Swami Krishnananda Shashtyabdapurti Mahotsava Commemoration Volume

A Souvenir released on Swami Krishnananda's 60th Birthday

The Saintly Sage of the Sacred Himalayas

by Swami Vivekananda

Glory be to the Himalayas, the sacred abode of reputed saints and sages. The exalted Rishis and excellent God-men always elevate humanity with their sublime spiritual ideas and ideals from the eternal heights of the Himalayas. The loftiest tenants of ethics and morality that have raised human beings to the magnanimous height of supreme perfection and the sublime truths of spirituality that have made men divine and moulded the spiritual life of nations have all emanated from the cradle of the Himalayas.

The Vedas are the lighthouse of eternal wisdom leading man to salvation and inspiring him to supreme accomplishment. The Vedic Rishis performed austerities and Tapas at the foothills of the Himalayas and this place has come to be known as Muni-ki-reti, the sands trodden by the holy God-men or Munis of yore. On the banks of the Ganga, at Muni-ki-reti, is situated Sivananda Ashram, the holy abode of Brahmaleen H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. It majestically stands there to glorify the divine mission of the Master.

Among the galaxy of saints and sages who have enriched, from time to time, the intellectual and spiritual life of this holy land, the place of Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj is unique, in the sense that he has occupied a prominent place in the hearts of people of India and many foreign countries as a compassionate, patriotic and loving sage through his selfless service and his nectarine gospel of Divine Life. He is hailed as the regal Rishi of resurgent India. He founded The Divine Life Society in 1936, started spiritual magazines – “The Divine Life” in English and “Yog-Vedant” in Hindi – wrote hundreds of books, and published in innumerable pamphlets to propagate the noble spiritual ideals to people all over the world.

Swami Sivananda's philosophy of "Work is worship" originated from his heart soaked with boundless compassion, overflowing love, utter selflessness and ardent yearning to lead his disciples and devotees along the road that he himself had trodden, in order that they too might, like him, experience the triumph of spirit over matter. The substratum for this love and compassion of the Master is the Spirit, the Atman, the Supreme Being, who manifests Himself as this universe. So, it is no wonder that countless young men of all climes and creeds came to the abode of Gurudev to serve at his lotus feet, and became his ardent disciples.

Among the fortunate and selected few who took shelter at his feet, Sri Swami Chidanandaji and Sri Swami Krishnanandaji stand topmost—like the two sons of Lord Siva, Ganesha and Kartikeya—glorifying the Divine Life mission. Swami Krishnanandaji willingly undertook the role of Skanda to destroy the Asuric tendencies of the present modern age through his Jnana Vel, the knowledge of Yoga and Vedanta. Surprisingly, his Purvashram name "Subbaraya" signifies Skanda. From the time of the holy Mahasamadhi of Gurudev, the mantle of Jnana Yajna fell upon the fragile shoulders of Swami Krishnanandaji. Relentlessly, he has been serving Gurudev's Mission at the Society's Headquarters with his heart and soul, so much so we can say that the daily life of Sri Swamiji portrays the moment-to-moment history of the Divine Life Society, and what he says and does becomes the gospel of Divine Life. The spirit of Gurudev stands revealed in Swamiji's actions,

The inmates of the Ashram are naturally drawn towards him, like iron filings to a magnet. Swamiji's face ever radiates a beaming smile. He does not evince respect for his own personality, but gives respect to others. He respects all, because he sees the One Spirit in all beings. A veritable embodiment of humility, devoid of the sense of I-ness and mine-ness, is Swami Krishnanandaji. We thank God again and again for having blessed us with this fortune of being in the holy company of this Mahapurusha, the saintly sage of the sacred Himalayas.

I joined Sivanandashram in the month of October, 1964. Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj, the President, with his kind blessings, deputed me to the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy Press to serve and assist Sri Swami Jnananandaji in the Reading Section. Sri Swami Krishnanandaji Maharaj was, at that time, not only the General Secretary of the Divine Life Society but also the Editor, Printer and Publisher of The Divine Life Magazine and other publications of the Society. The nature of my work gave me manifold opportunities to come in personal contact with Swamiji. His wisdom-filled spiritual instructions left a magic touch on my mind and heart and made a clean sweep of all the impurities within, besides blessing me with a clear vision of the Sadhana life.

I was initiated into the holy order of Sannyasa by His Holiness Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj on the Gurupurnima Day, 13th July 1965, along with three other Sadhaks. Swamiji, after giving Sannyasa Diksha, explained to us the Sannyasa Tattva and told us that we should put in at least eight years of Guru Seva in the Divine Life Mission of Guru Bhagavan. Sri Swami Krishnanandaji, our Acharya Guru, explained the import of the Mahavakyas and the ordained duties of a Sannyasin in this modern age. He stressed three points, namely, whole-hearted devotion to Gurudev, whole-souled dedication to Guru Seva the and intense meditation on the Sannyasa Mantra

Swami Krishnanandaji's stupendous writings and soul-stirring speeches are indeed a treasure for the spiritual aspirant. He shines as a luminous star in the firmament of scriptural knowledge and philosophic wisdom. He has a clear understanding, not only of Brahma Vidya, but also of a human psychology. The result is a personality scintillating with the vision of Truth and throbbing with an ardent desire to serve humanity.

In his writings, Swamiji reveals considerable literary dexterity. At his hands, the great Devabhasha Sanskrit and famous international language English have both become so elastic that he can mould them into any shape and form. His whole-hearted outpourings have come out in the shape of books of repute. His literary output covers the entire range of the incomparable profundities of the scriptures and provides a rich treat, the value of which can be assessed only by those of deep spiritual insight. Under the dynamic supervision of Swamiji Maharaj, regular Yoga-Vedanta courses are conducted at the Academy Building in the adjacent hills.

Like the great Master Sri Swami Sivananda, Sri Swami Krishnanandaji also takes meticulous care in training the Ashram inmates in noble spiritual ideals. Gurudev had several of the characteristics Lord Krishna Himself—the multi-faceted manifestation of the Supreme Reality. His was a personality inclusive of everything valuable in life and he possessed a goodness that reached the heights of the it magnificent Divinity, at the same time coming down to the level of a child and of the man in the street. All this Swami Krishnanandaji has inherited. He walks in the footsteps of his Master, regal in bearing and radiant in wisdom, yet humble and simple, but with a straightforwardness which could at times be crushing but beneficial spiritually.

All great saints, who have brought about a real change on earth, have been men of renunciation, dedication and service. Sri Swamiji Maharaj is the very embodiment of all these virtues as well is of Daivi Sampat enumerated by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavata Gita. When such a great saint considers himself as an instrument in God's hands, there is nothing that is not within his reach. This is the secret of Swamiji's greatness.

It was October 18, 1965, my 45th Birthday. I went to Swamiji's Kutir to pray for his blessings. Swamiji Maharaj readily gave his blessings and asked me to speak in the night Satsanga. I first felt nervous and hesitated, but Swamiji persuaded me through encouraging words and said: “You must roar like a lion!” Somehow I picked up the courage and went over the ordeal at the Satsanga, feeling all the time that my speaking was akin to the blabbering of a baby or the bleating of a lamb yet, after the talk was over, Swamiji Maharaj, in his own kind way, praise me before the audience: “Vivekanandaji's language was a wonderful Johnsonian style. He will, hereafter, speak in the Night Satsangas”. I cannot but admire the greatness of Swamiji for the marvellous grace that he showers on Sadhaks. Suffice it to mention that I am completely overwhelmed by his shower of love.

Swami Krishnanandaji has charted to the most stupendous heights of consciousness and peaks of sublime knowledge. He has kept before humanity the vision of those glorious peaks which he himself has explored and discovered. He earnestly wishes that every man should rise above his lower self and grow into a new being, the Being of Truth, Light and Delight. Even in this atomic and electronic age, the spirit of ancient India reigns supreme in our saintly sage. Jnana Ganga gushes out from his heart in the form of spiritual discourses.

India!
Thy ancient glory!? Where is it? O where?
The warriors of the Spirit, where?
The men that sought no gains but sacrifice?
No riches but renunciation, wisdom, love?
Here are the seers of the ancient day,
And sages, prophets of the Inner Light,
And supermen of action flaming into sacrifice,
And singers of the secret that is God.

Swamiji Maharaj infuses a new spirit into the minds and hearts of the Sadhaks.

We keep rolling along and alone
Like an ocean whose billows are wide,
And surcharged with the passionate song
Of a triumph that comes to abide,
We are true, we are swift, we are strong;
Each step that we take is a tide!

In this way, Swamiji Maharaj guides his disciples step by step until they climb and reach the dizzy heights of Spiritual Illumination. To have Satsang with Swamiji Maharaj is a joy to all. It kindles the spiritual fire and gives fresh inspiration.

My joy knows no bounds that I have been given this unique opportunity of offering my Pushpanjali at the lotus feet of Swamiji Maharaj on the occasion of his Sixtieth Birthday Anniversary. I bow in homage and pray and invoke the Grace of Guru Bhagavan Sivanandaji Maharaj and God Almighty to bless His Holiness with radiant health, long life and unprecendented spiritual ministry. Glory be to the saintly sage of the sacred Himalayas!!