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IOL News
10-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- IOL News
Commemorating a spiritual legacy: The centenary of His Holiness Sri Swami Sahajananda
His Holiness Sri Swami Sahajananda previously with politicians Jacob Zuma and Zweli Mkhize Image: Supplied On 10 July 2025, devotees and supporters from around the world, along with the Sivananda World Peace Foundation and the Divine Life Society of South Africa, will gather to commemorate the centenary of the birth and divine legacy of His Holiness Sri Swami Sahajananda. The day not only marks a century since his birth in 1925 in Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal, but also celebrates the profound impact he has had on countless lives through his teachings and humanitarian work. As the Spiritual Head of the Divine Life Society of South Africa and a devoted disciple of the revered sage Sri Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, India, Swami Sahajananda dedicated his life to the principles of "serve, love, give, purify, meditate and realise". His commitment to these ideals saw him spearhead over 300 humanitarian projects throughout South Africa, particularly in rural areas of KwaZulu-Natal, from 1974 until his Mahasamadhi (departure) in 2007. Swami Sahajananda's journey began when he set aside a promising academic and sporting career to answer a spiritual calling, ignited by the teachings of Sri Swami Sivananda found in 'Practice of Karma Yoga.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The transformational encounter laid the foundation for his lifelong devotion to self-realisation, meditation, and community service. In 1949, he founded the first South African branch of the Divine Life Society, which blossomed under his guidance. His dedication reached new heights in 1956 when he was initiated into the holy order of Sannyas and assumed the monastic name Swami Sahajananda. With this shift, he committed to a life of humility, obedience, and active service to humanity. His endeavors included establishing schools and clinics, children's homes, low-cost housing projects, peace centres, and vital skills development initiatives. A tireless Karma Yogi, he personally edited, typeset, printed, and bound thousands of spiritual books, ensuring that the teachings of his master reached generations. Swami Sahajananda's approach integrated spiritual learning with community upliftment, inspiring many to engage in selfless service and walk the righteous path. Today's commemorative events will reflect on Swamiji's extraordinary life—an epitome of total surrender, selflessness, and sacred action. As he relinquished worldly ambitions for spiritual pursuits, he became a guiding light in South Africa and beyond, known affectionately as the Chota Guru. Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu, a leading disciple of Swamiji and the president of the Sivananda World Peace Foundation, expressed deep gratitude for the legacy of the beloved swamiji. 'We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to have served alongside him and learned from his divine presence. The enduring legacy of his mission—rooted in Swami Sivananda's philosophy—continues to guide our collective efforts in building a just and compassionate society,' he said. He went on to affirm, 'May his divine legacy inspire generations to come." DAILY NEWS
IOL News
25-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Divine Life Society to celebrates Guru Purnima and Swami Sahajananda's 100th birthday
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 THE POST
