Swami Krishnananda Shashtyabdapurti Mahotsava Commemoration Volume
A Souvenir released on Swami Krishnananda's 60th Birthday
Happy Felicitations!
by Swami Pranavananda
According to the ancient tradition of Bharatavarsha, the completion of sixty years of mundane life, or Shashtyabdapurti, is an event of great significance, especially when it applies to saintly personages who have dedicated themselves entirely to the service of God, to the Preceptor and humanity as a whole. His Holiness Swami Krishnanandaji, one of the seniormost disciples of Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji, belongs to category of saints and completes his' Sixtieth Birthday on 25th April, 1982. This is a unique occasion to the Divine
Life Society and its numerous branches in all parts of the world and to the thousands of his devotees and admirers. In keeping with the importance of the occasion, the Society's headquarters has announced Swami Krishnanandaji's Shashtyabdapurti will be observed for sixty days to mark the completion of sixty years.
When we take a backward glance of the Divine Life Society's progress during the nineteen forties, we will come across an outstanding miracle that occurred at Ananda Kutir on the banks of the holy Ganges at the foot of the mighty Himalayas; it was the gathering of a band of young erudite men in their twenties around the sage Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj and their dedicating themselves to his holy feet and to the service of the Divine Life Mission which was then slowly expanding beyond the shores of sacred India. Among those so drawn to the Worshipful Master were Swami Paramananda, Swami Chidananda, Swami Narayananandaji, Swami Vishnudevanandaji, Swami Venkatesanandaji, and neither the last nor the least, Swami Krishnanandaji whose Diamond Jubilee is being fittingly celebrated now.
Swami Krishnanandaji is a born saint and philosopher. He is a great Sanskrit scholar. His knowledge of the scriptures is unfathomable. He has been Professor of Vedanta in the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy since its inception and his expositions on Vedanta Philosophy are superb. Swamiji was called "Vedanta Kesari". He is a dynamic synthetic Yogi, and primarily a Jnana Yogi and a practical Vedantin. His books on philosophy are authoritative. Among them, "The Realisation of the Absolute" is considered a masterpiece. It is not easy to understand the profound depth of his expressions at one or two readings, unless the reader is a philosopher like him. His Guru Bhakti and Guru Seva are unsurpassable. Gurudev is reported to have said, "Swami Krishnananda and Swami Chidananda have attained heart-to-heart union with me". They are indeed the beacon lights of Divine Life embodying in themselves Gurudev's divine traits.
Swami Krishnanandaji is by nature introspective, reticent and deeply contemplative. Like Nachiketas of Upanishadic fame, he is a Para-Vairagi. When speaking at Swamiji's 33rd Birthday Celebration in 1954, Gurudev characterised him as a "modern Dakshinamurti". Swamiji never moved out of Rishikesh for over twenty years since joining the Headquarters Ashram, and then only visited some places in India, being unable to resist the pressure brought upon him by some sincere disciples of Gurudev. He preferred to remain immersed in the serene atmosphere of Shivananda Nagar. Swamiji's lectures are highlights at all Satsangs, conferences and other important functions in the Ashram. He is most endearing, kind and affectionate.
In Swami Krishnanandaji we have a rare combination of spiritual eminence and administrative ability. The former needs no emphasis. The latter was amply demonstrated during the absence of Gurudev on his Indo-Ceylon tour in 1950; and again during the absence of Swami Chidanandaji on overseas tours in 1962-63, when Swami Krishnanandaji acted as the General Secretary. In 1968-71, and on subsequent occasions also, Swamiji acted as President with conspicuous success. Gurudev is reported to have said once : "Swami Krishnanandaji is a treasure, Swami Chidanandaji is a treasure. God has been gracious that he has given me so many precious gems". Like Gurudev, Swami Krishnanandaji is very prompt in answering correspondence and systematic in administrative details. Indeed, he is a complement and a supplement to His Holiness Swami Chidanandaji at the DLS Headquarters.
The devotees in Malaysia happily join in the chorus of hearty congratulations, greetings and messages of felicitations to Pujya Swami Krishnanandaji from all over the globe. We invoke the boundless grace of the Almighty and the benedictions of all sages and saints, ancient and modern, as well as that of our Worshipful Gurudev, for Pujya Swamiji's radiant health and strength so that He may be blessed with a Vedic age to serve the Master's noble mission.