A- A+

Swami Krishnananda Shashtyabdapurti Mahotsava Commemoration Volume
A Souvenir released on Swami Krishnananda's 60th Birthday

Links for this Book

Table of Contents

  • Articles about Swami Krishnananda

Touching the Absolute by Sivananda-Sobha

by Sivananda-Sobha

The very idea that I am going to write on Swami Krishnananda is awe-inspiring. It is like touching the Absolute, and so, must also fill one with bliss.

I reached the lotus-feet of Sri Gurudev in 1954 and was immediately lost in the ocean of love that Gurudev was. He showered his love and grace on this lowly creature and I literally swimmed in the ocean of bliss. Even then we knew Swami Krishnananda as a great Vedantin, but, as Sri Gurudev was with us and was also easily accessible to us, we felt no need to go anywhere else. When, however, Sri Gurudev was not with us in his physical form, we felt like orphans. It was then that we felt the need of a divine physical presence. It is true that Gurudev's Divine Spirit still pervades every atom of the Ashram. We can always feel it. Moreover, he has left his Vibhutis behind in the divine forms of Swami Chidananda and Swami Krishnananda. As Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj is often out of the Ashram on very pressing demands, Swami Krishnananda has very kindly condescended to oblige us with his divine company for an hour or so every day. Perhaps Sri Gurudev inspired him or actually instructed him to do so. Who knows? But it is a fact that we actually feel that we are in Gurudev's presence while we are with Swami Krishnananda. Like Gurudev, Swami Krishnanandaji too goes on seeing the papers, talking to devotees, attending to visitors, and throwing pearls of wisdom just in humour. But, that is only the exterior of Swami Krishnananda. His inner depths are incomprehensible. He is always one with the Absolute. In order to know and understand what Swami Krishnananda is, one has to see him speak. In previous years, when he used to deliver lectures in the Bhajan Hall, in front of the beautiful statue of Goddess Sarasvati, one was just wonder-struck to see him in flaming orange robes, pouring forth flaming words of wisdom. All the Upanishads are on his finger-tips. He has mastery over all the Western philosophers. He is indeed a master in every science. By seeing him I have realised the truth of the dictum that a Knower of Brahma Vidya knows all the sciences. Bring a master of any science before Swami Krishnananda. In Swamiji's mere presence, the scientist will feel that he knows nothing. That is Swami Krishnananda, the Shankaracharya of Sivananda Ashram.