Vishnu Swami as he was fondly called by Swami Sivananda, was made the Hatha Yoga Professor at the ashram. He did not receive any training. He said "My Master touched me and opened my intuitive eye. All this knowledge returned to me from past lives."
Many people visited the ashram from all over the world and Vishnu Swami taught them hatha yoga. The Master sent him around India to give demonstrations.
Vishnu Swami recalled feeling important as the first Hatha Yoga Professor at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy and since he was small and thin, he decided to grow a beard and long hair.
One day, Swami Sivananda passed by him and said " Yes, Vishnu Swami, the beard suits you. Yes, it is true, we must all make a good appearance and impress people. Yes, yes, keep on with it." Vishnu Swami learnt never again to put on airs and graces to impress people! He immediately shaved.
Vishnu Swami spent a period of 3 months doing intense sadhana(spiritual practice). He retired into a small hut which he built for himself in the forest, living only on kitchari(rice & lentils), and doing intense pranayama(breathing exercises) and meditation. In so doing, he became a dynamo, and came back to serve the Master with increased vigour.
He was made the personal secretary of the Master, and thus he was able to observe closely how Swami Sivananda lived and worked.
Swami Sivananda was nicknamed Swami Givananda, as he was so generous and loving. Swami Sivananda made it his life's mission to disseminate the wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads and spiritual epics of India, making it available to everybody all over the world. For this reason, he made sure the printing presses kept running even when the ashram didn't have enough money for food. Swami Sivananda wrote more than 300 books, all of them sublime and elevating. He printed many pamphlets which were handed out freely.
No-one was barred from the ashram. As you will hear in the video, many people who were suffering mentally came to the ashram. Swami Sivananda saw God in everyone and everything.
Vishnu Swami worked hard in the ashram. He said, on many occasions, he only had time to do his asanas(yoga postures) at midnight after all his chores!
One time, the Master said to him "Vishnu Swami, one day you must go to America. People are waiting there for you to teach them Yoga." Vishnu Swami laughed thinking he might as well have said he'd be going to the moon! In 1957, the Master did indeed send him to the West to take his message to the people of America and all over the world. He gave him 10rupees and sent him forth with the words, "People are waiting."
That 10 rupee note is now framed and kept in the HQ Sivananda Yoga Camp, Val Morin in Quebec, Canada.
References:
"Sivananda YogaLife 1994 Special Commemorative issue"-The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre
Photo from "A pictorial guide to Swami Sivananda"-The Divine Life Society"
Hatha Yoga Pradipika with commentary by Swami Vishnudevananda, based on his own experience.
Swamiji created a programme of "Sadhana Intensive" for yogis who already have experience practising yoga and meditation, and wish to develop further. This programme is offered by the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams. Please click on link below for further information.
http://www.sivananda.org/courses/sadhana-intensive.html
http://www.yogastall.com/yoga_books.html
Vishnu Swami recalled feeling important as the first Hatha Yoga Professor at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy and since he was small and thin, he decided to grow a beard and long hair.
One day, Swami Sivananda passed by him and said " Yes, Vishnu Swami, the beard suits you. Yes, it is true, we must all make a good appearance and impress people. Yes, yes, keep on with it." Vishnu Swami learnt never again to put on airs and graces to impress people! He immediately shaved.
Vishnu Swami spent a period of 3 months doing intense sadhana(spiritual practice). He retired into a small hut which he built for himself in the forest, living only on kitchari(rice & lentils), and doing intense pranayama(breathing exercises) and meditation. In so doing, he became a dynamo, and came back to serve the Master with increased vigour.
He was made the personal secretary of the Master, and thus he was able to observe closely how Swami Sivananda lived and worked.
Swami Sivananda was nicknamed Swami Givananda, as he was so generous and loving. Swami Sivananda made it his life's mission to disseminate the wisdom of the Vedas, Upanishads and spiritual epics of India, making it available to everybody all over the world. For this reason, he made sure the printing presses kept running even when the ashram didn't have enough money for food. Swami Sivananda wrote more than 300 books, all of them sublime and elevating. He printed many pamphlets which were handed out freely.
No-one was barred from the ashram. As you will hear in the video, many people who were suffering mentally came to the ashram. Swami Sivananda saw God in everyone and everything.
Vishnu Swami worked hard in the ashram. He said, on many occasions, he only had time to do his asanas(yoga postures) at midnight after all his chores!
One time, the Master said to him "Vishnu Swami, one day you must go to America. People are waiting there for you to teach them Yoga." Vishnu Swami laughed thinking he might as well have said he'd be going to the moon! In 1957, the Master did indeed send him to the West to take his message to the people of America and all over the world. He gave him 10rupees and sent him forth with the words, "People are waiting."
That 10 rupee note is now framed and kept in the HQ Sivananda Yoga Camp, Val Morin in Quebec, Canada.
References:
"Sivananda YogaLife 1994 Special Commemorative issue"-The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre
Photo from "A pictorial guide to Swami Sivananda"-The Divine Life Society"
Hatha Yoga Pradipika with commentary by Swami Vishnudevananda, based on his own experience.
Swamiji created a programme of "Sadhana Intensive" for yogis who already have experience practising yoga and meditation, and wish to develop further. This programme is offered by the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams. Please click on link below for further information.
http://www.sivananda.org/courses/sadhana-intensive.html
http://www.yogastall.com/yoga_books.html
No comments:
Post a Comment