Life of Swami Sivananda Baba
Early Life
Swami Sivananda was born on 8th August, 1896 to a famous Bengali Brahmin Goswami family in Sylhet District of Bengal Presidency, British India (now in Bangladesh). He is the 10th descendant of Thakurbani, who was a great saint in Sylhet, a few centuries ago. His father, Srinath Goswami and mother Bhagabati Devi were Vaishnavas and used to beg from door to door for their livelihood. They offered the food so collected to Lord Narayana first and then thrived on the Prasad which was never sufficient to satisfy their hunger. His parents handed over their 4-year old son to Omkarananda Goswami, a Vaishnava saint and Sadguru (true spiritual master), residing in Nabadwip (now in West Bengal) for his physical, mental and spiritual development.
Passing Away of Sister, Mother and Father when he was 6-year old: 2-years later Sivananda was sent by Omkarananda Goswamiji to Sylhet to meet his parents. On reaching home, he came to know that his elder sister had already died of hunger and starvation. After a few days, his mother passed away before sunrise and his father died only 2-hours later after sunrise by the law of destiny. After performing their last rites, Sivananda returned to his Guru’s Ashram in Nabadwip – his only resort in this world along with the “Shalagram Shila”, worshiped by his father and the Shivalinga”, worshiped by his mother.
Teachings, Beliefs and Contributions
Sivananda Baba had his “Mantra Diksha” (spiritual initiation from Omkarananda Goswamiji, who arranged for his wordly education, taught him all the important life lessons, imparted both Yoga Training and Spiritual Training.
By virtue of Gurukripa (Divine blessings of Guru), intense practice of Yoga, Japa (uttering God’s name with concentration and devotion), Meditation and sheer perseverance, Sivananda realized the Self, saw this physical world as the glorious manifestation of the Almighty and proclaimed” The world is my home. It’s people are my fathers and mothers. To love and serve them is my religion.” Then he devoted his entire life for the well-being of all beings, to the pleasure of God’s name, and to the services of the suffering humanities.
Swami Sivananda Babaji was sent to London in 1925 by his Guruji. Then he demonstrated the Art of Living in all its dimensions as exemplified in his life throughout the 6-continents for more than three decades.
His guruji called him back tocIndia in 1959. His spiritual master Omkarananda Goswamiji gave up his mortal body in December, 1959. Though it was a great shock to Sivananda Baba, he consoled himself and started his mission of selfless service to the people of various regions of India, particularly the north-east India, afflicted with physical, mental and spiritual sufferings during 1960s’ and 1970’s.
Sivananda Baba Continued his Charity, Compassion for poor and exemplary life in Vrindaban for two years since January, 1977.
In 1979, Sivananda Baba came from Vrindaban to live permanently in Varanasi (Kashi).
Sivananda Baba concealed himself for a long time. But ultimately people came to know him as great Yogi and Sadguru who is free from all worldly desires and lusts. He is unwilling to accept any kind of donation. He is always in a state of indifference with regard to his everyday provisions and the necessaries of life. He is wholly dependent on God. By the grace of God a few chosen devotees provides his minimum necessaries of life. Similarly, his desire of serving suffering humanity is also fulfilled by God automatically.
Sivananda Babaji’s daily life is a reflection of the dedication, discipline,undivided surrender to God and Service to humanity. He gets up from bed at around 3 am and practices Yoga, free hand excercises and Pranayam for one hour. He also walks for one hour in the morning. He is almost all day long devoted to Japa, Meditation, Puja and helps the seekers to attain physical, mental and spiritual well-being. He does not sleep in day time. His daily menu is rice/roti with boiled vegetables. He never takes sweets and oil-fried food. He does not take milk or fruit as poor people can’t afford to purchase milk or fruit. He sleeps at around 9 pm.
His dream is that everybody on earth will lead disease-free, joyful life like him. He expects everyone to practice Yoga at least half an hour a day. Sivananda Baba says “ I hold that real religion is the religion of the heart. The heart must be purified first. Truth, love & purity are the basis of real religion. Control over the baser nature, conquest of the mind, cultivation of virtues, service of humanity, goodwill, fellowship and amity constitutes the fundamental of true religion.These ideals are included in the principles of the Divine life. And I try to teach them mostly by example which I consider to be weightier than all precepts.”
For the past 60 years, he has been working tirelessly by serving hundreds of leprosy-affected downtrodden people at Puri, Bankura, Bishnupur, Garbeta, Purulia, and other suffering humanity in Varanasi, Nabadwip, Birbhum, tribal and remote villages in North-east India. He does their “Seva” (service) by himself with utmost humility and even visits them in their huts. He treats them as his own and tries to fulfil all their needs, be it food, clothes or basic necessities of life. He radiates his goodwill around him and inspires others to join his endeavour to bring joy in their lives.