Videos taken during 100 Days Special Programe (from 16th June to 24th Sep 2016) for Sri Swami Chidananda Birth Centenary Celebration at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.

29th-June-2016

30th-June-2016

01st-July-2016

Photos  taken during 100 Days Special Programe (from 16th June to 24th Sep 2016) for Sri Swami Chidananda Birth Centenary Celebration at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.

Prasthantrayi Mula Parayana by Adisankara Brahmavidya Peetha, Uttarakashi.

Photos  taken during 100 Days Special Programe (from 16th June to 24th Sep 2016) for Sri Swami Chidananda Birth Centenary Celebration at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.

Sri Rama Katha by Sri Sri Brajesh Pathakji, Faridpur.

July 1964

Om Namo Bhagavte Sivanandaya!

Salutations and worshipful Pranams to the sacred lotus-Feet of the Guru whose form is to be an object of our meditation, whose feet are to be adored, whose words are most holy truths and whose Grace grants us supreme Divine beatitude!

Guru is one who shad destroyed his mind and who knows how one has to destroy it. The only thing that stands in the way of our spiritual realization is our own mind and it is to remove this obstacle that one comes to the Guru and surrenders himself unto him. But, then, Guru-Kripa has not only to be bestowed, not only to be given; it has also to be received. In receiving it, we immortalize ourselves, divinise ourselves. We must be ready to receive it; then it will flow into us and raise us to the highest realm of immortality, eternal light and infinite bliss. But, then, how can we receive it? How should we conduct ourselves if we are to receive this Grace?

Carry out the teachings of the Guru; and this should be our Sadhana day in day out. There may be certain inner qualifications which are necessary for the full and effective reception of divine grace; even after having attained all the qualifications of the ideal disciple, we have to wait in humility and in patience. There is no loss here, for the goal is immortal life, freedom. If we have become willing servants and willing, obedient disciples, then it is the natural law that Guru-Kripa may come in an unpleasant form. It may come in the form of a series of disappointments. We may think that Guru has not bestowed his Kripa upon us; but that disappointment itself will be his Kripa. We are not fit to judge whether we are ready to receive Guru-Kripa or not, and what form it would take. The best thing is to humbly leave everything to the Guru.

“I do not know whether I am a disciple or not. Therefore, O ocean of mercy and compassion, pray make me a proper disciple. Generate in me that Mumukshutva which makes me a disciple and give me the spirit of willing obedience.

“Help me in trying to follow thy instructions. Help me in trying to mould myself upon the pattern set up by thee”; this must be our constant prayer. And, by this alone shall we be able to draw the Kripa of our Guru and make our life fruitful. And the perfect way of praying is trying our best to be real disciples.

Beloved follower of Sri Gurudev, to send this message into you, is a great privilege and a joy to me. It is a rare blessedness to think of the Satguru, a rarer blessedness to speak about Him, to glorify and praise Him and a supreme good fortune to worship Him. To meditate upon the Guru is the greatest blessing that cam come into the life of a seeking soul. Our sowbhagya was verily great when God granted us all, the living and life-transforming contact and association with a Mahapurusha like Gurudev Sivananda. Our supreme and unique Sowbhagya would still be this same living contact if we earnestly endeavour and sincerely strive to keep alive and maintain this link with Sri Gurudev even now by our regular worship of His Living Presence. TO KEEP ALIVE THIS VITAL CONTACT WORSHIP IS THE SPIRITUAL METHOD.

Worship is the means of approaching the Invisible. It takes us closer to the Intangible Divine Essence in which form Gurudev now abides after setting aside the physical in which He dwelt, and through which He moved with us all on a physical plane. By regular worship, the seeker strengthens his spiritual bond with the Guru even beyond the time of his physical existence. By preserving such a bond, the disciple is able to draw upon himself the continued Guru-Kripa. He is blessed with guidance and protected by His benedictions in a mysterious way. Adore thy Guru and pay homage unto Him who has opened thy eyes to the glorious purpose of life, and who has shown you the true path to blessedness and bliss. This is your foremost duty now. O Seeker after Peace and Joy! Herein lied thy Supreme Welfare.

The most holy Guru Purnima is a great annual occasion that privides you an invaluable opportunity of re-establishing this vital inner contact with Gurudev. It is a day when all the devotees and disciples earnestly put forth special efforts to experience their oneness with the Nirakara Guru Tattva. It is an occasion, a holy and auspicious occasion for renewing your inner ties with the Guru upon the spiritual plane. To us all, this day assumes an added solemn significance this year, because now—more than ever—we need to invoke, re-create and strengthen the spiritual contact. For, upon last Guru Purnima Day Sri Gurudev still lived in His physical form. But his year, for the first time in all our long years of blessed contact and spiritual association with the Guru, this blessing is no more. The Guru exists; SRI GURUDEV IS WITH US. In the depths of our spiritual being, we must experience the presence of His pure spiritual Self. This we shall do in a special way upon Guru Purnima Day.

Renew this contact. And then plunge into a period of spiritual Sadhana. Crown that Anushthana with an inspiring worship of His glorious radiance abiding in His Samadhisthana. Thus has been conceived the holy spiritual programme for this ensuing Guru Purnima on 24th July. The Sadhana Anushthana following the Purnima worship is to culminate in the sacred Aradhana upon the 1st Anniversary of Gurudev Sivanandaji’s Maha-Samadhi on 2nd August. I have no doubt that all those disciples and devotees who come and participate with sincerity, faith, devotion and reverence will experience without fail the blessedness of His living contact and loving Kripa.

May all those who have had the unique good fortune of receiving Mantra Diksha from Satguru Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj try to participate in this holy programme; or observe these two great days by conducting a similar spiritual programme at their own places. Jai Sivananda! May Gurudev’ grace be upon you all!

With regards, Prem and Om!

Thine in Sri Gurudev,

Swami Chidananda

Ajnana-Timirandhasya Jnananjana-Salakaya;
Chakshurunmilitam Yena Tasmai Sri Gurave Namah.

Prostrations to that Guru who, by the collyrium-rod of Knowledge, opens the eyes of those who are rendered blind by the darkness of ignorance (Guru Gita).

The Guru is God Himself manifesting in a personal form to guide the aspirant. Grace of God takes the form of Guru. To see the Guru is to see God. The Guru is united with God. He inspires devotion in others. His presence purifies all.

The Guru is verily a link between the individual and the Immortal. He is a being who has raised himself from this into That, and thus has a free and unhampered access to both the realms. He stands, as it were, upon the threshold of immortality; and bending down, he raises the struggling individuals with his one hand, and with the other lifts them up into the empyrean of everlasting joy and infinite Truth-Consciousness.

The Satguru

Mere study of books cannot make one a Guru. One who has studied the Vedas and who has direct knowledge of Atman through Anubhava can only be enrolled as a Guru. A Jivanmukta or a liberated sage is the real Guru or spiritual preceptor. He is the Satguru. He is identical with Brahman or the Supreme Self. He is a Knower of Brahman.

Possession of Siddhis is not the test to declare the greatness of a sage or to prove he has attained Self-realisation. Satgurus do not exhibit any miracles or Siddhis. Sometimes they may exhibit them in order to convince the aspirants of the existence of super physical things, give them encouragement, and instil faith in their hearts. A Satguru is endowed with countless Siddhis. He possesses all divine Aisvarya, all the wealth of the Lord.

The Satguru is Brahman Himself. He is an ocean of bliss, knowledge and mercy. He is the captain of your soul. He is the fountain of joy. He removes all your troubles, sorrows and obstacles. He shows you the right divine path. He tears your veil of ignorance. He makes you immortal and divine. He transmutes your lower, diabolical nature. He gives you the rope of knowledge and saves you when you are drowning in this ocean of Samsara. Do not consider him to be only a man. If you take him as a man, you are a beast. Worship your Guru and bow to him with reverence.

Guru is God. A word from him is a word from God. He need not teach anything. Even his presence or company is elevating, inspiring and stirring. The very company itself is self-illumination. Living in his company is spiritual education. Read ‘Sri Granth Sahib’. You will come to know the greatness of Guru.

Man can learn only from a man, and hence God teaches through a human body. In your Guru, you have your human ideal of perfection. He is the pattern from which you wish to mould yourself. Your mind will readily be convinced that such a great soul is fit to be worshipped and revered.

Guru is the Moksha-Dvara. He is the gateway to the transcendental Truth-Consciousness. But, it is the aspirant that has to enter through it. The Guru is a help, but the actual task of practical Sadhana falls on the aspirant himself.

The Need for a Guru

For a beginner in the spiritual path, a Guru is necessary. To light a candle, you need a burning candled Even so, an illumined soul alone can enlighten another soul.

Some do meditation for some years independently. Later on, they actually feel the necessity for a Guru. They come across some obstacles in the way. They do not know how to obviate these impediments or stumbling blocks. Then they begin to search for a Master.

Only the man who has already been to Badrinath will be able to tell you the road leading to it. In the case of the spiritual path, it is still more difficult to find your way. The mind will mislead you very often. The Guru will be able to remove pitfalls and obstacles, and lead you along the right path. He will tell you: “This road leads you to Moksha; this one leads to bondage.” Without this guidance, you might want to go to Badrinath, but find yourself in Delhi!

The scriptures are like a forest. There are ambiguous passages. There are passages that are apparently contradictory and others that have esoteric meanings, diverse significance and hidden explanations. There are cross references. You are in need of a Guru or Preceptor who will explain to you the right meaning, who will remove doubts and ambiguities, who will place before you the essence of the teachings.

A Guru is absolutely necessary for every aspirant in the spiritual path. It is only the Guru who will find out your defects. The nature of egoism is such that you will not be able to find out your own defects. Just as a man cannot see his back, so also he cannot see his own errors. He must live under a Guru for the eradication of his evil qualities and defects.

The aspirant who is under the guidance of a Master or Guru is safe from being led astray. Satsanga or association with the Guru is an armour and fortress to guard you against all temptations and unfavourable forces of the material world.

Cases of those who had attained perfection without study under any Guru should not be cited as authoritative against the necessity for a Guru; for, such great men are the anomalies of spiritual life, and not the common normality. They come into existence as spiritual masters as a result of the intense service, study and meditation practised in previous births. They had already studied under the Guru. The present birth is only its continuative spiritual effect. Hence, the importance of the Guru is not lessened thereby.

Some teachers mislead their aspirants. They say to all: “Think for yourself. Do not surrender yourself to any Guru.” When one says, “Do not follow any Gurus,” he intends to be the listeners’ Guru himself. Do not approach such pseudo-Gurus. Do not hear their lectures.

All great ones had their teachers. All the sages, saints, prophets, world teachers, incarnations, great men have had their own Gurus, however great they might have been. Svetaketu learnt the nature of Truth from Uddalaka, Maitreyi from Yajnavalkya, Bhrigu from Varuna, Narada from Sanatkumara, Nachiketas from Yama, Indra from Prajapati; and several others humbly went to wise ones, observed strict Brahmacharya, practised rigorous discipline, and learnt Brahma-Vidya from them.

Lord Krishna sat at the feet of His Guru Sandipani. Lord Rama had Guru Vasishtha who gave Him Upadesa. Lord Jesus sought John to be baptised by him on the banks of the river Jordan. Even Devas have Brihaspati as their Guru. Even the greatest among the divine beings sat at the feet of Guru Dakshinamurti.

A neophyte must have a personal Guru first. He cannot have God as Guru to begin with. He must have a pure mind. He must have ethical perfection. He must be intensely virtuous. He must be above body-consciousness. Then alone can he have God as Guru.

Choosing the Guru

If you find peace in the presence of a Mahatma, if you are inspired by his speeches, if he is able to clear your doubts, if he is free from greed, anger and lust, if he is selfless, loving and I-less, you can take him as your Guru. He who is able to clear your doubts, he who is sympathetic in your Sadhana, he who does not disturb your beliefs but helps you on from where you are, he in whose very presence you feel spiritually elevated—he is your Guru. Once you choose your Guru, implicitly follow him. God will guide you through the Guru.

Do not use your reason too much in the selection of your Guru. You will fail if you do so. If you fail to get a first-class Guru, try to follow the instructions of the Sadhu who is treading the path for some years, who has purity and other virtuous qualities, and who has some knowledge of the scriptures. Just as a student of the Intermediate Class will be able to teach a student of Third Form when a professor with M.A. qualification is not available, just as a sub-assistant surgeon will be able to attend on a patient when the civil surgeon is not available, this second-class type of Guru will be able to help you.

If you are not able to find out even this second-class type of Guru, you can follow the teachings contained in the books written by realised saints like Sri Sankara, Dattatreya and others. You can keep a photo of such a realised Guru, if available, and worship the same with faith and devotion. Gradually you will get inspiration, and the Guru may appear in a dream and initiate and inspire you at the proper time. For a sincere Sadhaka, help comes in a mysterious manner.

Mysterious Help From the Lord

Just see how the Lord has helped the devotees in the following instances. Ekanath heard an Akasa-Vani, a voice from the sky. It said, “See Janardhan Pant at Deva Giri. He will put you in the proper path and guide you.” He acted accordingly and found his Guru. Tukaram received his Mantra “Rama Krishna Hari” in his dream. He repeated this Mantra and had Darshan of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna directed Namadev to get his higher initiation from a Sannyasin at Mallikarjuna. Queen Chudalai assumed the form of Kumbha Muni, appeared before her husband Sikhidhvaja in the forest, and initiated him into the mysteries of Kaivalya. Madhura Kavi saw a light in the firmament for three days consecutively. It guided him and took him to his Guru Nammalvar who was sitting in his Samadhi underneath a tamarind tree near Tinnevelly. Bilvamangal was very much attracted to Chintamani, the dancing woman. The latter became his Guru. Tulasidas received instructions from an invisible being to see Hanuman and, through Hanuman, to get Darshan of Sri Rama.

Competent disciples are never in want of a competent Guru. Realised souls are not rare. Ordinary ignorant-minded persons cannot easily recognise them. Only a few persons, who are pure and embodiments of all virtuous qualities, can understand realised souls, and they alone will be benefited in their company.

So long as there is a world, there are Gurus and Vedas to guide the struggling souls in the path of Self-realisation. The number of realised souls may be less in the Iron Age when compared with the Satya Yuga, but they are always present to help the aspirants. Let each man take the path according to his capacity, temperament and understanding. His Satguru will meet him along that path.

Siksha Gurus and Diksha Gurus

Man has a twofold duty here on earth—to preserve his life, and to realise his Self. To preserve his life, he has to learn to work for his daily bread. To realise his Self, he has to serve, love and meditate. The Guru who teaches him the knowledge of worldly arts is the Siksha Guru. The Guru who shows him the path of Realisation is the Diksha Guru. Siksha Gurus can be many—as many as the things he wishes to learn. Diksha Guru can be only one—the one who leads him to Moksha.

Stick to One Guru

From a doctor, you get a prescription. From two doctors, you get consultation. From three doctors, you get your own cremation. Even so, if you have many Gurus, you will be bewildered. You will be at a loss to know what to do. One Guru will tell you: “Do Soham Japa.” Another will tell you: “Do Japa of Sri Ram.” A third Guru will tell you: “Hear Anahata sounds.” You will be puzzled. Stick to one Guru and follow his instructions.

Listen to all, but follow one. Respect all, but adore one. Gather knowledge from all, but adopt the teachings of one Master. Then you will have rapid spiritual progress.

Guru-Parampara

Spiritual knowledge is a matter of Guru-Parampara. It is handed down from Guru to his disciple. Gaudapadacharya imparted Self-knowledge to his disciple Govindacharya; Govindacharya to his disciple Sankaracharya; Sankaracharya to his disciple Suresvaracharya. Matsyendranath imparted knowledge to his disciple Gorakhnath; Gorakhnath to Nivrittinath; Nivrittinath to Jnanadeva. Totapuri imparted knowledge to Sri Ramakrishna, and Ramakrishna to Swami Vivekananda. It was Ashtavakra who moulded the life of Raja Janaka. It was Gorakhnath who shaped the spiritual destiny of Raja Bhartrihari. It was Lord Krishna who made Arjuna and Uddhava get themselves established in the spiritual path when their minds were in an unsettled state.

Initiation—Its Meaning

A Bhakta will be initiated by a Bhakta saint in the path of devotion. A Jnani will initiate a student of Vedanta in the Mahavakyas. A Hatha Yogi or Raja Yogi can initiate another in his particular path. But, a sage of perfect Realisation, a Purna Jnani or Purna Yogi, can give initiation in any particular path. A sage or saint like Sri Sankara or Madhusudhana Sarasvati can initiate a Sadhaka, in any particular path for which the aspirant is fit. The Guru will find out by close study of the aspirant his tastes, temperaments and capacity, and decide for him the most suitable path. If his heart is impure, the teacher will prescribe selfless service for a number of years. Then the Guru will find out for what particular path the student is fit and initiate him in that.

Initiation does not mean reciting a Mantra into another’s ears. If Rama is influenced by the thoughts of Krishna, the former has got initiation already from the latter. If an aspirant treads the path of truth after studying the books written by a saint, and imbibes his teachings, that saint has already become his Guru.

Sakti-Sanchara

Just as you can give an orange to a man, so also, spiritual power can be transmitted by one to another. This method of transmitting spiritual powers is termed Sakti-Sanchara. In Sakti-Sanchara, a certain spiritual vibration of the Satguru is actually transferred to the mind of the disciple.

Spiritual power is transmitted by the Guru to the proper disciple whom he considers fit for Sakti-Sanchara. The Guru can transform the disciple by a look, a touch, a thought or a word or willing.

Sakti-Sanchara comes through Parampara. It is a hidden mystic science. It is handed down from the Guru to the disciple.

Lord Jesus, through touch, transmitted his spiritual power to some of his disciples. A disciple of Samartha Ramdas transmitted his power to that dancing girl’s daughter who was very passionate towards him. This disciple gazed at her and gave her Samadhi. Her passion vanished. She became very religious and spiritual. Lord Krishna touched the blind eyes of Suradas. The inner eye of Suradas was opened. He had Bhava-Samadhi. Lord Gauranga, through his touch, produced divine intoxication in many people and converted them to his side. Atheists even danced in ecstasy in the streets by his touch and sang songs of Hari.

The disciple should not rest satisfied with the transmission of power from the Guru. He will have to struggle hard in Sadhana for further perfection and attainments. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa touched Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda had super conscious experience. He struggled hard for seven years more, even after the touch, for attaining perfection.

Grace and Self-Effort

Realisation cannot come to you as a miracle done by your Guru. Lord Buddha, Lord Jesus, Rama Tirtha have all done Sadhana. Lord Krishna asks Arjuna to develop Vairagya and Abhyasa. He did not say to him, “I will give you Mukti now.” Therefore, abandon the wrong notion that your Guru will give you Samadhi and Mukti. Strive, purify, meditate and realise.

Guru-Kripa, grace of the Guru, is very necessary. That does not mean that the disciple should sit idle. He must do rigid Purushartha, spiritual practices. The whole work must be done by the student. Nowadays, people want a drop of water from the Kamandalu of a Sannyasin and desire to enter into Samadhi immediately. They are not prepared to undergo any Sadhana for purification and Self-realisation. They want a magic pill to push them into Samadhi. If you have got such delusion, give it up immediately.

Guru and Sastras can show you the path and remove your doubts. Anubhava of Aparoksha kind or direct intuitive knowledge is left for your own experience. A hungry man will have to eat for himself. He who has a severe itching will have to scratch for himself.

No doubt, Guru’s blessings can do everything. How can one have his blessings? By pleasing the Guru. A Guru can be pleased with his disciple only if the latter carries out his spiritual instructions implicitly. Carefully follow, therefore, the instructions of the Guru. Act up to his instructions. Then only will you deserve his blessings, and then alone his blessings can do everything.

Just as Kirtan-Sadhana has been made the special Kali-Yuga Sadhana for quick God-vision, even so herein you have the new Yoga, a Yoga most eminently suitable for this age of doubt and scepticism, pride and egoism. It is Guru-Bhakti Yoga. This Yoga is marvellous. Its power is tremendous. Its efficacy is most unfailing. The true glory Of Guru-Bhakti is indescribable. It is the Yoga par excellence for this age, which makes God appear here before you in flesh and blood and move with you in this very life. The hard Rajasic ego is the arch enemy of the Sadhaka. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the surest and best Sadhana to destroy arrogance and to dissolve the vicious ego. Just as a particular deadly germ can be annihilated only by a certain specific chemical germicide, even so, to destroy Avidya and Ahankara, this unique Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the peerless specific. They are the gravest ‘Mayacide’ and ‘egocide’. They become quite powerless and no longer afflict the fortunate soul who saturates himself with the spirit of Guru-Bhakti Yoga. Blessed indeed is the man who earnestly takes to this Yoga; for he will obtain crowning success in all other Yogas. TO him will accrue the choicest fruits of perfection in Karma, Bhakti, Dhyana and Jnana.

The qualification for taking to this Yoga is the simple trio of sincerity, faith and obedience. Be sincere in your aspiration for Perfection. Be not vague or half-hearted. Then have perfect faith in the one you have accepted as your Guru. Do not allow even so much as a shadow of doubt to approach you. When once you have reposed absolute faith in him, then know that what he instructs you is indeed for your highest good. Therefore, obey his word implicitly. Follow his teachings to the letter. Be earnest in doing thus, and take my word: you will attain Perfection; I assure you emphatically.

Now then an exposition of Guru-Bhakti-Yoga.

1. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is total self-surrender to Satguru.

2. The important eight limbs of the Guru-Bhakti Yoga are: (i) the real lasting aspiration to practise Guru-Bhakti Yoga; (ii) absolute faith in the thoughts, words and action of Satguru; (iii) doing Sashtanga Namaskara with humility and repeating Guru’s name; (iv) perfect obedience in carrying out Guru’s commands; (v) doing personal service to Satguru without expectation of fruits; (vi) daily worshipping of the lotus-feet of Satguru with Bhava and devotion; (vii) self-surrender or dedication of Thanu, Mana and Dhana in the cause of divine mission of Satguru; (viii) meditation on the holy feet of Satguru for obtaining his benign grace, and hearing his holy Upadesa and sincerely practising it.

3. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is a Yoga by itself.

4. It is not possible for an aspirant to enter the spiritual path that leads to the union with God unless he practises Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

5. He who understands the system of Guru-Bhakti Yoga Philosophy can only surrender to his Guru unconditionally.

6. The highest object of life, i.e., Self-realisation, is achieved through the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

7. Yoga of Guru-Bhakti is the real safe Yoga which can be practised without any fear.

8. The essence of Guru-Bhakti Yoga lies in utter obedience in carrying out the Guru’s orders and translating his teachings in life.

9. The aim of Guru-Bhakti Yoga is to free man from the thraldom of matter and fetters of Prakriti and make him realise his absolute independent nature, through complete surrender to Guru.

10. He who practises the Yoga of Guru-Bhakti can annihilate the egoism without any difficulty and he can very easily cross the quagmire of Samsara.

11. Guru-Bhakti Yoga bestows immortality and eternal bliss on one who practises it sincerely and regularly.

12. Practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga gives peace and steadiness of mind.

13. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the master-key to open the realm of elysian bliss.

14. The goal of life is to obtain the benign grace of Satguru by practising Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

15. With humility approach the adorable feet of Satguru. Do prostrations to the life-saving feet of Satguru. Take shelter under the lotus-feet of Satguru. Worship the sacred feet Of Satguru. Meditate on the holy feet of Satguru. Offer the valuable gifts on the sanctifying feet of Satguru. Dedicate your life to the service of glorious feet of Satguru. Become the dust of the divine feet of Satguru. This is the secret of Guru-Bhakti Yoga

16. Self-surrender to the sacred feet of Satguru is the very foundation of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

17. All that is wanted of you is sincere and earnest effort in the path of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

18. Devotion to Guru is the greatest factor in the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

19. Faith in the Guru is the first rung in the ladder of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

20. The cream of Guru-Bhakti Yoga is absolute (blind) faith in the thoughts, words and actions of the Brahma-Nishtha Guru who is well-versed in the sacred scriptures.

21. The highest and easiest Yoga to practise in this age is the Yoga of Guru-Bhakti.

22. The greatest point in the philosophy of Guru-Bhakti Yoga is to identify the Guru with the Absolute.

23. The practical aspects of philosophy of Guru-Bhakti Yoga is to realise the oneness of Guru with his Ishta-Devata.

24. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is not a system which can be taught by lectures or correspondence courses. The student should live under a preceptor for many years and lead a rigorous life of austerity, discipline, celibacy and practice of deep meditation.

25. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the Science of all sciences.

26. Guru-Bhakti Yoga confers immortality, eternal bliss, freedom, perfection, perennial joy and everlasting peace.

27. The practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga induces non-attachment and dispassion for worldly objects and bestows Kaivalya Moksha.

28. The practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga will help the disciple to control the emotions and passions, and will give him power to resist temptations and to remove the disturbing elements from the mind and make him fit to receive Guru’s Grace which takes him to the other shore of darkness.

29. The practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga bestows immortality, supreme peace and perennial joy.

30. The practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga will enable you to get rid of fear, ignorance, pessimism, confusion of mind, disease, despair, worry, etc.

31. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the transformation of the ego-sense which consists in transmutation of individual feeling, willing, understanding, determining into infinite Consciousness.

32. The Sadhanas laid down in the Guru-Bhakti Yoga are very simple and sure ways to take to the other shore of fearlessness.

33. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is a method of strict discipline achieved through the grace of Guru.

34. Service of Guru without expectation of fruits and ever-increasing devotion to the lotus-feet of Guru is the integral Sadhana according to the Guru-Bhakti Yoga system of philosophy.

35. He who practises Guru-Bhakti Yoga without ethical perfection, devotion to Guru, etc., cannot obtain the grace of Guru.

36. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the foundation of all other Yogas, viz., Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, etc.

37. He who has turned his face from the path of Guru-Bhakti Yoga goes from death to death, from darkness to darkness and ignorance to ignorance.

38. Practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga offers a clear definite path for the realisation of the highest end of life.

39. Practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga is open to one and all. All great souls, all masterminds have done great work through the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

40. Guru-Bhakti Yoga includes all other Yogas. Without taking recourse to Guru-Bhakti Yoga nobody can practise other Yogas which are hard to tread.

41. Guru-Bhakti Yoga school of thought gives great importance to obtaining Guru-Kripa through Acharyopasana.

42. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is as old as Vedic and Upanishadic time.

43. Guru-Bhakti Yoga teaches the way to wipe out all pains and sorrows in life.

44. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the only unfailing remedy for the ills of life.

45. The path of Guru-Bhakti Yoga brings fruits quickly only for a worthy disciple.

46. Guru-Bhakti Yoga ends in the annihilation of ego and attainment of bliss immortal.

47. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the best Yoga.

48. Shyness to do Sashtanga prostration to the sacred feet of Guru is a great hindrance in the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

49. Self-sufficiency, self-justification, vanity, self-control, self-assertion, procrastination, obstinacy, fault-finding, evil company, dishonesty, arrogance, lust, anger, greed and egoism are the great stumbling-blocks on the path of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

50. Annihilate the fluctuating potency of the mind through ceaseless practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

51. When the dissipated rays of the mind are collected by the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga you can work wonders.

52. Guru-Bhakti Yoga cult greatly stresses upon the service of Guru for attaining the purity of heart, to meditate and realise.

53. A true aspirant rejoices in the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

54. First understand the philosophy of Guru-Bhakti Yoga, then put it into practice. You will succeed.

55. A very effective way of rooting out all evil qualities is to put into practice sincerely the Yoga of Guru-Bhakti.

56. Absolute faith in the preceptor is the root of Guru-Bhakti Yoga tree.

57. Ever-increasing devotion, humility, obedience. etc., are the branches of the tree. Service is the flower. Self-surrender to him is the immortal fruit.

58. You are bound to succeed in the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga if you have a firm faith and devotion to the life-saving feet of Satguru.

59. True and sincere surrender unto the Guru is the essence of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

60. Practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga means an intense pure love for Guru.

61. No progress in the Yoga of Guru-Bhakti is possible without honesty.

62. Live in a quiet place with higher spiritual vibrations under a Guru who is a great Yogi or adept. Then practise under him the Yoga of Guru-Bhakti. Only then you can attain success in the Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

63. The ringing note of the Guru-Bhakti Yoga is unconditional self-surrender to the lotus-feet of the Brahma-Nishtha Guru.

64. According to the Guru-Bhakti Yoga school of thought Guru and God are one; hence total self-surrender to Guru is very essential.

65. Self-surrender to Guru is indeed the highest rung in the ladder of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

66. Service of Guru is a sine-qua-non in the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

67. Grace of Guru is the end or goal of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

68. A pig-headed student cannot have any definite progress in the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

69. Evil company is an enemy of a disciple who wants to practise Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

70. Give up sensual life if you want to practise the Yoga of Guru-Bhakti.

71. Everyone who longs to transcend misery and obtain joy and happiness in life should sincerely practise Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

72. True lasting happiness can be had by taking recourse to Guru-Seva Yoga. But not in external perishable objects.

73. Is there no escape from the unceasing cycle of births and deaths, pleasure and pain, joy and misery? Listen, O disciple, there is one sure way; turn away your mind from the sensual objects which are perishable and take recourse to Guru-Seva Yoga which takes you beyond dualities.

74. Real life begins when a man takes recourse to Yoga of Guru-Bhakti which bestows on the practitioner the everlasting happiness here and hereafter.

75. Practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga gives you immeasurable and immense joy.

76. Guru-Bhakti Yoga bestows on the practitioner longevity and bliss eternal.

77. The mind is at the root of Samsara or world-process. The mind is the cause for bondage and freedom, pleasure and pain. This mind can be controlled only by practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

78. Guru-Bhakti Yoga confers immortality, eternal bliss, freedom, perfection, perennial joy and everlasting peace.

79. The avenue to the supreme peace begins from the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

80. Whatever may be acquired by asceticism, by renunciation, by other Yogas, by charity and auspicious acts, etc., all these are speedily acquired by practising Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

81. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is an exact science that teaches the method of overcoming the lower nature and attaining the supreme bliss.

82. Some people think that Guru-Seva Yoga is an inferior type of Yoga. They have thoroughly misunderstood the secret of spirituality.

83. Guru-Bhakti Yoga, Guru-Seva Yoga, Guru-Sarana Yoga, etc., are synonymous terms. They are one and the same.

84. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the king among all Yogas.

85. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is the easiest, surest, quickest, cheapest and safest way for God-consciousness. May you all attain God-consciousness in this very birth through the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga!

86. Take recourse to Guru-Bhakti Yoga and regain your lost divinity.

87. Practise Guru-Bhakti Yoga and go beyond all that which cause duality and sorrow.

88. The practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga bestows on the disciple supreme peace, joy and immortality.

89. It is very easy to tame a wild tiger, lion or elephant. It is very easy to walk over the fire or water. But it is very difficult to surrender to the lotus-feet of Satguru unless a person has real aspiration to practise Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

90. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is control of mind and its modifications through the service of Guru.

91. Perfect unconditional self-surrender to Guru is the sure way to attain Guru-Bhakti.

92. The foundation of Guru-Bhakti Yoga is based on absolute faith in Guru.

93. If you really want God turn away from worldly enjoyments and take recourse to practice of Yoga of Guru-Bhakti.

94. Continue the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga without any interruption.

95. Practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga alone can make one fearless and ever happy in all walks of life.

96. Seek the immortal blissful Atman within through the practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga.

97. Make the Yoga of Guru-Bhakti the only purpose, aim and real interest in life. You will reach supreme happiness.

98. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is an auxiliary to knowledge or Jnana.

99. The chief aim of Guru-Bhakti Yoga is to control the unruly senses and the wandering mind.

100. Guru-Bhakti Yoga is one of the ancient systems of Hindu culture which leads man to eternal happiness and blissful union with God.

101. Yoga of Guru-Bhakti is a system of spiritual and mental self-development.

102. Yoga of Guru-Bhakti seeks to release man from the clutches of matter and restore him to his original state of divine glory and immortal bliss.

103. The practice of Guru-Bhakti Yoga makes the body and mind free from defects and diseases.

104. Yoga of Guru-Bhakti bestows on the practitioner physical and mental efficiency.

105. Guru-Bhakti Yoga makes a man free from suffering, pain and old age and confers longevity and everlasting bliss.

106. Guru-Bhakti Yoga includes every discipline, physical, mental, moral and spiritual which leads to self-mastery and Self-realisation.

107. Yoga of Guru-Bhakti is the science and art of mastering the forces of mind.

108. Worship the Guru with the flowers of faith and devotion.

109. Satsanga with the Guru is the first pillar in the temple of Self-realisation.

110. Grace of God takes the form of Guru.

111. To see the Guru is to see God.

112. Blind is the man who has not seen the Divine Master.

113. There is but one religion, the religion of devotion and love to Guru.

114. Devotion to Holy preceptor arises when you have no worldly hope.

115. The company of spiritual teacher will simplify your struggle.

116. Rest in Guru and do the right.

117. Have faith in your Guru’s grace and do your duty.

118. Disobedience to Guru is digging your own grave.

119. A Satguru is a continuous blessing for a disciple.

120. The heart of a Jagad-Guru is a shrine of beauty.

121. Goal of life is Service to Guru.

122. Every unpleasant incident in life is a test of your trust in Guru.

123. Disciple considers the actions. Guru weighs the intentions and motives.

124. Doubt in the Guru’s action is the greatest sin.

125. Never try to appear before your Guru what you are not.

126. Obedience is the law of life for a disciple.

127. Don’t miss any opportunity to serve your Divine Teacher.

128. Be sincere and earnest when you serve your Divine Preceptor.

129. To love Guru is to serve Guru.

130. To live is to serve the Divine Master.

131. Obedience to Guru is better than reverence.

132. Obedience to preceptor is better than sacrifice.

133. Adapt, adjust, accommodate with your Guru under all circumstances.

134. Don’t talk much before your preceptor.

135. Pure love to Guru is true obedience to Guru.

136. Give the best things to your teacher first.

137. Disciple must be free from envy, jealousy, pride, without attachment, firmly devoted to Guru, free from impatience and intent upon knowing the Truth.

138. Disciple should not find fault with his own Guru.

139. Disciple should not indulge in unnecessary or idle talks before his Guru.

140. The preceptor should be regarded as the main or lower piece of the two pieces of wood (Arani) used for kindling the sacred fire, and the pupil the upper one; instruction is the piece (middle portion) that connects them and knowledge is the union that brings happiness.

141. The pure wisdom which is thus acquired from the Guru removes the Maya or delusion.

142. He, who through the favour of the Guru knows that the one Lord has become many through Maya, knows the truth and understands Vedas.

143. With the axe of knowledge sharpened by the one-pointed devotion acquired by the service and worship of the Guru do thou calmly and steadily cut asunder the tree of Samsara.

144. The preceptor is at the helm of life-boat and God is the favourable, wind that drives that.

145. When a man becomes disgusted with the world and is endowed with dispassion, when he is able to reflect what his preceptor has taught him, his mind abandons its evil disposition by virtue of the repeated exercises in meditation.

146. The purity of the Mantra arises, properly knowing it from the preceptor.

147. As man is under the beginningless ignorance he cannot have Self-realisation without the preceptor. He who knows Brahman only can impart the knowledge of Brahman.

148. A wise man should worship only with undying devotion knowing the Guru to be one with the Lord and Atman.

149. Disciple should have sincere devotion to his Guru and to the Lord.

150. The disciple should serve his Guru obediently, attentively and sincerely and learn the Bhagavata-Dharma or duties of the devotees of the Lord from him.

151. Disciple should serve the Guru as his God, which is a sure way of pleasing the Lord of the Universe and becoming fit for His Grace.

152. Disciple should practise non-attachment and keep company with his Divine Master.

153. Disciple should first obtain the Grace of his preceptor and follow the path pointed out by him.

154. A disciple should dwell in the house of the preceptor with control over the senses and study the scriptures.

155. The disciple should eat the food, rich or poor, good or bad, more or less, which comes from the Guru’s holy hand.

156. The lower nature of mind must be thoroughly regenerated. The aspirant says to his preceptor, “I want to practise Yoga. I want to enter into Nirvikalpa Samadhi. I want to sit at your feet. I have surrendered myself to you.” But he does not want to change his lower nature and habits, old character, behaviour and conduct.

157. This change of the lower nature is not easy. The force of habit is ever strong and inveterate. It demands great strength of will. The aspirant often feels helpless against the force of old habits. He will have to develop his Sattva and will to a considerable degree by regular Japa, Kirtan, meditation, untiring, selfless service and Satsanga. He must introspect and find out his own defects and weaknesses. He must live under the guidance of his Guru. The Guru finds out his defects and points out suitable ways to eradicate them.

158. You must equip yourself with the four means of salvation and then approach a Brahma-Srotri Brahmanishtha Guru. You must clear your doubts. You should tread the spiritual path through the aid of the spiritual illumination imparted by your Guru. You should live with him till you are moulded properly. Personal contact with a realised soul is highly elevating. If you are sincere and earnest, if you have burning desire for liberation, if you strictly follow the instructions of your preceptor, if you do constant and intense meditation, then there is no doubt that the highest goal can be achieved within six months. Take my word for it. It will really happen.

159. The world is full of temptations. Therefore neophytes should guard themselves very carefully. They should sit at the lotus-feet of their Guru’s till they are completely moulded, till they get established in deep meditation. Happy-go-lucky aspirants who are independent from the beginning, who do not pay attention to the words of their preceptors are hopeless specimens. They lead an aimless life and are drifted here and there like the plank in a river.

160. The obstinate disciple clings to his old habits. He will not surrender to the Lord or personal Guru.

161. If the disciple really desires to improve himself, he must be frank with himself and straightforward to his Guru.

162. He who is disobedient, who breaks the discipline, who is not straightforward to his Guru, who cannot open his heart to his preceptor or spiritual guide, cannot be benefited by the help of Guru. He remains stuck in his own self-created mire or mud and cannot progress in the divine path. What a great pity! His lot is highly lamentable indeed.

163. The disciple must make total, unreserved, ungrudging self-surrender to the Lord or Guru.

164. All that the teacher can do is to tell his disciple the method of knowing the Truth or the Path, that leads to the unfoldment of intuitional faculty.

165. The aspirant who is endowed with the four means of Salvation, hears the Srutis and the significance of “Tat Tvam Asi” Mahavakya at the feet of his Guru, and then reflects deeply on what he has heard.

166. Fix the mind on the form of Lord Hari or Lord Siva or Lord Krishna or your Guru or any saint like Lord Buddha or Lord Jesus. Again and again try to call this mental image of the picture. All thoughts will die. This is another method, the method of Bhaktas.

167. Obedience is precious virtue, because if you try to develop the virtue of obedience, the ego, the archenemy on the path of Self-realisation, slowly gets rooted out.

168. To have complete obedience to Guru is a difficult task, but by trying with sincerity it becomes easy.

169. Even ordinary action requires great pain, so in the spiritual path, one must be prepared to subject oneself to some sort of discipline and try to cultivate obedience to the Teacher.

170. Far more than worship, garlanding and other outward manifestations of one’s inner Bhava of adorations and worshipfulness, obedience to Guru is greater.

171. Obedience to Guru shows true reverence unto him.

172. Obedience means trying to act in the way in which the Guru would like one to act.

173. Supposing one finds that Guru will not like a certain thing, then one must not do it. It is also obedience.

174. Guru-Seva Yoga is the Yoga of selfless service rendered to the Guru.

175. Service of the Guru is service of humanity.

176. Guru-Seva removes the impurity of the mind. It is a potent purifier of the heart. Therefore serve the Guru with Bhava and feeling.

177. Service of the Guru prepares the mind for the reception of Divine Light, Knowledge and Grace.

178. Service of the Guru expands the heart, breaks all barriers. Service of the Guru is effective Sadhana for purity of heart.

179. Service of the Guru keeps the mind ever dynamic and alert.

180. Service of Guru helps one to develop divine virtues such as mercy, humility, obedience, love, faith, devotion, patience, self-sacrifice, etc.

181. Service of Guru destroys jealousy, hatred and idea of superiority.

182. He who serves his Guru will overcome ‘I-ness’ and ‘mine-ness’.

183. The disciple who serves his Guru really serves himself.

184. There is indescribable joy and peace in the practice of Guru-Seva Yoga.

185. Live to serve the Guru.

186. Get up 4 a.m. This period is favourable for meditation on the form of Guru.

187. The disciple must lead a contented life when he lives in the house of the Guru. He must have perfect self-restraint.

188. Disciple must speak gently, sweetly and truthfully before his Guru and he must not use vulgar or harsh words.

189. Disciple should not back-bite his Guru.

190. He who back-bites his Guru goes to the Raurava hell.

191. He who lives to eat is a sinner but he who eats to serve his Guru is a true disciple.

192. He who meditates on Guru wants very little food.

193. Study of sacred scriptures without service to Guru is only a waste of time.

194. Study of holy scriptures from Guru without giving Guru-Dakshina to him is only a waste of time.

195. The mere reading of Vedantic texts, Upanishads and Brahma Sutras without fulfilling the Guru’s wishes will neither bring good nor knowledge.

196. After serving a long time, a pure and calm mind becomes your Guru.

197. Study philosophical books as much as you like, deliver lectures throughout your global-tour, remain in Himalayan caves for thousands of years, practise Pranayama for years, do Sirshasana for the whole life, you cannot attain emancipation without the Grace of Guru.

198. The Grace of the Guru will itself in a mysterious manner enable the disciple to perceive directly the Brahmic principle within, though it is impossible for the spiritual preceptor to point Brahman as this or that, or for the disciple to understand how it is prior to his direct perception.

199. Let your mother, father and elders be your Guru.

200. Shampoo the feet of your Guru if he permits.

201. Every one should cognise the Self within himself through his own Jnana with the aid of a Guru and an understanding of the true significance of the Vedantic texts.

202. Even though one has a Guru or spiritual preceptor, it is only through his own efforts he should destroy all desires, Vasanas, egoism and attain Self-realisation.

203. To approach a Guru you must be a proper Adhikari. You should possess Vairagya, Viveka, serenity, self-restraint and Yama.

204. If you say “There is no good Guru,” Guru also says “There is no good disciple.” Equip yourself with the qualifications of a disciple. You will get a Satguru.

205. Guru is your redeemer and saviour. Adore him and worship him always.

206. Gurudom is a deadly curse.

207. Prostrate daily before your Guru who is Existence, Knowledge, Bliss Absolute.

208. Disciple should always remember the form of his Guru, always repeat his Guru’s holy name, carry out his orders and should think of nothing other than him. Here underlies the secret of Sadhana.

209. One should adore his Guru as there is no other thing greater than the Guru.

210. The Guru’s Charanamrita dries up the ocean of Samsara and enables one to acquire essential wealth of Self.

211. Guru’s Charanamrita quenches the thirst of a disciple.

212. Remember your Guru and saints of all the times when you sit for meditation. You will get their blessings.

213. Hear the wise words of great souls and follow them.

214. Do those actions that are pronounced to be right by Sastras and Guru.

215. Guru is absolutely necessary to show the path to Peace.

216. ‘Vahe Guru’ is the Guru-Mantra for the followers of Guru Nanak. Read Grantha Sahib. You will come to know the greatness of Guru.

217. Ever remember Guru by worshipping him; thou shalt find happiness.

218. Sraddha is faith in the scriptures, in the words of Guru, in Isvara and in one’s own self.

219. The highest Sadhana is to serve Guru without expectation of any fruit.

220. Sravana is hearing of the Srutis by sitting at the lotus-feet of Sat-Guru.

221. Service of Guru is a great purifier.

222. Guru’s Grace is necessary for Self-realisation.

223. Have devotion to Guru as much as you have to the Lord. Then only Truth will be revealed to you.

224. Stick to one Guru at all times.

225. Isvara is Adi-Guru who is not conditioned by space and time. From eternity to eternity He is the Guru of mankind.

226. Guru is absolutely necessary to awaken the Kundalini Sakti from its dormant state.

227. The beginning of discipleship is killing of egoism.

228. The key to discipleship is Brahmacharya and service to Guru.

229. The garb of discipleship is devotion to Guru.

230. The mark of discipleship is dedication of life to the lotus-feet of Guru.

231. The royal road to discipleship is regular meditation on the form of Gurudev.

232. The foundation of discipleship is utter obedience to Guru Maharaj.

233. Mumukshutva is burning longing for, to meet, the Guru and serving him.

234. Worship of gods, the twice-born, the spiritual teachers and the wise, purity, straightforwardness, celibacy and non-injury are called the austerity of the body.

235. Prostrations to Brahmins, holy preceptors and the wise, celibacy, non-injury, constitute physical Tapas.

236. Service of parents and preceptor, the poor and the sick, is also bodily austerity.

237. Adaptability is a rare virtue or noble quality, by which the disciple adapts or fits himself with his Guru, whatever his nature may be.

238. Now-a-days the vast majority of aspirants do not know how to adjust and accommodate themselves with Guru-Bhais.

239. The disciple must know how to adapt and adjust with his Guru.

240. Humility and obedience are necessary for developing Guru-Bhakti.

241. When the disciple does not know how to adapt himself with his co-disciples who are living under the same Guru, friction comes and he will displease his Guru.

242. The captain of a ship is ever alert. A fisherman is ever alert. A surgeon in the operation-theatre is ever alert. Even so a thirsting hungry disciple should be ever alert in the service of his Guru.

243. A drowsy, dull, heavy, inactive, sluggish, stupid-minded disciple cannot serve his Guru to his satisfaction.

244. A disciple who is endowed with the virtue of application gets success in the service of his Guru. Prosperity and immortality are his attendants.

245. Disciple should have aspiration or burning desire to serve his Guru.

246. Devotion to Guru is the one true aim of all right human aspirations.

247. Disciple should have an attentive ear when he studies under a Guru and he should have an attentive eye when he serves him.

248. Disciple should behave well with his Guru, parents, elders, saints and sages of all climes.

249. To behave well means to conduct well oneself with his Guru.

250. Guru can know the nature of the disciple and the nature of his mind from his behaviour.

251. Good behaviour with his holy master is a passport to the abode of bliss.

252. Disciple should not be whimsical when he serves his Guru.

253. Behaviour is expression of practical knowledge which is derived from the service of one’s Guru.

254. Divine virtues and noble qualities cannot be purchased from the shops. These can be acquired through faith, devotion and service to Guru for a long time.

255. Even if you are a man of great erudition and rich, you must be very humble before Guru and great souls.

256. A disciple, who is not learned but who is an embodiment of humility, is very much loved by his Guru.

257. If you want to drink water at the tap, you will have to bend yourself. Even so if you want to drink the spiritual nectar of immortality which flows from the holy lips of Guru you will have to be an embodiment of humility and meekness.

258. Guru’s Grace descends upon those who feel utterly humble and faithful to him.

259. There is no better flower than humility to worship the lotus-feet of the Master.

260. Faith is confidence and trust in Guru.

261. Faith is belief in statements, utterances, actions, writings and teachings of one’s holy preceptor and great souls.

262. Faith is firm conviction of the truth of what is declared by preceptor by way either of testimony or authority without any other evidence or proof.

263. Have perfect faith in Guru and surrender your entire being unto Him. He will take care of you. All fear, obstacles and tribulations will vanish in toto.

264. Firm faith in Sat-guru elevates the soul, purifies the heart and leads to Self-realisation.

265. Disciple’s motto must be intense faith in the Teachings of the Guru.

266. Obedience is willingness to obey the commands of Guru and elders.

267. Only the disciple who obeys his Guru can have command over his lower self.

268. From obedience to Guru springs all other divine virtues such as humility, devotion, egolessness, etc.

269. True obedience to Guru neither procrastinates nor questions.

270. Obedience to Guru is the mother of success in all undertakings.

271. True obedience to Guru is the performance of what is commanded by him and abstaining from what is prohibited.

272. A hypocritical disciple obeys his Guru from fear. The true disciple obeys his Guru with pure love, for love’s sake.

273. Let the disciple’s first lesson be obedience to Guru.

274. Goodness is a river that flows from the Lotus-Feet of the Lord by the path of obedience to Guru.

275. If the heart of the disciple is not satisfied, it shows that obedience to Guru is not fully observed by the disciple.

276. Your offerings please Guru according to your zeal and Bhava and not according to their nature.

277. The disciple should serve his master with great zeal and care.

278. If an aspirant will not serve his Guru with faith and devotion all his vows and austerities will certainly leak out as water from an unburnt pot.

279. Control of mind and senses, meditation on Guru-Bhagavan, patience while serving him, forbearance, devotion to the preceptor, contentment, compassion, cleanliness, truthfulness, straightforwardness, humility and obedience to the Guru are the characteristics of a good disciple.

280. The seeker after truth should dwell in the house of his preceptor with control over his senses and mind, and should study the scriptures under him with great faith and reverence.

281. He should observe strict Brahmacharya, and should offer worship to the preceptor.

282. A disciple should regard the preceptor as God Himself and should not look upon him as a man.

283. He should not find out defects in the preceptor because Guru represents all the gods.

284. Disciple should bring alms to the preceptor and must feed him with great faith and devotion.

285. Disciple should shun all comforts as poison and should surrender his body in the service of his Guru.

286. Disciple should offer Dakshina to his preceptor after studying scriptures and with his permission he should return to his home.

287. He who uses ‘Gurudom’ as a means of livelihood is a destroyer of religion.

288. The main duty of a Brahmachari is wholehearted selfless service to his preceptor.

289. Tapas, pilgrimage, charitable gifts, are not so helpful to attain Guru’s Grace as personal service and utter obedience to him.

290. The Vedas, direct perception, sayings of Guru and inference are the four proofs of knowledge.

291. All works bear the seed of sorrow but not service rendered to Guru.

292. At any time disciple should be ready to give up wealth, enjoyment, comforts, happiness and even his own body to carry out Guru’s commands.

293. He who surrenders his Thanu, Mana and Dhana at the feet of his Master develops Guru-Bhakti.

294. Whatever promotes devotion to the feet of the Master is highest Dharma.

295. Niyama consists of Japa of Guru-Mantra, doing austerity while serving Guru, faith in the words of Guru, Acharya-Sevana, contentment, purity, studying the scriptures and Guru-Bhakti or surrender to Guru.

296. Titiksha is the bearing of grief or affliction while carrying out Guru’s command.

297. Tyaga is the giving up works which Guru prohibits.

298. The disciple can control his mind by doing personal service to Guru.

299. That food which is left by Guru after his meal is the most Sattvic food.

300. Guru is the veritable God on earth and he is the true friend and reliable relative.

Om Namo Bhagavate Sivanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Chidanandaya!
Om Namo Bhagavate Krishnanandaya!

We are pleased to inform all devotees of Worshipful Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj that we are going to stream the Guru Purnima, Sadhana Week and Punyatithi Aradhana programmes live from The Divine Life Society, Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, India. The live stream can be accessed at:

The time (Indian Standard Time) and activities that will be broadcast are as follows:

1) Gurupurnima Paduka Puja 19-07-2016 09:00 a.m. onwards

2) Sadhana week inauguration 20-07-2016 09:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Inaugural lecture and blessings by Kailashpithadhiswar Mahamandaleswar 1008 Sri Swami Divyananda Saraswatiji Maharaj
Discourses and blessings by H.H. Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj, President , The Divine Life Society, Hqrs.
Afternoon 03:30 p.m. to 06:00 p.m.
Discourses by H.H. Sri Swami Yogaswarupanandaji Maharaj
Discourses by H.H. Sri Swami Padmanabhanandaji Maharaj
Discourses by H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj

3) 21-07-2016 04:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Discourse by Paramadarsh Acharya Mahamandaleswar 1008 Sri Swami Viswatmananda Puriji Maharaj – Sadhana Sadan, Haridwar

4) 22-07-2016 04:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Discourse by Mahamandaleswar 1008 Sri Swami Vijnanananda Saraswatiji Maharaj, Kankhal, Haridwar.

5) 23-07-2016 04:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m.
Discourse by Mahamandaleswar 1008 Sri Swami Asangananda Saraswatiji Maharaj – Paramarthaniketan

6) 24-07-2016 04:00 p.m. to 06:00 p.m.
Discourse by Mahamandaleswar 1008 Sri Swami Bhagabatswaruoopji Maharaj (Darshanacharya) Sri Gurumandal Ashra, Mayapur, Haridwar
Q & A by H.H. Sri Swami Padmanabhanandaji Maharaj

7) 25-07-2016 04:00 p.m. to 06:15 p.m.
Discourse by Dandi Swami 1008 Sri Swami Hamsananda Saraswatiji Maharaj – Swargasram
Q & A by H.H. Sri Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj

8) 28-07-2016 Aradhana Paduka Puja 09:00 a.m. onwards

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-The Divine Life Society-

Sankaram Sankaracharyam Kesavam Badarayanam;
Sutra-Bhashya-Kritau Vande Bhagavantau Punah Punah

I adore Lord Siva, Lord Vishnu, Bhagavan Vyasa and Sri Sankaracharya. I again and again prostrate to Sri Vyasa who wrote the Vedanta Sutras, and to Sri Sankaracharya who wrote the commentaries thereon (Guru Vandanam).

The full-moon day in the month of Ashada is the extremely auspicious and holy day of Guru-Purnima. On this Ashada Purnima Day, sacred to the memory of the great sage Sri Vyasa Bhagavan or Sri Krishna Dvaipayana, Sannyasins settle at some place to study, do Vedantic Vichara, and discourse on the thrice-blessed Brahma Sutras composed by Maharshi Vyasa. Sri Veda-Vyasa has done unforgettable service to all humanity for all time by editing the four Vedas, writing the eighteen Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Bhagavata. We can attempt to repay this deep debt of gratitude we owe him only by constant study of his works and practice of his teachings imparted for the regeneration of humanity in the iron age or Kali Yuga. In honour of this divine personage, all Sadhakas and devotees perform Vyasa Puja on this day; aspirants worship their Guru. Mahatmas and Sadhus are honoured and entertained, and acts of charity done by all Grihastis with deep faith and sincerity. Chaturmasa for Sannyasins begins from this day. Sannyasins stay in one place during the rainy season for four months, study the Brahma Sutras, and practise meditation.

Significance Of The Guru-Purnima Day

Mark fully the deep significance of this great day. Ashada Purnima heralds the Chaturmasa, or the setting in of the eagerly awaited rains. The water, drawn up and stored as clouds in the hot summer, now manifests in plentiful showers that usher in the advent of fresh life everywhere. Even so do you all begin seriously to put into actual working all the theory and philosophy that you have stored up in you through patient study. Commence practical spiritual Sadhana right from this day. Generate fresh waves of spirituality. Let all that you have read, heard, seen and learnt become, through Sadhana, transformed into a continuous outpouring of universal love, ceaseless loving service and continuous prayer and worship of the Lord seated in all beings.

Live on milk and fruits on this day and practise rigorous Japa and Dhyana. Study the Brahma Sutras and do some lakhs of Japa (Anushthana or Purascharana) of your Guru Mantra or Ishta Mantra, during the Chaturmasa. You will be highly benefited.

As the day of Guru-Puja or worship of one’s preceptor this is a day of pure joy to the sincere aspirant. Thrilled by the expectation of offering his reverent homage to the beloved Guru, aspirant awaits this occasion with eagerness and devotion. It is the Guru alone that breaks the binding cords of attachment and releases the aspirant from the trammels of earthly existence. The Sruti says: “To that high-souled aspirant, whose devotion to the Lord is great and whose devotion to his Guru is as great as that to the Lord, these secrets explained, become illuminated.” Guru is Brahman or Isvara Himself. He guides and inspires you from the innermost core of your being. He is everywhere.

Behold the Entire Universe As Guru-Svarupa

Have a new angle of vision. Behold the entire universe as Guru-Svarupa. See the guiding hand, the awakening voice, the illumining touch of the Guru in every object in this Creation. The whole world will now stand transformed before your changed vision. The Virat Guru will reveal all the precious secrets of life and bestow wisdom. The Supreme Guru, manifest in visible Nature, will teach you the most valuable lessons of life. Worship daily this Guru of Gurus, the Guru who taught even Avadhuta Dattatreya. The silent all-enduring earth with its lofty forbearance, the shady fruit-bearing tree with its willing self-sacrifice, the mighty Banyan tree (Pipal) reposing with patience in the tiny seed, the dripping drops whose persistence wears away the rocks, the planets and the seasons with their orderly punctuality and regularity are divine Gurus to him who will look, listen and receive.

Purify and Progress

Become a personification of receptivity. Empty yourself of your petty ego-sense. All the treasures locked up in the bosom of Nature will become yours! You will have progress and perfection in an amazingly short time. Become pure and unattached as the mountain breeze. As the river flows continuously, steadily and constantly towards its goal, the ocean, by moving every moment of your life towards the Supreme State of Existence-Knowledge-Bliss, let all your thoughts, all your words, all your actions be directed only towards the Goal.

The moon shines by reflecting the dazzling light of the sun. It is the full-moon of Purnima-Day that reflects in full splendour the glorious light of the sun. It glorifies the sun. Purify yourself through the fire of service and Sadhana, and like the full moon, reflect the glorious Light of the Atman. Become the full reflectors of Brahmic splendour, the Light of lights. Make this your goal, to become a living witness to Divinity, the brilliant Sun of suns!

Tat Tvam Asi

Brahman or the Supreme Self alone is real. He is the Soul of all. He is All in all. He is the Essence of this universe. He is the Unity that never admits of a duality under all the varieties and diversities of nature. Thou art this immortal, all-pervading, all-blissful Brahman. Thou art That-Tat Tvam Asi. Realise this and be free.

Remember the four important verses of the Brahma Sutras:

(i) Atha-Ato Brahma-Jijnasa-Now, therefore, the enquiry into Brahman.

(ii) Janmadyasya Yatah-From which proceed the origin, etc.

(iii) Sastra-Yonitvat-The scriptures being the means of right knowledge.

(iv) Tat Tu Samanvayat-But that because It is the main support.

Now sing:

Jaya Guru Siva Guru Hari Guru Ram,

Jagad-Guru Param Guru Sat-Guru Syam.

Remember and adore Sri Vyasa and the Brahma-Vidya Gurus. May their blessings be upon you all! May you all cut asunder the knot of Avidya and shine as blessed Jivanmuktas, shedding peace, joy and light everywhere!

Photos taken during the Celebration at Sivananda Satsang Bhawan in Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.

 Live Recorded Videos

Guru Purnima Celebrations 2016 July 19

Sadhana Week Blessings by Swami Divyanandaji & Swami Vimalanandajji on July 20, 2016

Discourse by sri Sw Yogaswarupanandaji Maharaj on July 20, 2016

Discourse by sri Sw Padmanabhanandaji Maharaj on July 20, 2016

Discourse by sri Sw Nirliptanandaji Maharaj on July 20, 2016

Discourse by Sri Sw Viswatmanandaji maharaj on July 21, 2016

Discourse by Sri Sw Advaitanandaji Maharaj on July 22, 2016

Discourse by Sri Sw Vijnananandaji Maharaj on 22nd July 2016 on July 22, 2016

Discourse by Sri Sw Asanganandaji Maharaj Paramartha Niketan on July 23, 2016

Discourse by Sri S Gopiji on 25t hJuly 2016 on July 25 2016

Discourse by Sri Sw Hansanandaji Maharaj, Swargashram on July 25, 2016

Question & Answer by Sri Sw Nirliptanandaji Maharaj on July 25, 2016

Photos-Videos  taken during 100 Days Special Programe (from 16th June to 24th Sep 2016) for Sri Swami Chidananda Birth Centenary Celebration at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.

Sri Bhaktamal Katha by Sri Radhamohandasji Maharaj, Vrindaban.

Photos-Videos  taken during 100 Days Special Programe (from 16th June to 24th Sep 2016) for Sri Swami Chidananda Birth Centenary Celebration at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.

Sri Ram Katha by Dr. Ramkamaldas Vedanti Ji Maharaj, Varanasi.

Photos-Videos  taken during 100 Days Special Programe (from 16th June to 24th Sep 2016) for Sri Swami Chidananda Birth Centenary Celebration at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.

Sri Hanuman Chalisa Path by DLS Ladies’ Branch Lanjipalli (Odisha).

Marathi Abhanga Bhajans by Sri Abhishek Kale, Shraddha Joshi and Mrs Neeta Joshi.

by Swami Sivananda

THIS IS THE birthday of Lord Krishna, the eighth Divine Incarnation. It falls on the 8th day of the dark half of the month of Bhadrapada (August-September). This is one of the greatest of all Hindu festivals. Lord Krishna was born at midnight. A twenty-four hour fast is observed on this day, which is broken at midnight.

Temples are decorated for the occasion. Kirtans are sung, bells are rung, the conch is blown, and Sanskrit hymns are recited in praise of Lord Krishna. At Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, special spiritual gatherings are organised at this time. Pilgrims from all over India attend these festive gatherings.

The Lord appeared when the moon entered the house of Vrishabha at the constellation of the star Rohini, on Wednesday, the 8th day of the second fortnight of the month of Sravana, which corresponds to the month of Bhadrapada Krishnapaksha according to the Barhaspatyamana, in the year of Visvavasu, 5,172 years ago (from 1945), which means 3227 B.C.

Study the Bhagavatam and the Pancharatras, which are equal to the Upanishads. You will know all about the glory of Lord Krishna, His Lilas and superhuman deeds. The eighth Avatara, Krishna, who has become the Beloved of India and the world at large, had a threefold objective: to destroy the wicked demons, to play the leading role in the great war fought on the battlefield of Kurukshetra (where he delivered His wonderful message of the Gita) and to become the centre of a marvellous development of the Bhakti schools of India.

There is no true science except devotion to Lord Krishna. That man is wealthy indeed who loves Radha and Krishna. There is no sorrow other than lack of devotion to Krishna. He is the foremost of the emancipated who loves Krishna. There is no right course, except the society of Sri Krishna’s devotees. The Name, virtues and Lilas (divine pastimes) of Krishna are the chief things to be remembered. The Lotus Feet of Radha and Krishna are the chief objects of meditation.

Sri Krishna is the ocean of bliss. His soul-stirring Lilas, which are the wonder of wonders, are its waves. The honeyed music of His flute attracts the minds of His devotees from all three regions. His unequalled and unsurpassed wealth of beauty amazes the animate and the inanimate beings. He adorns His friends with His incomparable love.

His palms bear the signs of a lotus and discus, the right sole of His feet of a flag, lotus, thunderbolt, an iron goad, barley seed, and the Swastika. His left sole has the rainbow, triangle, water-pot, crescent, sky, fish, and a cow’s footprint. His Form is composed of condensed universal consciousness and bliss. His Body pervades the entire cosmos.

Devotion is the only means of attaining Lord Krishna. Bhakti kindles love for the Lord. When love is directed towards Krishna, man is freed from the bondage of the world.

Though Lord Krishna appeared in a human body, He had a divine body not composed of the five elements. He did not take any birth here in the usual sense of the term. He did not die. He appeared and disappeared through His Yoga Maya as He has declared in the Gita. This is a secret, known only to His devotees, Yogis and sages.

His enchanting form with flute in hand is worshipped in myriads of homes in India. It is a form to which is poured out devotion and supreme love from the hearts of countless devotees not only in India but also in the West. Millions of spiritual seekers worship Him and repeat His Mantra, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

Lord Krishna was great in knowledge, great in emotion, great in action, all at once. The scriptures have not recorded any life more full, more intense, more sublime and grander than the life of Sri Krishna.

Krishna has played various roles during His stay in the world. He was Arjuna’s charioteer. He was an excellent statesman. He was a master musician; he gave lessons even to Narada in the art of playing the veena. The music of His flute thrilled the hearts of the Gopis and everyone else. He was a cowherd in Brindavan and Gokul. He exhibited miraculous powers even as a child. He killed many demons. He revealed His Cosmic Form to His mother, Yasoda. He performed the Rasa Lila, the secret of which can only be understood by devotees like Narada, Gauranga, Radha and the Gopis. He taught the supreme Truth of Yoga, Bhakti and Vedanta to Arjuna and Uddhava. He had mastered every one of the sixty-four fine arts. For all these reasons He is regarded as a full and complete manifestation of God.

Incarnations of God appear for special reasons under special circumstances. Whenever there is much unrighteousness, whenever confusion and disorder set in on account of unrighteousness and baffle the well-ordered progress of mankind, whenever the balance of human society is upset by selfish, ruthless and cruel beings, whenever irreligion and unrighteousness prevail, whenever the foundations of social organisations are undermined, the great Incarnation of God appears in order to re-establish righteousness and to restore peace.

An Incarnation is the descent of God for the ascent of man. A ray from the Cosmic Being in His potential state of manifestation descends on earth with mighty powers to keep up the harmony of the universe. The work done by the Incarnation of God and His teachings produce a benign influence on human beings and help them in their upward divine unfoldment and Self-realisation.

The Incarnation comes to reveal the divine nature of man and makes him rise above the petty materialistic life of passion and egoism.

The greatest manifestations are called Incarnations proper. Rishis, Munis, prophets, sons of God and messengers of God are minor manifestations.

The Incarnations usually come with their particular or favourite groups or companions. Lord Rama came with Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna. Lord Krishna came with Balarama, Devas and Rishis. Sanaka came with Sanandana, Sanatkumara and Sanatsujata. Some, like Sri Shankara and Ramanuja, come as teachers and spiritual leaders. Some, like Chaitanya, are born to instill devotion in the hearts of people and turn their minds towards God. The Incarnations proper, like Krishna, come only when there is widespread catastrophe in the world.

Photos-Videos  taken during 100 Days Special Programe (from 16th June to 24th Sep 2016) for Sri Swami Chidananda Birth Centenary Celebration at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.

Pravachan on Sri Rama Charita Manasa by Smt. Kamal Panigrahi, DLS Ladies’ Branch, Sunabeda, Odisha. 

Pravachan on Sri Rama Charita Manasa by Pujya Sri Swami Bhagavatswarupacharyaji Maharaj, Sukatal.

Sri Rama Charita Manasa Parayana by DLS Ladies’ Branch, Sunabeda, Odisha. 

Photos-Videos  taken during 100 Days Special Programe (from 16th June to 24th Sep 2016) for Sri Swami Chidananda Birth Centenary Celebration at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.

Pravachan on Upanishads by Kailash Peethadhishwar
Sri Swami Divyananda Saraswatiji Maharaj

Photos-Videos  taken during 100 Days Special Programe (from 16th June to 24th Sep 2016) for Sri Swami Chidananda Birth Centenary Celebration at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.

Pravachan by Brahmachari Nochur Venkataramanji

Photos Taken During Sri Krishna Jayanti Celebration at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh-Himalayas.