Swami Sivananda

Swami Sivananda was born as Kuppuswamy on 8th September 1887, in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, South India. His boyhood name was Kuppuswami. His saintly father, Vengu Iyer, was a devotee of Lord Siva and a descendant of the 16th century saint and scholar, Appayya Dikshitar. His mother was Parvatiammal.

The spirit of giving freely, of sharing without any restraint, was ingrained in the Master from his very childhood. A boyhood friend of the Master, Swami Shuddhananda Bharati, recalled how Kuppuswami as a little lad one day ran out with his plate of food when he heard a beggar's cry outside.

The intelligent lad had the gift of divine vision even at that age. If his father sent him to purchase fruit for his daily worship, the boy would often not hesitate to distribute the fruit to the poor and needy, returning home to inform his father that he had already worshipped God in the poor. What grand vision!

The Master said that he was very mischievous as a lad. But it was not the kind of mischief we see in children these days. For instance, to astound and frighten his family, he would daringly jump into a dry well!

Foundations set up by Swami Sivananda

• Divine Life Society (1936)
• Sivananda Ayurvedic Pharmacy (1945)
• All-world Religions Federation (1945)
• All-world Sadhus Federation (1947)
• Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy (1948)

Sivananda Yoga is a type of Hatha Yoga, which lays stress on asanas (postures), savasana (relaxation), pranayama (proper breathing), diet (vegetarian) and Vedanta and dhyana (positive thinking and meditation).

"The life of the great Rishi, Swami Sivananda, serves as a perfect example of selfless activity. He blesses India and the world by his presence".