joy and happiness - not knowing what was happening.

Soon after I left my father at home, at 3.30 p.m., I received a phone call from my wife, "Pitaji has come back to his normal senses. It is a miracle - Swamiji has done it. He is alright and is talking in sense." She was so excited. My father is still alive and happy and is in full senses. He does not remember at all that he was ever in the hospital and ever had any mental illness.

This great Master, so simple, so child-like, so innocent has done what others could not do. We are blessed to have Him as our Satguru.

Source : Harih Karta - Thy Will Be Done

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Madhava In Madhava

Hari Om,

Once during his stay at Jyoti Vihar, the Sambalpur University Campus, Swami Chidanandaji wanted a barber to shave his head. When the barber came, Swamiji politely asked him his name. The barber said that his name was Madhava. Then, to the utter astonishment of the barber, Swamiji prostrated himself at the feet of Madhava who had to serve him as barber. Before he could receive the service of the barber he first of all offered his grateful prayers to the man. When the shaving was over, Swamiji offered him plenty of fruits as Bhog and some coins in the form of Dakshina. Thus by personal example he imparts the lesson that the seeker should behold Madhava in each Manava and rise from humanity to divinity. 

Source : Harih Karta-Thy Will Be Done 

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

 

Passion For Service

Hari Om,

Swami Chidanandaji was once travelling in a taxi with two of his colleagues from the Ashram. It so happened that on the way they found some one lying on the road, badly injured all over the body. The taxi driver, of course, would take no notice of it and rushed forward in his usual speed. But Sri Swamiji quickly observed the scene and asked the driver to stop the vehicle. They got down and on enquiry found that the man was injured due to some accident and was lying in a helpless condition. Sri Swamiji was ready immediately to lift the patient into the vehicle so that he might be taken to the nearest hospital. But the driver would not allow it for he feared that the police would regard him as the culprit and haul him up under the impression that his own vehicle might have been the cause of the accident. What was the alternative for Swamiji? He offered the driver the fare due to him and asked him to go his way, preparing himself with his two companions to lift the patient and go walking to the nearest hospital, whatever the distance. The incident needs no comment. The driver was touched to the core and consented to take the patient in the taxi. 

Source : Harih Karta - Thy Will Be Done

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Swami Sivananda's Skanda Shasti Message, 1946

Hari Om,

Beloved Immortal Selves!

Skanda Shasthi is the six-day-worship of Lord Skanda or Karttikeya. He is the spiritual son of Lord Siva. Lord Skanda is worshipped with intense devotion by a very large section of people throughout Southern India and Sri Lanka as well. 

The origin of Lord Skanda, the purpose of His Avatara and its significance are of much importance to all seekers after Truth. During the battle between the Asuras and the Devas, the latter were defeated several times by the former. The Devas were unable to resist the onslaught of the Asuric forces. Then, in despair, they approached Lord Siva and entreated Him to give them an able Leader under whose heroic lead they might obtain victory over the Asuras. They surrendered themselves completely and prayed to Lord Siva sincerely. The gracious Lord granted their request by creating the Mighty Divine Warrior, Lord Skanda, out of His Divine Power or Achintya Sakti. This great son of Lord Siva at once assumed leadership of the celestial forces, originated them, inspired them and attacked the Asuric forces. The Asuras were routed and a glorious victory was gained by the Devas. Thus it was through the able guidance and leadership of Lord Skanda that the Divine forces obtained victory over the demoniacal. 

The inner life of the spiritual aspirant is precisely such a constant struggle between the divine and the demoniacal aspects in him. The seeker’s Sadhana is this determined battle against the Asuric forces that try to drag him down into deeper darkness and take him away from his ideal. At times he becomes so totally helpless under the violent attacks of his lower nature that it seems as if all hope of progress is doomed to failure. He feels that he has fallen, never to rise again. But, let all Sadhakas take heart that the compassion and grace of the Divine Lord is never-failing. It will never let you down. ‘Nil desperandum’ should be your guiding motto, for, the eternal law is “darkness cannot stand before light.” Make a whole-hearted surrender at the feet of the Divine even as the Devas surrendered to Lord Siva. And like them pray earnestly with Bhava and sincerity. The divine help will surely come, and in your heart there will spring up the routing torrent of Divine Sakti. The Lord’s grace will become manifest to you in the form of inner Soul-force. This power is the Skanda manifest in inner being to aid in your battle against the lower Asuric self with its devilish minions like passion, anger, greed, jealousy, falsehood, deceit, cruelty and thousand other aspects of evil. No more are you helpless! The descent of the Divine Grace with this Atma Bala, with this Skanda Sakti, will vanquish all the undivine forces that attack you on the spiritual path and emerge triumphant and victorious. You achieve your life’s goal. 

Therefore Lord Karttikeya is the very embodiment of the Divine Grace. He is the personification of the Daya Sakti, or Kripa Sakti of the Lord. The grace of the compassionate Lord, when prayerfully and sincerely invoked, manifests as such irresistible Divine Power that all Asuric forces fly away in holy terror at its mere approach. The Lord’s Grace is the ultimate resort and unfailing support in the inner warfare of everyone’s spiritual life, of all struggles. The significance and the spiritual message embodied in Skanda Avatara is the message of Supreme importance of self-surrender, the Supreme efficacy of sincere prayer and the unfailing compassion of the Lord. If you truly surrender yourself to the Lord with Bhava, He will at once shower His Grace upon you. No real prayer from the bottom of your heart will remain unanswered. If you obtain the Lord’s grace, you will certainly succeed and overcome all obstacles and annihilate the force of darkness, that stand against you. There is no force that can stand against the Supreme Power of Divine Grace. 

Take shelter at the Lord’s feet Pray to Him earnestly and invoke His aid and obtain His grace and compassion. Emerge triumphant and victorious. Attain the lofty and glorious spiritual state of freedom, perfection and bliss. Upon this joyous occasion of Skanda Shashthi, when you are all celebrating the victory of the Lord over the demon, Tarakasura, the powerful leader of the Asuras, remember these great truths and be courageous. Surrender yourself afresh at His feet. 

May the glorious Lord, Skanda, inspire you all and infuse in you with inner spiritual strength! May He lead you all to victorious triumph against the demons of nescience and worldliness!!

May He bless you all!!! 

 Source : Swami Sivananda's Lord Shanmukha and His Worship 

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Sri Sridhar Rao

Hari Om,

In 1944 or 1945, Sri Kashiram Gupta, a Marwadi devotee of Swami Sivananda and father of Sri Ram Niwas Gupta, who was very close to Sri Gurudev, came to the Ashram on a visit. Swami Sivananda called him to his Ganga bank Kutir. When Sri Kashiram Gupta entered the Kutir, Gurudev told him to be seated and enquired whether he was well-accommodated and comfortable. After Sri Kashiramji, an elderly person, assured him that he was perfectly at home, Gurudev suddenly looked at him and told him: "O jee! My successor has already come!" Sri Guptaji was somewhat surprised and asked Swami Sivanandji who that successor was. At that time Sri Sridhar Rao (later Swami Chidananda) had gone to the river bank and taken his dip and was drying himself, with a towel around his waist. Swami Sivananda pointed a finger in the direction of Sridhar Rao and told Sri Gupta: "Look there! See that young man on the riverbank? That is my successor." So, it seemed that already Swami Sivananda had made up his mind about his successor. It was indeed Pujya Swamiji's sankalpa which inspired student Sridhar Rao on the spiritual path and later drew him irresistibly to Rishikesh, to the feet of the Master. Sridhar Rao was conferred Sannyas by Gurudev six years after he arrived in Sivananda Ashram, in 1948, on Guru Purnima day, and thus was born Swami Chidananda Maharaj.

Source : Autobiography of Swami Chidananda 

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !

Spiritual Significance of Navaratri

Hari Om !

Swami Sivananda describes in detail the spiritual significance of Navaratri in his book Hindu Fasts and Festivals . Here is an excerpt from the chapter on Durga Puja or Navaratri.

The central purpose of existence is to recognise your eternal identity with the supreme Spirit. It is to grow into the image of the Divine. The supreme One embodies the highest perfection. It is spotless purity. To recognise your identity with That, to attain union with That, is verily to grow into the very likeness of the Divine. The aspirant, therefore, as his initial step, has to get rid of all the countless impurities, and the demoniacal elements that have come to cling to him in his embodied state. Then he has to acquire lofty virtues and auspicious, divine qualities. Thus purified, knowledge flashes upon him like the brilliant rays of the sun upon the crystal waters of a perfectly calm lake.

This process demands a resolute will, determined effort, and arduous struggle. In other words, strength and infinite power are the prime necessity. Thus it is the Divine Mother who has to operate through the aspirant.

Let us now consider how, on the first three days, the Mother is adored as supreme power and force, as Durga the Terrible. You pray to Mother Durga to destroy all your impurities, your vices, your defects. She is to fight with and annihilate the baser animal qualities in the spiritual aspirant, the lower, diabolical nature in him. Also, She is the power that protects your spiritual practice from its many dangers and pitfalls. Thus the first three days, which mark the first stage or the destruction of impurity and determined effort and struggle to root out the evil tendencies in your mind, are set apart for the worship of the destructive aspect of the Mother.

Once you have accomplished your task on the negative side, that of breaking down the impure propensities and old vicious habits, the next step is to build up a sublime spiritual personality, to acquire positive qualities in place of the eliminated demoniacal qualities. The divine qualities that Lord Krishna enumerates in the Gita, have to be acquired. The aspirant must cultivate and develop all the auspicious qualities. He has to earn immense spiritual wealth to enable him to pay the price for the rare gem of divine wisdom. If this development of the opposite qualities is not undertaken in right earnest, the old demoniacal nature will raise its head again and again. Hence, this stage is as important in an aspirant's career as the previous one. The essential difference is: the former is a ruthless, determined annihilation of the filthy egoistic lower self; the latter is an orderly, steady, calm and serene effort to develop purity. This pleasanter side of the aspirant's Sadhana is depicted by the worship of Mother Lakshmi. She bestows on Her devotees the inexhaustible divine wealth or Deivi Sampath. Lakshmi is the wealth-giving aspect of God. She is purity itself. Thus the worship of Goddess Lakshmi is performed during the second set of three days.

Once the aspirant succeeds in routing out the evil propensities, and develops Sattwic or pure, divine qualities, he becomes competent to attain wisdom. He is now ready to receive the light of supreme wisdom. He is fit to receive divine knowledge. At this stage comes the devout worship of Mother Saraswathi, who is divine knowledge personified, the embodiment of knowledge of the Absolute. The sound of Her celestial veena awakens the notes of the sublime utterances of the Upanishads which reveal the Truth, and the sacred monosyllable, Om. She bestows the knowledge of the supreme, mystic sound and then gives full knowledge of the Self as represented by Her pure, dazzling snow-white apparel. Therefore, to propitiate Saraswathi, the giver of knowledge, is the third stage.

The tenth day, Vijaya Dasami, marks the triumphant ovation of the soul at having attained liberation while living in this world, through the descent of knowledge by the Grace of Goddess Saraswathi. The soul rests in his own Supreme Self or Satchidananda Brahman. This day celebrates the victory, the achievement of the goal. The banner of victory flies aloft. Lo! I am He! I am He!

This arrangement also has a special significance in the aspirant's spiritual evolution. It marks the indispensable stages of evolution through which everyone has to pass. One naturally leads to the other; to short-circuit this would inevitably result in a miserable failure. Nowadays many ignorant seekers aim straight at the cultivation of knowledge without the preliminaries of purification and acquisition of the divine qualities. They then complain that they are not progressing on the path. How can they? Knowledge will not descend until the impurities have been washed out, and purity is developed. How can the pure plant grow in impure soil?

Therefore adhere to this arrangement; your efforts will be crowned with sure success. This is your path. As you destroy one evil quality, develop the virtue opposite to it. By this process you will soon bring yourself up to that perfection which will culminate in identity with the Self which is your goal. Then all knowledge will be yours: you will be omniscient, omnipotent and you will feel your omnipresence. You will see your Self in all. You will have achieved eternal victory over the wheel of births and deaths, over the demon of worldliness. No more pain, no more misery, no more birth, no more death! Victory, victory be yours!

Glory to the Divine Mother! Let Her take you, step by step to the top of the spiritual ladder and unite you with the Lord!

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Sivanandaya !

Om Namoh Bhagavathe Chidanandaya !