Samadhi Shrine The Spiritual Hub Samadhi Mandir is the central place of spiritual activities of Sivananda Ashram. The two main activities – early morning meditation, and the evening Satsanga – are held here. This place is the source of spiritual vibrations and inspirations for all the seekers. Even when no programme is going on, devotees prefer to sit under this holy atmosphere and do japa, prayer and meditation. Let us also peep into it. The Samadhi Shrine is at the end of a long big hall. Above the Samadhi is Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj’s Murti is in the lotus posture seated in a beautiful lotus. The imposing sight leaves you captivated and spellbound. You forget to enter into the Hall and are stuck up on the steps only. Thank God that you are stuck up. Now you are able to notice the beautiful carvings on the main door. The eight outer squares on the doors depict symbols of various religions and faiths. The inner eight squares depict eight significant words, as if they were the quintessence of all religious teachings or the fundamental universal principles of all religions and faiths. The eight words are Serve Love Give Purify Meditate Realise Be Good Do Good. The meaning and significance of these words have been explained in “Swami Sivananda – Philosophy and Teachings”. It is sufficient to note here that this Shrine is of a saint who respected all religions and accepted all that is good from all the sources. The first thing you notice after entering the Hall is oil paintings with appropriate short write-ups on both the sidewalls. This place is source of inspiration for innumerable devotees. One Mr. Allen from Britain, on his for his personal satisfaction, went on creating oil paintings show the various episodes from the life of Swami Sivananda. And when he showed these painting to the President Swamiji Maharaj, the latter immediately arranged to put them in the Samadhi Mandir. As a first time visitor, you are engrossed in them. And you also notice below the paintings some very appealing thoughts from the writings of Swami Sivananda. When the visitor is little tired he looks up for some change, and finds a big volume of Vedas very carefully preserved in a glass case, and a charming Murti of Lord Vishnu. This volume is treated as the living presence of Veda Bhagavan and is a special worship is offered fortnightly. Chanting of the mantra “Om Namo Narayanaya” and recitation of Sri Vishnu-sahasrsa-nama Stotram is done here regularly. On the right side there is a huge picture of Swami Sivananda, presented by devotees from Argentina. The innermost part is the sanctum sanctorum, the Samadhi of this great saint. You observe devotees coming with deep faith, overwhelmed with emotions approaching the Shrine, before entering it, they touch the feet of Ganesh seated over the entrance door. They bow down very reverentially, and then do circumambulation of the Shrine, bow down again and after coming out apply holy ashes. In the evening, you come again to the Samadhi Mandir to attend Satsanga, the main programme of the Ashram. Satsanga starts with prayers of all deities, and is followed by recitations of various Stotras (hymns). Then there is a spiritual discourse. It is followed by bhajans (devotional song), prayers for all those who are suffering, prayers for peace, and for the welfare of the entire mankind. After the concluding prayers, there is Arati and prasad distribution. A senior Swamiji takes up his seat one again and many devotees are also seated. Swamiji calls the devotees who had given their names in advance. The devotees come one after other, ask spiritual or even personal questions. Then, Swamiji takes a look around, inquires about the stay and comforts of the newly arrived visitors. The intimacy shown by the senior Swamiji is unique. You feel it is a sort of family gathering. Swamiji calls you also, and shows such intimacy that you feel that you are meeting your own father and you feel you are a part of the Sivananda family. Now you decide never to miss the Satsanga. It is a pleasant surprise for you that on most of the days the discourses are in English, and even when a discourse is in Hindi, its gist is given in English. The morning meditation session is from 5 to 6. But you come a little early and see many devotees already sitting in meditation. After brief prayer, the group meditation begins, at the end of it there is a little kirtan. Following early morning meditation, Revered Swami Atmaswarupananda gives a sparkling short talk. Sometimes some senior Swamiji is also gives a brief talk. The atmosphere is so much charged that everyone is inward drawn, no one speaks with anyone else, and no one looks here and there. Next, devotees hustle over to the Lord Visvanatha Temple and join the “Om Namah Shivaya” kirtan there while the puja of Siva is in progress. It may be noted that most worshipful Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj gives the highest priority to this morning programme and he is invariably attending it when he is in the Ashram. His morning talks are so inspiring that they are complied and published in many books.

Daily Activities The ashram offers a myriad of activities for serious seekers of all levels and backgrounds on the path of the truth to strengthen their sadhana and further their spiritual progress. Visitors are encouraged to attend as many of the programmes as possible and make fullest use of the uniqueness of location as well as activities. DAILY MORNING PROGRAMMES 5:00 – 6:00Jai Ganesh, Guru Stotra, Shanti Path,Pratah Smarana Stotram, Silent Meditation(30 minutes), short talk (English)6:00 – 7:00 First Worship 6:00 – 7:00First Worship of Lord Viswanath,Chanting of OM NAMAH SIVAYA & Aarati 6:00 – 7:00Yoga Asana & Pranayama Class,Only for Men(Except Sundays) 7:30 – 9:00Vishnu Sahasranama &Chanting : Om Namo Narayanaya 9:30 – 10:30Second Worship Gruedev’s Samadhi ShrinePaduka Puja(Every Thursday & 8th of Every Month) 9:30 – 10:15Second Worship Lord ViswanathArati & Puja Worship8:00 – 9:00 (Morning)6:30 – 7:30 (Evening) Worship8:00 – 9:00 (Morning)6:30 – 7:30 (Evening) 8:00 – 11:00 (Morning)2:00 – 4:00 (Afternoon)(Except Sundays) DAILY EVENING PROGRAMMES 1:00 – 3:00Sivananda Music Hall(Except Sundays) 4:30 – 5:30 (Winter)5:00 – 6:00 (Summer)Chanting: Om Namo NarayanayaArati & Puja 5:15 – 6:00(Winter)5:45 – 6:30(Summer)Bhajans, Kiratans at Gurudev’s KutirGanga Arati & Puja 5:30 – 6:00(Winter)6:00 – 6:30(Summer)Third Worship Gurudev’s SamadhiArati & Puja 5:00 – 6:00(Winter)5:30 – 6:30(Summer)Third Worship Lord ViswanathArati & Puja 7:30 – 9:30Evening Satsang: Lectures, Kirtans & Bhajans(English and Hindi)

Sivananda Ashram – Spiritual Field Sivananda Ashram is a place for sadhana (spiritual practice) preferred by aspirants from all over the world. Everyone – whether a beginner or a very advanced level sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) – has found this Ashram as an ideal place for sadhana, a place highly charged with the spiritual vibrations. Any person who wants to pursue sadhana as per his pre-planned sadhana programme with advance intimation is given permission to stay for a some days, if accommodation is available, without any discrimination with regards to caste, religion, country, social/economic status, etc. What has contributed to such a wonderful spiritual atmosphere? Several factors, such as: 1. Sivananda Ashram is situated in the foothills of Himalaya on the right bank (which is considered to be very sacred) of holy Ganga. This brings in some divine splendour as the background. 2. According to mythology, the pot containing the Divine Nectar was put on the bank of Ganga at Haridwar. The Divine Nectar sprinkled around covering this Ashram area as well, leaving Divine vibrations permanently. 3. The name Rishikesh was given to this place because Hrishikesh (Lord Krishna) gave here His admonitions to Uddhava. This Uddhava Gita (book XI, Ch. 6-29) is a top jewel not only of Srimad Bhagavatam, but also of the entire gamut of Indian philosophy. 4. Lord Rama’s brother Laxman had practised the most intense austerities for twelve years here (at a place only 150 meters from the Ashram). 5. This area on the outskirts of Rishikesh is known as Muni-ki-reti, – Muni (sage), ki (of) and reti (sand) – indicating that here on the sands of Ganga bank sages practise austerities and sadhana. 6. During the intense sadhana period (1024-34) of Swami Sivananda, the Ashram area was a hilly jungle and here (at the site of Vishwanath Temple); he used to practise meditation and had attained transcendental Experience. Also, after the Ashram was established, many sages have done sadhana here and are still doing. There are many buildings on the slope of a hill making it possible to have a view of Himalaya and Ganga from most of the buildings and even from good many rooms as well. The construction is done economically to provide moderate accommodation providing basic requirements to sincere sadhakas. A visitor must inform well in advance his programme to the General Secretary, The Divine Life Society,Shivanandanagar,PIN: 249 192 Uttaranchal, India.Fax:0135-442046E-mail:generalsecretary@sivanandaonline.org,Website: www.sivanandaonline.org. The decision about whether the application should be approved or rejected and for what duration the visitor would be permitted to stay is solely the discretion of the General Secretary. The visitor should confirm his visit to the Reception-in-charge (ph: 0135-430040) and contact him on his visit.A Typical Day at Sivananda Ashram The first thing that one would have to say about a “typical day at the Sivananda Ashram” is that there is definitely no typical day at Sivananda Ashram! This is true for various reasons. One is due to the absolute large-heartedness and tolerance of Swami Sivananda himself. He did not demand that people hold to a definite daily schedule, although he did lay out very specific suggestions in his writings. Finally though, every individual seeker was free to formulate his own daily programme, in whatever way he thought best. Another reason why it is hard to chart out a typical day is that there are so many festivals, special worships and activities, and one might be hard-pressed to rigidly hold to one routine. Having said that, here is what a typical day might look like. Gurudev believed very firmly that one should rise early, preferably at 4 am if possible. Each morning beginning at 5 am there is morning meditation in the Samadhi Shrine with chanting, 30 minutes of meditation and a 10-minute talk in English. Following this, many people go next door to the Viswanath Mandir (Temple of Lord Siva) for the morning puja and prayer. The puja begins promptly at 5:40 am, and while the puja is going on the devotees will be chanting the sacred mantra of Lord Siva, “Om Namah Sivaya.” The puja and chanting conclude at 7 am with the distribution of prasad. Breakfast follows from 7 to 7:30 am. If one is feeling especially energetic, one could leave the worship early and attend a Hatha Yoga class from 6:30-8:00 am. (Missing breakfast may not be a problem as lunch is served at the relatively early hour of 11 am.) Having invigorated oneself physically, one could turn one’s attention to the highest Vedanta philosophy, and that opportunity is provided in a small class that is offered from 8:20 till 9:00 am. Morning is also a good time to offer some service. Swami Sivananda himself worked tirelessly for the benefit of all and advocated extensive Karma Yoga (selfless service). One could inquire in the various departments if any regular assistance were needed. For seekers inclined to the devotional path, each morning at 7:30-8:30 am, the mantra “Om Namo Narayanaya” is chanted in the Samadhi Shrine. One could also attend a mid-morning worship service in either the Samadhi Shrine or the Viswanath Mandir. On Thursday, Guru’s day, pada puja worship is performed beginning around 9:30 am in the Samadhi Shrine. For the more philosophically minded, there is a discussion and meditation from 9:30 to 11 am in the Academy. After such a busy morning, one would surely be ready for lunch in the Dining Hall. There are two sittings: 11 and also 11:30 am to accommodate people’s different schedules. The sannyasi, brahmacharis, sadhaks, guests and workers are seated in rows on the floor with a thali (steel plate), a cup for water and a small bowl for dhal. The Mahamantra is chanted along with the 15th Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita as the food is being served. The Dining Hall attendants come around with vegetables, dhal (lentils), rice and chapattis (unleavened bread) and one can have as much as one likes, as long as the food is not wasted. The food should be eaten

Introduction to the Sivananda Ashram On the one hand, the Sivananda Ashram is a physical place, located somewhere with buildings, residents, and offices. On the other hand, it is not a place at all. It is the spiritual expression of the divine mission of its founder, Swami Sivananda. If a natural calamity was to occur, and all the buildings were destroyed and all the residents dispersed, there would still be a Sivananda Ashram. To the extent that people devoted to carrying on his work share Swami Sivananda’s vision, to that same extent Sivananda Ashram would continue to exist. So often people in the Ashram will remark how they still feel the spiritual presence of Swami Sivananda and see his hand in the affairs of the Ashram. They will say, “It is not I who works, but Gurudev who works through me.” The residents also feel that it is in this very place that they can be led more firmly to their goal of God-realisation. In this place of selfless service, contemplation and ego-annihilation, is an atmosphere vibrant with the spiritual power that can carry the aspirant to that realisation. Swami Chidanandaji once said in response to a request of an Ashram resident to go elsewhere to do sadhana, “Yes, there may be many other places more suited for good spiritual practice. But if it is God-realisation you want, there is no better place than here.” The Sivananda Ashram is the headquarters and spiritual focal point of a vast worldwide organisation called “The Divine Life Society.” The Society encompasses more than 300 branches around the world, as well as individual devotees in India and abroad. At the centre of this vast network of spiritual uplift throughout the world, in the form of the Divine Life Society, stands the Sivananda Ashram as the guiding light. The Ashram is dedicated to the service of all and is itself benefited by the generous donations of the devotees who want to see that service continue. It is in the Ashram that any person interested in the spiritual life, whether a member of the DLS or not, can come and be nurtured by the spirit that pervades this place. THE SIVANANDA PILLAR INSCRIPTIONS – I OM CARDINAL DOCTRINES OF THE MAIN RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD Know the Self and be free – Hinduism The Kingdom of Heaven is within you – Christianity There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is the prophet of Allah – Islam For the whole world this is the law: all is impermanent – Buddhism Non‑injury is verily the only religion – Jainism Purity of thought, word and deed is the essence of religion – Zoroastrianism I am that I am – Judaism He who has overcome himself is mighty – Taoism Blame yourself as you would blame others. Excuse others as you would excuse yourself – Confucianism There is but one God and His name is truth; wonderful is the guru – Sikhism I am that Real – Sufism See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil – Shintoism All religions are one. They teach a divine life. Love all. Serve all. Practise ahimsa, satya, brahmacharya. Be selfless. Seek the Immortal – Divine Life Heart of Religion God is love. The only true religion is the religion of love or the religion of the heart. Feel for others as you feel for yourself. This universal religion will bring world‑peace and happiness. SEEK FIND ENTERREST IN GOD INSCRIPTIONS -II OM TWENTY INSTRUSTIONS 1. Get up at 4. a.m. daily. Do japa and meditation. 2. Sit on padma or siddha asana for japa and dhyana. 3. Take sattvic food. Do not overload the stomach. 4. Do charity ‑ one tenth of your income or one anna per rupee. 5. Study daily one chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. 6. Preserve veerya (vital force). Sleep separately. 7. Give up smoking, narcotics, intoxicant drinks and rajasic food. 8. Fast on Ekadasi days or take milk and fruits only. 9. Observe mouna for two hours daily and during meals also. 10. Speak the truth at any cost. Speak a little and sweetly. 11. Reduce your wants. Lead a happy, contented life. 12. Never hurt the feelings of others. Be kind to all. 13. Think of the mistakes that you have made (self‑analysis). 14. Do not depend upon servants. Have self‑reliance. 15. Think of God as soon as you wake up and when you go to bed. 16. Have always a japa‑mala on your neck or in your pocket. 17. Adhere to the motto ‑ ‘Simple living and high thinking’. 18. Serve the sadhus, sannyasins and the poor, the sick and the suffering. 19. Have a separate meditation room under lock and key. 20. Keep a daily spiritual diary. Stick to your routine. These 20 instructions contain the essence of yoga and vedanta. Follow them strictly. Do not be lenient to your mind. You will attain supreme happiness.Swami Sivananda BE GOOD DO GOOD INSCRIPTIONS – III OM UNIVERSAL PRAYER 0 Adorable Lord of mercy and love!Salutations and prostrations unto Thee.Thou art Satchidananda.Thou art Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient.Thou art the Indweller of all beings. Grant us an understanding heart,Equal vision, balanced mind,Faith, devotion and wisdom.Grant us inner spiritual strengthTo resist temptations and to control the mind.Free us from egoism, lust, greed, anger and hatred.Fill our hearts with divine virtues. Let us behold Thee in all these names and forms.Let us serve Thee in all these names and forms.Let us ever remember Thee.Let us ever sing Thy glories.Let Thy name be ever on our lips.Let us abide in Thee for ever and ever. The above non‑sectarian prayer is most suitable for being repeated during all common gatherings. It is cosmopolitan and all‑embracing. This is a beautiful universal prayer that you should repeat daily at home as well as on public occasions. This is a prayer that will unite all, spiritualise your activities and reveal the golden Secret of Divine Living.Swami Sivananda INSCRIPTIONS – IV OM SRI SWAMI