Poems by Swami Sivananda

Poems by Swami Sivananda

Thanksgiving

How kind and compassionate Thou art, my lord;
You created a beautiful world for me,
The Sun and Moon illumine the earth.
You created cows to supply me good milk,
You created delicious fruits and vegetables,
You created holy Ganga for bathing,
You created hill-stations and seas,
Beautiful flowers, herbs and landscapes.
You created this mysterious body,
For my soul to live in;
You created these five Indriyas1,
To get knowledge and experience;
You created the Rishis2 and Sages,
To lead me to Your Supreme Abode;
You created the Vedas and scriptures
To guide me in the path of righteousness;
How can I thank Thee, my Lord?
Words are poor, language is imperfect;
I bow to Thee with folded hands, O Lord:
And pay my silent homage:
Thus Sayeth Sivananda.

1. Senses
2. Seers

Cosmic Prayer and Kirtan

Come along all birds, my little sisters,
Let us sing the glory of our lord.
You must praise Him heartily,
For He has given you liberty,
To fly about in all places;
You need not sow or reap,
He gives you food easily:
He has provided you tall trees
To build your nests.
Come along, my Mother Earth,
Let us sing His praise.
God has given you productive power,
To produce fruits, flowers, grass.
Come along, my brothers Sun and fire,
Let us sing the glory of our Lord.
He has given you great effulgence.
Come along my sisters
Wind, water, moon and little stars,
Mountain, rivers, trees and beasts,
Let us give thanks to the lord.
Come along, my brothers Varuna1,
Yama2 and Brihaspati3,
Let us pay homage to the lord
And sing His glory:
Thus Sayeth Sivananda.

1. God of the sky and the waters
2. God of death
3. Sage who counsels the Gods

Divine Flowers

Hey Prabho, bestower of Bliss,
My basket of flowers is empty now.
I shall offer Thee, O Lord!
Some rarest divine flowers.
I cultivated them with great difficulty;
These flowers cannot be had in any market,
Or in any garden in the three worlds:
I offer Thee the divine Champaka¹ of Santi2,
I offer Thee the divine rose of equal vision,
I offer Thee the divine Jasmine of Santosh3,
I offer Thee the divine Parijata4
I offer Thee the divine Mandara5 of discrimination,
I offer Thee the rare flower of self-restraint:
These flowers will be more pleasing to Thee, O lord,
Please accept these flowers, my Lord:
Thus Sayeth Sivananda.

1. Tropical flowering tree with orange fragrant blooms
2. Peace
3. Contentment
4. Divine tree. Its flowers have medicinal value and bloom in the evening, at the
first rise of daylight the flowers drop.
5. A mythological tree. It is believed that if you sit under this tree, all your cares
and worries will go away.

My Auspicious Day

I celebrated this auspicious day,
With great éclat and pomp;
With illumination and joyful songs:
My wish has been fulfilled.
I have met my Beloved;
How shall I find words
For the beauty of my Beloved.
He is brilliant like millions of suns;
He has enthroned in my heart:
The lamp of love burns lustrously.
I bathed Him with the water of love;
I adorned Him with the flowers of Prem¹
I gave Him butter and sugar – candy.
I have drunk the cup of love,
Which is filled to the brim;
It is the cup of perfect joy:
My rapture wells forth.
The mercy of my Lord has come upon me;
How blessed am I?
Who have seen my Beloved?
Thus Sayeth Sivananda.

1. Divine love

Secret of Love

Subtle and profound is the path of love;
It is like the edge of a sharp razor:
But the true lover treads it easily.
His grace renders his path smooth;
There is no asking or bargaining there,
It is all sacrifice and self-surrender;
It is all the outpouring of heart’s love
At the lotus feet of the Lord.
Egoism is burnt in the fire of love;
Desires are destroyed in the flame of love
Two have become one now.
The lover plunges himself
In the Ocean of Divine Love;
He immerses himself
In the sea of Divine Joy:
He offers his all in Lord’s service.
His tan, man, dhan¹:
This is the secret of this Love:
Thus Sayeth Sivananda.

Poems by Swami Sivananda – A Spiritual Voice of Peace, Service, and Divine Wisdom

Poems by Swami Sivananda reflect the heart of a saint who believed that spiritual life should be simple, practical, and full of divine love. Swami Sivananda was not only a monk and teacher, but also a guide who used clear words to awaken faith, purity, discipline, and inner strength. His poetic expressions are filled with devotion, self-control, service, meditation, and the call to realize God within.

The beauty of Poems by Swami Sivananda lies in their directness. His style does not depend on complicated literary decoration. Instead, it carries a simple spiritual force. The reader feels that the words are written not only for the mind, but also for the heart. His poetry encourages people to live better, think nobly, serve selflessly, and remember the Divine in every moment of life.

A major theme in his poetic vision is service. Swami Sivananda’s famous message, “Serve, love, give, purify, meditate, realize,” expresses the complete path of spiritual living. Service is not shown as a social duty alone; it becomes a sacred offering. When a person helps others without ego, the heart becomes pure. Selfless service reduces selfishness and opens the mind to divine grace.

Poems by Swami Sivananda also teach the importance of love. This love is not limited to personal attachment or emotional dependence. It is a universal love that includes all beings. A spiritual person should not hate, judge, or hurt others. Instead, one should develop kindness, patience, forgiveness, and compassion. Such love becomes a living form of worship.

Another strong message in his writings is discipline. Spiritual growth does not happen through wishes alone. It requires regular practice, control of desires, pure food, truthful speech, good company, prayer, meditation, and self-examination. Swami Sivananda’s poetic teachings often remind seekers that the mind must be trained gently but firmly. Without discipline, devotion remains weak and unstable.

Poems by Swami Sivananda are also filled with the spirit of meditation. Meditation is presented as a way to quiet the restless mind and experience the peace of the soul. In daily life, the mind runs behind desires, fears, memories, and worries. Meditation helps the seeker turn inward and discover a deeper presence beyond mental noise. This inner silence becomes the foundation of true happiness.

His poetry also gives courage to seekers. Many people feel weak because they identify only with the body, emotions, and outer circumstances. Swami Sivananda reminds readers that the real Self is pure, strong, and divine. Fear becomes weaker when a person remembers the power of the soul. This message is especially meaningful for those who face stress, failure, illness, loneliness, or doubt.

For modern readers, Poems by Swami Sivananda remain highly relevant. Today, people may have comfort, education, and technology, but many still feel restless inside. The outer world has become fast, but the inner world often remains disturbed. His writings guide people back to simplicity, prayer, noble living, and spiritual awareness. They teach that peace cannot be found only through possessions or success; it must be cultivated within.

His poetic teachings also connect knowledge with action. It is not enough to read scriptures or speak about spirituality. Real wisdom must be visible in conduct. A person should become more truthful, humble, generous, peaceful, and helpful. If knowledge increases pride, it is incomplete. If knowledge increases love and service, it becomes true wisdom.

Another important quality of his poetry is hope. Swami Sivananda does not present spiritual life as something difficult or reserved only for saints. He encourages ordinary people to begin where they are. A student, worker, parent, leader, or householder can all practice spirituality through right thoughts, right words, and right actions. Every day becomes a chance to improve.

Poems by Swami Sivananda also show the unity of devotion and Vedanta. Devotion softens the heart, while wisdom clears the mind. When both come together, the seeker becomes balanced. Prayer without understanding can become mechanical, and knowledge without devotion can become dry. His teachings bring both together in a practical and inspiring way.

Ultimately, Poems by Swami Sivananda are not only literary writings; they are spiritual instructions in a gentle form. They guide the reader toward purity, peace, service, meditation, love, and God-realization. Their real value lies in transformation. When a seeker reads them with sincerity and practices their message, life becomes more disciplined, more compassionate, and more deeply connected with the Divine.