Yoga and Realisation

From the divine pen of H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj has emanated a ceaseless stream of soulelevating spiritual literature; and it would be quite true to say that today His Holiness's message has penetrated every part of the world and has won for the forces of God and goodness millions of hearts into which Sri Swamiji has instilled a natural love of fellowmen and a keen aspiration to realize the goal of life.

Besides being the author of over 300 books, and besides getting published and distributed free on a worldwide scale, countless leaflets, pamphlets and books, Sri Swamiji has contributed inspiring articles to various newspapers and periodicals all over the world.

The present work is a collection of quite a number of such articles. They have already thrilled many hearts, and awakened many dormant souls. In order that they might give you permanent inspiration they have been reprinted in book-form and is presented to you as our humble love offering. We earnestly pray that you will make the best use of it, practice Yoga and attain Realization.

About the Author

Born on the 8th September, 1887, in the illustrious family of Sage Appayya Dikshitar and several other renowned saints and savants, Sri Swami Sivananda had a natural flair for a life devoted to the study and practice of Vedanta. Added to this was an inborn eagerness to serve all and an innate feeling of unity with all mankind.

His passion for service drew him to the medical career, and soon he gravitated to where he thought that his service was most needed. Malaya claimed him. He had earlier been editing a health journal and wrote extensively on health problems. He discovered that people needed right knowledge most of all; dissemination of that knowledge he espoused as his own mission.

It was divine dispensation and the blessing of God upon mankind that the doctor of body and mind renounced his career and took to a life of renunciation to qualify for ministering to the soul of man. He settled down at Rishikesh in 1924, practiced intense austerities and shone as a great Yogi, saint, sage and Jivanmukta.

In 1932 Swami Sivananda started the Sivanandashram. In 1936 was born The Divine Life Society. In 1948 the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy was organized. Dissemination of spiritual knowledge and training of people in Yoga and Vedanta were their aim and object. In 1950 Swamiji undertook a lightning tour of India and Ceylon. In 1953 Swamiji convented a 'World Parliament of Religions'. Swamiji is the author of over 300 volumes and has disciples all over the world, belonging to all nationalities, religions and creeds. To read Swamiji's works is to drink at the Fountain of Wisdom Supreme. On 14th July, 1963 Swamiji entered Mahasamadhi.