Swami.Sivananda Saraswati Ji
Swami Sivananda Saraswati was born at pattamadai, (Tamil Nadu) in 1887. After serving as a medical doctor in Malaya, he renounced his practice to search for his guru in the foothills of the himalayas. He settled in the sacred valley of Rishikesh and was initiated into the dashnami sannyasa tradition in 1924 by Swami Vishwananda Saraswati. In subsequent years he wrote hundreds of books and articles on yoga and spirituality to maintain and introduce yogic values in the minds of the general public. His emphasis was on breaking down the barriers which separated the needy from the teachings that could help them, whether this took the form of yoga for health, peace of mind or spiritual aspiration. This ideology continues to guide the work of the Satyananda branch of his lineage.to this end Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati toured india extensively, inspiring people to practice yoga and lead a divine life.
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He founded the divine life society at Rishikesh in 1936, the Sivananda ayurvedic pharmacy in 1945, the yoga vedanta forest academy in 1948 and the Sivananda eye hospital in 1957 and attained maha samadhi on 14th july 1963.
Swami.Vishnudevananda Ji
Swamiji was born in Kerala, south India, in 1927. As a young child, one of his main character traits was strong will and determination. his mother, now known as Mataji who later took sannyasa (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 a 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 it 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.
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As a teenager without financial resources for university, he turned to join 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 faraway Rishikesh in the Himalayas.
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This short visit left such an impression on the young boy's mind that he resolved to return as soon as possible.
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Meeting the Master
On his second visit, the young disciple received 2 powerful lessons from swami Sivananda. The first lesson came when swami Vishnudevananda 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). Swami ji 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 Vishnudevananda spontaneously replied "yes".
The Training
For 10 years swami Vishnudevananda continued at the Sivananda ashram and was trained in all aspects of yoga by swami Sivananda. Swami Vishnudevananda 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 Swami ji a 10 rupee note (less than a dollar!) and his blessings to travel to the west and spread the teachings of Vedanta. "People are waiting" were the words of the master.
Swami Ji as a world teacher
Swamiji's limitless energy and profound inspiration lead him to found and direct the international Sivananda Yoga Vedanta centres. There are now 20 yoga centres and 9 ashrams and many affiliated centres. Swami created the first yoga teachers training course which to date has trained more than 26,000 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.
The flying Swami & the peace missions
Throughout his whole life, Swamiji was deeply concerned about the wellbeing of the world and the constant disaster of wars. This lead 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.
I have given you all I have with all my heart and love. It is for you to give to others. Sometimes i may not know all the answers, and i know that i have a long way to go. If you didn't get anything, that's because of my lower emotional nature. If there was anything good you got, it came from my great master Sivananda. I don't say that I’m an unemotional person. i scolded and talked endlessly. i acted like a dictator. If i were like my master, or like Jesus, i could wash the feet of my disciples. But for that one must be very high. it can only be done when the ego is gone. If I were to do it, it would be hypocrisy. i'm not that high. Once, some years ago, i prostrated myself before a man to whom i had been rude and impatient. As i was doing it, I was thinking "how humble I Am." so don't look for an easy way to overcome your ego. For years i've tried. I watch myself as my ego manifests itself. i analyze. But it clings like a leech. When we can't control ourselves, we should offer it to the lord: "oh lord, i offer it to thee!" and now, if in any way i hurt your feelings, I ask you with all my heart to pardon me.
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- Swami Vishnudevananda
Our goal & vision is to teach increased awareness and promote widespread adoption of yoga by making yoga accessible to everyone from beginners to more advanced yoga students. bringing peace & divinity in everyone`s life.
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Om shanti shanti shanti hee
(Peace Peace Peace)​
Namaste