Divine Life Society

Divine Life Society
Divine Life Society

Serve, Love, Meditate, Realize
Formation 1936
Type Religious
Headquarters Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh
Website http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/

The Divine Life Society is a religious organization and an ashram, founded by Swami Sivananda Saraswati in 1936, at Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh, India. Today it has branches spread across many parts of the world as well as India, also several of Swami Sivananda's disciples went on to open several independent organizations in Mauritius, US, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa, South America, and Europe [1][2][3]

Contents

Aims

Sivananda Kutir at Sivananda Ghat, and Sivananda Ashram above, Rishikesh

Its aim is to disseminate spiritual knowledge in the following ways:

  • through publication of books, pamphlets and magazines on the subjects of Yoga and Vedanta
  • holding and arranging spiritual conferences and discourses (Satsang)
  • establishing training centers for the practice of Yoga
  • enabling aspirants to develop their spiritual lives via systematic training in yoga and philosophy
  • establishing charitable organizations
  • through the preservation of the ancient traditions and cultural practices of India

History

In 1936, after returning from a pilgrimage, Swami Sivananda took residence in an old kutir on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. Other disciples seeking to live in his company also took up residence in the surrounding area, often in less than ideal conditions. In order to better serve the growing tide of disciples, he founded The Divine Life Society Trust. A grant of land from the ruler of Tehri-Garhwal eventually helped to provide space for new buildings and the continuing growth of the new ashram.[4] Swami Chidananda Saraswati served as president of the society from August 1963 to 28 August 2008, while Swami Krishnananda as the General-Secretary of the Society in Rishikesh, from 1958 until 2001.

Departments

Interiors of the Sivananda Samadhi temple, Divine Life Society, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh
Ram Jhula Bridge across the Ganges at Muni Ki Reti, built in 1980s, close to the Kutir of Swami Sivananda
  • Sivananda Ashram is the headquarters of the Divine Life Society.
  • Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy trains seekers in the practice of yoga as a general discipline for personal integration as well as for human welfare.
  • Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy Press prints the cultural and spiritual books as well as the journals and other literature of the Divine Life Society.
  • Sivananda Publication League is the publishing arm of the Divine Life Society.
  • The Free Literature Section freely distributes books and other literature to seekers and aspirants worldwide.
  • Sivananda Ayurvedic Pharmaceutical Works manufactures and distributes Ayurvedic medicines to the general public.
  • Sivananda Charitable Hospital renders free medical service to the public and conducts periodical medical relief camps freely.

Branches

Further reading

  • Sivananda and the Divine Life Society: A Paradigm of the "secularism," "puritanism" and "cultural Dissimulation" of a Neo-Hindu Religious Society, by Robert John Fornaro. Published by Syracuse University, 1969.
  • From man to God-man: the inspiring life-story of Swami Sivananda, by N. Ananthanarayanan. Published by Indian Publ. Trading Corp., 1970.
  • Swami Sivananda and the Divine Life Society: An Illustration of Revitalization Movement, by Satish Chandra Gyan. Published by s.n, 1979.
  • Swami Sivananda's books

See also

  • Survey of Hindu organisations

References

  1. ^ Divine Life Society Britannica.com
  2. ^ Divine Life Society Divine enterprise: Gurus and the Hindu Nationalist Movement, by Lise McKean. University of Chicago Press, 1996. ISBN 0226560090. Page 164=165.
  3. ^ Swami Shivananda Religion and anthropology: a critical introduction, by Brian Morris. Cambridge University Press, 2006. ISBN 0521852412. Page 144.
  4. ^ Introduction

Related links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lokenath Divine Life Mission —    Lokenath Divine Life Mission is an outgrowth of the work of Swami Shuddhananda (b. 1949), who has become a holy figure serving the poor of Calcutta (Kolkata), much as his late Roman Catholic coun terpart Mother Teresa. His fellowship carries… …   Encyclopedia of Hinduism

  • Divine Mercy — The Divine Mercy image at the Divine Mercy Basilica, Krakow, the resting place of St. Faustina The Divine Mercy is a Roman Catholic devotion to the merciful love of God and the desire to let that love and mercy flow t …   Wikipedia

  • Divine (actor) — Divine Divine Born Harris Glenn Milstead 19 October 1945(1945 10 19) Towson, Baltimore County, Maryland, Un …   Wikipedia

  • Divine Word Missionaries — The Society of the Divine Word (Latin: Societas Verbi Divini, abbreviated SVD), popularly called the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a missionary religious congregation in the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui… …   Wikipedia

  • Divine Word College of Urdaneta — Motto Verbo Veritatis, Verbo Vitae (To the Word of Truth, to the Word of Life) Established 1966 Type Private, Catholic College Religious affiliation DWEA, CEAP …   Wikipedia

  • Society — • Implies fellowship, company, and has always been conceived as signifying a human relation Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Society     Society      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Society of Saint-Sulpice — The seal of the Society of Saint Sulpice Abbreviation P.S.S. Formation 1657 (354 years ago) …   Wikipedia

  • Divine Providence —     Divine Providence     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Divine Providence     (Lat., Providentia; Greek, pronoia).     Providence in general, or foresight, is a function of the virtue of prudence, and may be defined as the practical reason, adapting… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Divine Word Academy of Dagupan — Motto Love, Wisdom and Courage, Live in Christ! Established 1957 Type Private, Roman C …   Wikipedia

  • Divine Word College of Legazpi — (DWCL) Information Motto Witness to the Word in the World. Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic Patron saint(s) St.Arnold Janssen and St.Joseph Freinademetz Established 1961 Status Opened School Colour(s) …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”