Music

Swami Satyananda Saraswati

When the Rishikesh ashram was still in its infancy, Swami Sivananda started akhanda kirtan, unbroken naman sankirtan. There was always a person instructed to sing the naman sankirtan. This kirtan has been sung continuously until today.

When Swamiji delivered his inaugural address on the day of starting the kirtan, he said, “This kirtan will continue as long as the world lasts.” The akhanda kirtan is still going on in the Rishikesh ashram and it is the greatest accomplishment! As far as I know, the ashram was developed around this resolve of Swami Sivananda. This great sankalpa of Swami Sivananda, to keep the kirtan continuous for as long as the world lasts, was the nucleus for the great work, the great establishment, the great creation that has taken place in Rishikesh and around the world.