| Swami Chidananda | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 24 September 1916 |
| Birth | Sridhar Rao |
| Date of death | 28 August 2008 (aged 91) |
| Guru/Teacher | Swami Sivananda |
| Philosophy | Yoga of Synthesis |
Swami Chidananda Saraswati (September 24, 1916 – August 28, 2008) was President of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India. He is well-known in India as a yogi, jnani and spiritual leader. He succeeded as President of the Divine Life Society in 1963, after the death of his predecessor, Swami Sivananda, who founded the Society.[1]
Swami Chidananda's birth name was Sridhar Rao. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola College, Madras. He took to a life of renunciation in 1936, and joined the ashram run by Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh in 1943.[1]
He was appointed General Secretary of the Divine Life Society in 1948. He was initiated into the Sannyas order by his guru, Swami Sivananda, on Guru Purnima day, July 10, 1949. It was then that he received his monastic name "Swami Chidananda", which means "a renunciate in the highest consciousness and bliss".[1]
He was elected President of the Divine Life Society in August 1963, upon the death of Swami Sivananda.[1]
Swami Chidananda Saraswati died on August 28, 2008, at 20:11 pm.[2]
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Early life
Sridhar Rao, as Swami Chidananda was known before taking Sannyasa (embracing a life of renunciation), was born to Srinivasa Rao and Sarojini, on the September 24, 1916, the second of five children and the eldest son. Sri Srinivasa Rao was a prosperous Zamindar (a rich landlord) owning several villages, extensive lands and palatial buildings in South India. Sarojini was an ideal Indian mother, noted for her saintliness.[1]
At the age of eight, Sridhar Rao's life was influenced by one Sri Anantayya, a friend of his grandfather, who used to relate to him stories from the epics, Ramayana and Mahābhārata. Doing Tapas (austerities), becoming a Rishi (sage), and having a vision of the Lord became ideals which he cherished.[1]
His uncle, Krishna Rao, shielded him against the evil influences of the materialistic world around him, and sowed in him the seeds of the Nivritti life (life of renunciation) which he joyously nurtured until, as latter events proved, it blossomed into sainthood.[1]
His elementary education began at Mangalore. In 1932, he joined the Muthiah Chetty School in Madras where he distinguished himself as a brilliant student. His cheerful personality, exemplary conduct and extraordinary traits earned for him a distinct place in the hearts of all teachers and students with whom he came into contact.[1]
In 1936, he was admitted to Loyola College, whose portals admit only the most brilliant of students. In 1938, he emerged with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.[1]
The family was noted for its high code of conduct and this was infused into his life. Charity and service were the glorious ingrained virtues of the members of the family. These virtues found an embodiment in Sridhar Rao. He discovered ways and means of manifesting them. None who sought his help was sent away without it. He gave freely to the needy.[1]
Service, especially of the sick, often brought out the fact that he had no idea of his own separate existence as an individual. It seemed as if his body clung loosely to his soul. Nor was all this service confined to human beings. Birds and animals claimed his attention as much as, if not more than, human beings. He understood their language of suffering. His service of a sick dog evoked the admiration of Gurudev. He would raise his finger in grim admonition when he saw anyone practicing cruelty to dumb animals in his presence.[1]
Quite early in life, although born in a wealthy family, he shunned the pleasures of the world to devote himself to seclusion and contemplation. In the matter of study it was the spiritual books which had the most appeal to him, more than college books. Even while he was at college, text-books had to take second place to spiritual books. The works of Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Sivananda, took precedence over all others.[1]
He shared his knowledge with others, so much so that he virtually became the Guru of the household and the neighborhood, to whom he would talk of honesty, love, purity, service and devotion to God. He would exhort them to perform Japa of Rama-Nama. While still in his twenties he began initiating youngsters into this great Rama Taraka Mantra. He was an ardent admirer of Sri Ramakrishna Math at Madras and regularly participated in the Satsangs (association with the wise) there. The call of Swami Vivekananda to renounce resounded within his pure heart. He ever thirsted for the Darshan (vision) of saints and Sadhus (renunciate) visiting the metropolis.[1]
In June 1936, he disappeared from home. After a vigorous search by his parents, he was found in the secluded Ashram of a holy sage some miles from the sacred mountain shrine Tirupati. He returned home after some persuasion. This temporary separation was but a preparation for the final parting from the world of attachments to family and friends.[1]
Initiation
The final decision came in 1943. He was already in correspondence with Sri Swami Sivananda. He obtained Swami Sivananda's permission to join the Ashram.[1]
On arriving at the Ashram, he naturally took charge of the dispensary. He became the man with the healing hand. The growing reputation of his divine healing hand attracted a rush of patients to the Sivananda Charitable Dispensary.[1]
Very soon after joining the Ashram, he gave ample evidence of the brilliance of his intellect. He delivered lectures, wrote articles for magazines and gave spiritual instructions to the visitors. When the Yoga-Vedanta Forest University (now known as the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy) was established in 1948, Swami Sivananda paid him a fitting tribute by appointing him Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Raja Yoga. During his first year he inspired the students with his brilliant exposition of Maharishi Patanjali's Yoga-Sutras.[1]
It was also in the first year of his stay at the Ashram that he wrote his magnum opus 'Light Fountain', an immortal biography of Sri Gurudev. Swami Sivananda himself once remarked: "Sivananda will pass away, but 'Light Fountain' will live".[1]
In spite of his multifarious activities and intense Sadhana, he founded, under the guidance of Swami Sivananda, the Yoga Museum in 1947, in which the entire philosophy of Vedanta and all the processes of Yoga Sadhana are depicted in the form of pictures and illustrations.[1]
Towards the end of 1948, Swami Sivananda nominated him as the General Secretary of The Divine Life Society. The great responsibility of the organization fell on his shoulders. From that very moment he spiritualized all his activities by his presence, counsel and wise leadership. He exhorted all to raise their consciousness to the level of the Divine.[1]
On Guru Purnima day, July 10, 1949, he was initiated into the holy order of Sannyasa by Sri Swami Sivananda. He now became known as Swami Chidananda, a name which connotes : "one who is in the highest consciousness and bliss".[1]
Death
Swami Chidananda Attained Mahasamadhi on August 28, 2008 at 8.11 pm at the age of 91 years. According to his wish, his body was immersed in the Ganges, according to the ritual of Jal-Samadhi.[2].
Books By Swami Chidananda
Books By Swami Chidananda:[3]
- An Instrument of thy Peace
- Awake, Realise your Divinity
- Bhaja Govindam
- Bliss is Within
- Call to Liberation
- Chidananda Hun
- Daily Swadhyaya
- Divine Vision
- Eternal Messages
- Essentials of Higher Values in Life
- Gita Vision
- God as Mother
- Guide Lines to Illumination
- Guide to Noble Living
- Lectures on Raja Yoga
- Liberation is Possible !
- Light on the Yoga Way of Life
- Manache Shlok (Translation)
- Message of Swami Chidananda to Mankind
- New Beginning
- Path Beyond Sorrow
- Path to Blessedness
- Philosophy, Psychology and Practice of Yoga
- Ponder These Truths
- Practical Guide to Yoga
- Renunciation—a Life of Surrender and Trust
- Seek The Beyond
- Swami Sivananda—Saint, Sage and Godman
- The Quintessence of the Upanishad
- The Role of Celibacy in Spiritual Life
- The Truth That Liberates
- Twenty Important Spiritual Instructions
- Ultimate Journey
- Verses Addressed to the Mind
See also
References
External links
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