Spiritual Import of Religious Festivals : 9-2.

Chapter 9. Gurudev Sivananda – Physician of the Soul-2.

Message given on the 8th of September, 1975, the 88th birthday anniversary of H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj.

To the humble followers of Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, the 8th of September is a momentous occasion, every year.

This is not merely a celebration of the birthday anniversary of the great Master, but an eternally significant event of the advent of the Spirit in this world in a new dimension and with a reoriented perspective.

This birthday anniversary celebration, as relevant to the great Master, Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj, is a rejoicing of the spirit for all his disciples and its meaning cannot be anything but spiritual.

I may take this opportunity of pointing out to you and reminding you all that the coming into incarnation of Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj had a special meaning to this world of the modern age.


This is the twentieth century and history has taken a leap, as it were, by means of an advance into what we may call an industrial revolution, and a gigantic technological step in the direction of a complete transformation of human values.

Mankind's vision of things has changed, right from the beginning of the twentieth century, on account of innumerable constructive changes that have taken place in various fields of life – in every field of life, we should say.

The beginning of the twentieth century was an occasion for the starting of a scientific revolution, with the advent of masters like Albert Einstein.

It was also the time for a revolution from the point of view of international relationship, when nations began to come closer and closer in their internal comity.

The significance of the United Nations began to be realised more and more in its real connotation and connection with the different nations.

The twentieth century has also been very eventful in many other aspects.

Man has conceived the meaning of political unity, national unity and international understanding, in their true significance.

This century has seen the coming into activity of many great masters like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Ramatirtha, Sri Aurobindo, Sri Ramana Maharshi, Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Radhakrishnan, and many others.

All these giants in the field of mind and spirit have given a magical touch to the total perspective of human values.

So in many respects we should say this twentieth century has been, perhaps, a type of crowning edifice in the historical evolution of the ages.

Swami Krishnananda
To be continued  ...