The Atma Jyoti Blog

An early photo of Swami Sivananda Saraswati after he became a monk.

In February, we posted an article entitled “How God Came Into My Life” by Swami Sivananda Saraswati. As a follow-up, we post this article, originally called “Sivananda Gita,” which is a short autobiography of Swami Sivananda written in his own inimitable style, in January of 1946.

I was born of P.S. Vengu Iyer and Parvati Ammal on the 8th September 1887 at Pattamadai, Tinnevelly District, Tamil Nadu in the line of Appayya Dikshit. My star is Bharani. I was extremely mischievous in my boyhood. I studied in the S.P.G. College, Trichinopoly. I was a Doctor in the Malaya States for 10 years. I took sannyasa in 1924 in Rishikesh. I did tapas and meditation for 15 years. I went on teaching tours for 10 years. I founded the Divine Life Society in 1936 and the All-World Religious Federation in 1945.

I am childlike in my Svabhava. So I mix with all. I become one with all. I am ever happy and joyful and make others also happy and joyful. I am full of educative humour. I radiate joy through humour. I respect all. I do salutations to all first. I always speak sweetly. I walk quickly. I do japa and meditation while walking and while at work also.

I am ever hard-working. I have intense application to work. I never procrastinate any work. I finish it then and there. I am very quick in doing things. I cannot suppress the spirit of service in me. I cannot live without service. I take immense delight in service. Service has elevated me. Service has purified me. I know well how to extract work from others. I extract work through kindness, service, respect and love.

I am very regular in doing Asana and exercises. I do Pranayama also regularly. These give me wonderful health and energy. I run round the Bhajan Hall daily. I cannot deliver fiery lectures sitting on a special seat. Special seat pricks me. I stand up or throw the seat away and then begin to speak. I never sat on a special seat when I presided over spiritual conferences. I rejoice in giving. I always give.

I am 73 now. I ever feel I am quite young. I am full of vigour, vim and vitality. I am ever cheerful. I sing, dance, run, jump in joy. I am robust and strong. I can digest any kind of food. I continuously work, read and write. I never go to hill-stations or seaside for holiday. Change of work gives rest. Meditation gives abundant rest. Work gives me delight. Service gives me happiness. Writing bestows joy. Meditation energises and invigorates me. Kirtan vivifies me.

“Aham Brahma Asmi”, “Sivoham”, “Soham Sat-Chit-Ananda Svarupoham”. This is my favourite formula for Vedantic meditation. Song of “Chidananda” is my favourite song for singing.

“Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare,
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare.”

This Mahamantra Kirtan is my favourite Kirtan.

At the present moment I am the richest man in the whole world. My heart is full. Further, all the wealth of the Lord belongs to me now. Hence, I am King of Kings, Emperor of Emperors, Shah of Shahs, Maharaja of Maharajas. I take pity on the mundane kings. My dominion is limitless. My wealth is inexhaustible. My joy is inexpressible. My treasure is immeasurable. I attained this through sannyasa, renunciation, untiring selfless service, japa, and meditation.

I am tall. My height is 6 ft. I have a sinewy frame. I have symmetrical limbs. I am a first-class gymnast. I fast on ekadasi. I do not take even a drop of water on that day. I take milk and fruits on Sundays. I lead a simple natural life. There is a fountain of youth in me. I beam with joy. I observe fasting, resting, airing, bathing, breathing, exercising, sun-bathing and enjoy freedom, beauty, courage, poise and health.

I love nature, music, art, poetry, philosophy, beauty, goodness, solitude, meditation, yoga and Vedanta. I am humble and simple. I am frank and straightforward. I am perfectly tolerant and catholic. I am merciful and sympathetic. I have spontaneous and unrestrained generosity. I am bold and cheerful. I am patient. I can bear insult and injury. I am forgiving. I am free from vindictive nature. I return good for evil. I serve that man who has injured me, with joy.

I love Ganga and the Himalayas. Ganga is my Mother Divine. Himalayas is my Father Divine. They inspire and guide me. I take bath in Ganga. I adore Ganga. I feed the fishes of Ganga. I wave light to Mother Ganga. I pray to Ganga. I do salutations to Ganga. I sing the glory of Ganga. I write about the grandeur and glory of Ganga. Ganga has nourished me. Ganga has comforted me. Ganga has taught me the Truths of the Upanishads. Glory to Mother Ganga!

My daily routine is like that of Lord Buddha. I always remain in the room. I do japa, kirtan and meditation. I study sacred books. I write. I come out of the room for a short time for work, service and interview. I talk a little. I think much. I meditate much. I try to do much and serve much. I do not waste even a single minute. I ever keep myself fully occupied. I lead a well-regulated life. I perform worship of Atman at all times. I work for the good of others.

Gita, Upanishads, Bhagavata, Yoga Vasishtha, Avadhoota Gita, Vivekachudamani are my constant companions. I am a strange mixture of service, devotion, yoga and wisdom. I am a follower of Sri Sankara. I am a Kevala-Advaita Vedantin. I am not at all a dry lip Vedantin. I am a practical Vedantin. I practice and advocate the Yoga of Synthesis. I practice ahimsa, satyam and brahmacharya. Glory to Sri Sankara!

I respect all saints and prophets of all religions. I respect all religions, all cults, all faiths and all creeds. I serve all, love all, mix with all and see the Lord in all. I stick to my promises. I serve the poor. This gives me delight. I do mental prostrations to asses, dogs, trees, bricks, stones and all creatures. I respect elders and sadhus. I obey. I please all through sincere selfless service. I attend on guests very carefully. I run hither and thither to serve them. I massage the legs of sick persons and sadhus.

I give very prompt reply to all letters. I do several things at a time. I write with electric speed. I spend everything. I do a lot of charity. I do not keep anything. I take immense pleasure in feeding the poor and my students. I try to be a mother to them. I talk to others on things which I have myself practiced. I look within always, introspect, analyse and examine. I hold the Trisul–spiritual diary, daily routine and resolve.

I served my masters with great sincerity and intense faith and devotion. I learnt many useful lessons for life. I developed many virtues. I wandered without food during my parivrajaka life. I slept on the roadside at night without clothing during winter. I ate dried bread with water. I stick tenaciously with my principles and ideals. I do not argue much. I live in silence.

I pray and do kirtan for the whole world, for the health and peace of sick people and for the peace of the departed souls and the earth-bound spirits also. I take a dip in the Ganges in the name of all those who are longing for a bath in the Ganges. I sing the names of all saints of all religions in the bhajan hall. I observe All-Saints’ Day and All-Souls’ Day.

I constantly meditate on the following:-

Prajnanam Brahma [Consciousness is Brahman], Aham Brahma Asmi [I am Brahman], Tat Tvam Asi [Thou art That], Ayam Atma Brahma [This Self (Atman) is Brahman (the previous four phrases are call mahavakyas, "great sayings," from the Upanishads)], Satyam Jnanam Anantam Brahma. Santam Sivam Advaitam. Aham Atma Gudakesa, Aham Atma Nirakarah, Sarvavyapee Svabhavatah. Brahma Satyam Jaganmithya Jivo Brahmaiva Naparah. Akarta, Abhokta, Asanga Sakshee. Ajo Nityah Sasvatoyam Purano. Jyotishamapi Tat Jyotih.

To raise the fallen, to lead the blind, to share what I have with others, to bring solace to the afflicted and to cheer the afflicted and suffering are my ideals. To have perfect faith in God, to love my neighbour as my own Self, to love God with all my heart and soul, to protect cows, animals, women and children are my aims. My watchword is love. My goal is Sahaja samadhi avastha, or the natural, continuous superconscious state.

More about Swami Sivananda:

• Another short biography of Swami Sivananda
• Photos of Swami Sivananda
• Audio files of Swami Sivananda
• Free eBooks by Swami Sivananda