Divine Life Society – Mission * Programs * Activities * Message

Swami Satyananda Saraswati – Yoga-Vedanta, March 1956

Founder – Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati

Established– 16 April 1936

Mission – To spread spiritual wisdom! There are 250 branches of the Divine Life Society in India and 50 branches overseas which are guided by the inspiration of Sri Swami Sivanandaji. There are also many sub-branches which aid in achieving the aims and objectives of the mission which is the dis- semination of spiritual wisdom.

  1. Sivananda Publications – With the aim of creating a new dawn of vedic culture and the dissemination of spiritual values, over 200 books authored by Sri Swamiji have been published. They are Swami Sivanandaji’s commentaries on the Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutras, books on raja yoga and right conduct, health, yoga as also books related to culture and other scriptural texts.
  2. The Sivananda Ayurvedic Pharmacy is dedicated to the production of pure medicines and their dispensing according to the classically prescribed methods of ayurveda. This institution also offers financial support to the Divine Life Society.
  3. Charitable Hospital – This hospital is the only refuge and aid for the hill dwellers, pilgrims and leprosy patients in the area. Free medical camps for treatment of eye problems and other health issues are conducted from time to time.
  4. There is also a school run by the Divine Life Society where children from neighbouring areas receive quality education.
  5. In order to take the message of Yoga-Vedanta and know- ledge about spiritual life, monthly as well as weekly magazines are published
      • Divine Life, a monthly Divine Life magazine
      • Yoga-Vedanta Forest University weekly magazine
      • Health and Long Life
      • Branch Gazette – news on branches of the Divine Life Society
      • Path to God-realization
      • Sivananda Day-to-Day Spiritual Training
      • Light Divine etc.
  6. Free distribution of literature – A separate department is dedicated to free distribution of those books that members of the Divine Life Society cannot afford to purchase so that they can access invaluable spiritual messages and teachings.
  7. Film screening department – The teachings of yogasanas etc is made available to the general population through the screening of over 15,000 feet of films which shed light on the subject of yoga.
  8. In order to address the questions of devotees, Swamiji also answers hundreds of letters. One department sends out Swamiji Maharaj’s replies to letters received from India as well as overseas.
  9. Sivananda Ashram is another limb of the Divine Life Society where over 150 aspirants live and work in the spirit of seva and offer their contribution towards this mission according to their capabilities. Sivananda Ashram is the world inhabited by these sevaks where the teaching of One Father and One Universal Spirit is imparted.
  10. The practical training imparted at the Yoga-Vedanta Forest University is integral to the mission of the Divine Life Society. The principles and philosophy upon which the teaching is based helps students from falling into the trap of worldly desires and infuses a spirit of sacrifice in them. However, sacrifice is not seen as turning away from life, rather it is to be taken as an aid and completion to the experience of life. Students from this university are spread throughout the world.
  11. An annual gathering is hosted by the Divine Life Society with the purpose of bringing together the community of sadhus and the collective functioning of all religions, during the gathering solutions are found to their current problems.
  12. Supporters and members of the Divine Life Society meet five times a year in Rishikesh and undergo training in the presence of Swami Sivanandaji. These occasions are Guru Poornima, both Navaratris, sadhana week and Swamiji’s birthday. Apart from these times, thousands of devotees throng to the ashram throughout the year.
  13. Groups of sannyasins are regularly sent out around the country to spread the message of the Divine Life Society. Satsangs, lectures, teaching camps are organized when they travel through many towns and cities.
  14. Akhanda kirtanand mahayajna is the sadhana which was initiated in 1943 and has been carrying on for twenty-four hours a day, every single day since that time.
  15. The library, yoga art studio, divisional offices and many other departments where innumerable sevaks work shoulder to shoulder, day and night in the spirit of service. Though they are renunciates, their care for society and people is outstanding. The Divine Life Society hosts over 300 sadhus, the poor and guests of the ashram to their daily meals and provides other necessities and facilities to aspirants.
  16. The foundation and inspiration of the entire Divine Life Society is the Sri Vishwanath temple where thousands offer their worship, faith and devotion, paying their obeisance every day. This is the nucleus of the organization.

The philosophy of the organization is to instil divine inspiration in the hearts of mankind so that they may understand the reasons for sorrow in life and learn to overcome them. The intention is not only to create a feeling of social wellbeing but also to develop a pure and spiritual perspective so that the divisions and differences between people can be erased. There is duality in life which has to be pacified and this is the responsibility which every person should take on – this is the goal of the mission. The practical philosophy of the organization is to purify the experiences of mankind so that all actions can turn in the direction of Truth.