The Masters
"Be what you say. Say what you are. Be simple like a child. The greatest truths are the simplest; and so are the greatest men." Swami Sivananda
Swami Sivananda (1887 - 1963)
Swami Sivananda is one of greatest sages of modern India. After a successful career as a doctor he renounced the world, practised intense meditation and attained self-realization. As a prodigious author he published more than 300 books and pamphlets, thus spreading all aspects of Yoga and philosophy in simple yet profound words. In his ashram, the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh, Himalayas, he trained many outstanding disciples.
In 1957 he sent Swami Vishnu-devananda to teach Yoga in the West.
Swami Vishnu-devananda (1927 - 1993)
Swami Vishnu-devananda lived with his Guru Swami Sivananda for 12 years. In 1957 he came to America, and in the early 1970´s to Europe, and founded the international Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers in many cities. He was a dynamic Hatha and Raja Yoga master bringing the classical teachings of Yoga and Vedanta in its purest form to the West. He was also a tireless campaigner for World peace bringing the message of peace in many troubled spots all over the world.
Thousands of students have been personally trained by Swami Vishnu-devananda as yoga teachers and many more have been inspired by his books "The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga", "Meditation and Mantras" and "Sivananda Companion to Yoga".
Senior Disciples
I am blessed to have received teachings from the Sivananda Centres which were founded by Swami Vishnu-devananda, himself a disciple of Swami Sivananda. www.sivananda.org
The word thank you is often quite meaningless.
Swami Sivananda (1887 – 1963)
Swami Sivananda, one of the greatest Yoga masters of the 20th century, is the inspiration behind the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers.
Born in 1887 in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, South India, Swami Sivananda, whose name was then Kuppuswami, was brilliant at studying and gymnastics and naturally inclined towards spiritual practices.
His parents were very devoted to Lord Siva and Kuppuswami was eager to join them twice daily for worship (Puja) and Kirtan (Mantra chanting).
His natural selfless spirit led him to a career in the medical field. His amazing eagerness and ability to learn and assimilate his studies earned him the respect of his professors who invited him to attend surgeries while still in his first year of medical school.
The young Dr. Kuppuswami felt a strong urge to go to Malaysia where he felt there was great need. In a short time he was given the responsibility of running a hospital. During these years Dr. Kuppuswami was renowned as being both an excellent doctor and a true humanitarian. Very often he waived consultation fees for patients too poor to afford his services and on many occasions provided medicine for free to his neediest patients.
One day Dr. Kuppuswami had the opportunity to cure a wandering Sannyasin (renunciate or Monk) who then gave the doctor instruction on Yoga and Vedanta. From that day on his life changed, and gradually Dr. Kuppuswami became more introspective and could not stop pondering the great questions of life. Now he felt the need to help people on a more profound level, not just healing their physical body, but helping them to find a cure for all suffering.
Filled with a tremendous desire for spiritual growth and enlightenment Kuppuswami went to North India in search of his Guru. After spending time in Varanasi (Banaras) he traveled north to the Himalayas. There in the holy town of Rishikesh (which means "the abode of the sages") Kuppuswami discovered his Guru who gave him Sannyas (a monk's vows of renunciation). After taking these vows, Swami Sivananda Saraswati, as he would be known henceforth, started an extremely intense daily Sadhana (spiritual practices) and Tapas (austerities) for the next 10 years or so. By the end of that period many co-Sadhus felt drawn to Swami Sivananda for his instruction and his spiritual inspiration.
From that time Swami Sivananda became one of the most prolific Yoga teachers who has ever existed. Although he rarely left the little town of Rishikesh (with only 2 India tours and no visits abroad) Swami Sivananda's teachings spread quickly throughout our entire planet. He personally wrote by hand more than 300 books on topics connected to Yoga and Philosophy. He wrote in a style that is very direct and bursting with dynamic, spiritual energy. As a result many who read his books felt their lives deeply touched and transformed and so came from all over the world to learn from him directly, and to bask in his holy presence. The teachings of Master Sivananda are summarized in these 6 words:
"Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize".
In 1957, Swami Sivananda sent his devoted and industrious disciple, Swami Vishnu-devananda to the West where he then established the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers.
Swami Vishnu-devenanda (1927-1993)
Founder of the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, Swami Vishnu-devananda, is a world authority on Hatha and Raja Yoga. Swamiji was also known as the "Flying Swami" for the different peace missions he accomplished around the world.
Swamiji was born in Kerala, South India, in 1927. As a young child one of his main character traits was a strong will and determination. His mother, now known as Mataji who later took Sannyas (vows of renunciation) from Swami Sivananda, said that whenever her son wanted something, nothing or no one could stop him. An interesting anecdote tells how as a 5 year old youngster he had the strong desire to go to school and learn. When told that it was not possible since the nearest school was located more than 5 miles away, the child took upon himself to pack and go early the next morning for the long 5 mile walk through the jungle. He walked back that evening and would do the same for many years to come.
As a teenager without financial resources for University, he turned to joining the army to receive the scientific education he yearned for. During this time as he looked for a lost paper in a waste basket, his eyes fell upon a paper entitled "20 Spiritual Instructions" by Swami Sivananda. The pamphlet began: "An ounce of practice is better than tons of theory". The practicality and inherent power of these simple words lead Swamiji to travel across India during a 36 hour leave to meet Swami Sivananda in Rishsikesh, the Himalayas.
This short visit left such an impression on the young man’s mind that he resolved to return as soon as possible.
On his second visit, the young disciple received two powerful lessons from Swami Sivananda. The first lesson came when Swami Vishnu-devananda felt too timid and a bit arrogant to bow to the Guru Swami Sivananda. So the Master Swami Sivananda prostrated fully before the young student demonstrating the lesson of humility. The second lesson came during Arati (worship ceremony) to Ganga (Ganges river). Swamiji was perplexed and doubtful as he pondered why intelligent people would worship what scientifically is merely H2O. The Master then smiled subtly and gazed at Swamij who instantly beheld the river as a vast, bright, cosmic light. Swami Sivananda then invited the young boy to remain at the Ashram to study and become a Yogi. Swami Vishnu-devananda spontaneously replied "Yes".
For 10 years Swami Vishnu-devananda continued at the Sivananda Ashram and was trained in all aspects of Yoga by Swami Sivananda. Swami Vishnu-devananda quickly became an exceptional adept in the path of Hatha Yoga and was a very keen and tireless Karma Yogi. One day Swami Sivananda gave Swamiji a 10 Rupee note, less than a dollar, and his blessings. He was instructed to travel to the West and spread the teachings of Yoga. "People are waiting" were the words of the Master.
Swamiji's limitless energy and profound inspiration lead him to found and direct the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers which now numbers more than 20 Yoga centers and 7 Ashrams and many affiliated centers and teachers. Swamiji created the first Yoga Teachers Training Course which to date has trained more than 8,000 certified teachers in the field of Yoga and spirituality. One of his brilliant touches was to summarize these ancient and vast teachings into five principles of Yoga which are easy to understand and convenient to incorporate in one's daily practice.
Throughout his whole life, Swamiji was deeply concerned about the well being of the world and the constant disaster of wars. This led him to learn to fly and then personally pilot a small plane over several troubled areas of the world. Not only did he create discussion and awareness in the news media, but he also "bombarded" these war torn areas with flowers and peace pamphlets while repeating the peace Mantra; Om Namo Narayanaya.