Om Namah Sivaya
Blessed Self,
Each November we reach out to you with some of the events most dear to us. Swami Vishnudevanandaji’s Mahasamadhi is held on November 9 and his Jalasamadhi on November 11. As we do every year, on November 9 we are conducting a Bhandara in support of over 100 sadhus in the Himalayas, feeding them and providing each with six months’ worth of provisions and other items essential for their survival in the Himalayan winter. This tradition was started many years ago at our ashram in Netala in the memory of our Guru, Swami Vishnudevanandaji, to coincide with his Mahasamadhi and subsequent immersion of his body in the Ganges (Jalasamadhi) on November 11.
The Bhandara is sponsored this year by Mr. Balaji, an international chartered accountant from Chennai, in the name of his mother. We also we have the great blessing of the presence of Aji Swami, who will conduct special pujas and rituals on that day. Additionally, many of our trustees, dignitaries, teachers, and students coming from both India and abroad will be present to assist with the event. We cordially invite all of you to join us in Netala for the Bhandara and pujas. Being on hand to serve the Sadhus and Yogis in the Himalayas is most inspiring event to participate in. Accommodation at the Ashram is available on a first-come first-served basis. Those unable to get a bed at the ashram can find a place to stay near to the ashram.
Those unable to travel to Netala may join the Bhandara LIVE on Instagram or Facebook, November 9 from 10:00 am to 12:20 pm IST on the Sivananda India platforms. Follow us @SivanandaIndia to get notified when we go LIVE.
Simultaneously, on November 9 the Bhagavatha Sapthaha, a narration of the Srimad Bhagavatam, will conclude at our main ashram in Neyyar Dam, Kerala, where the Sapthaha has been an annual event for many years now.
We are glad to share that the high season has started in our South Indian ashrams. By the grace of Master and Swamiji we have begun the season with an encouraging number of Yoga Vacation guests and Teacher Trainees from around the world, and an Ayurveda programme at both the Neyyar Dam and Madurai ashrams in full swing. Please do join us for the pure and authentic teachings offered in our Ashrams.
We are pleased to announce a new initiative, The Sivananda Yoga Teachers’ Directory which will allow greater visibility for our Teachers and help connect interested students to suitable teachers in their area. All Sivananda TTC Graduates from around the world are welcome to create their own listing in the Directory and the Directory is searchable by country, state, and district. Profiles are free till September 7, 2025. Thereafter a monthly fee of $2 will be charged to cover the costs. We hope that the Directory will help us further Swamiji’s mission to share the teachings of yoga more broadly and to build a strong global Sivananda community.
You can view the growing Directory here:
https://teachers.sivanandayoga.org/centres
To create your own listing visit:
https://teachers.sivanandayoga.org/teacher/sign-up
May Master and Swamiji’s blessings be with you always.
Pranams,
Prahlada
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams & Centres, India
Details of painting by Darien Mederos – www.darianmederos.com
Trust is like a pillar which supports all of our peaceful interactions, loving relationships, and cooperation with others. We each begin life with an innate capacity to trust. As a child we look to our parents and families with absolute trust. When we are vulnerable or helpless, we may trust more easily than we would otherwise. Sometimes the only option we have is to trust.
To some degree everybody mistrusts everybody else. I recall a quotation by Swami Sivananda; I think it was in the book Sadhana, but now I am unable to find it. He says, “It’s better to believe and be deceived 1,000 times rather than lose all faith in humanity”. I try to remember this when other human beings let me down. It is written somewhere in almost every book of philosophy that it is better to be deceived than never to trust. I’ve come to understand that, while others may let me down, I can work on making myself more trustworthy. Though we may be deceived, we must trust, as the very act of trusting offers more benefit for us.
Yoga classes should be places where we trust. We should feel trust in the environment, the teacher, the other students, the teachings themselves and feel safe there. However, we must decide to trust in ourselves, and in others if we are to be able to relax properly and do the inner work of yoga. We can decide to be loving and we can decide to suspend our ideas of mistrust. Trust is something important enough to be safeguarded.
In this issue we will learn about gut health, discover how to build trust in a yoga class, explore Dinacharya or a healthy daily routine according to Ayurveda and look at research on biological rhythms and Ayurveda. We will hear Swami Sivananda’s words on Why We Should Believe in God, and how Swami Vishnudevananda trained staff. We’ll share the legend of Hanuman and how he learned to trust in himself.
It is with great delight we share the news that we have now been publishing the Sivananda Yoga Sandesha Newsletter for two years! It hardly seems possible. We are most grateful for those of you who take the time to read and share and send your comments and feedback. We hope that the Newsletter provides some focus and inspiration for your practice and learning. We have a team of sadhaks who put their love and skills towards preparing the Newsletter each month and we wanted to take this moment to introduce ourselves.
The Sivananda Yoga Sandesha Newsletter Team
Prahlada
Yoga Acharya,
Sivananda India Global
Nirmala
Editor-in-Chief & Writer,
Delhi
Deepti Sehgal
Writer,
Toronto
Apoorva Singh
Writer,
Delhi
Anmol Gupta
Copy Editor,
Delhi
GetOn Yoga
Technology & Marketing,
Trivandrum
We hope you enjoy the newsletter and take time to reflect on your practice. As usual, please feel free to reach out to us with your thoughts and feedback:
[email protected]
Snapshots: October Events & Programmes
In October we celebrated Navarathri, inaugurated the Sadhana Intensive course in Netala, built a new altar in the Dwarka Centre, and, of course, focused on our sadhana and service during this eventful month!
Links/Research: Biological Rhythms – An Ayurvedic Perspective
The idea of circadian rhythms may be new in modern understanding, however, Ayurveda has been speaking of the physiological, psychological, hormonal, mental, and emotional benefits of following the circadian rhythm in its concept of dinacharya. Check out the research:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360018076_Biological_Rhythms-_An_Ayurvedic_Perspective
Spiritual Calendar
November 1 – New Moon
November 9 – Swamiji’s Mahasamadhi
November 11 – Swamiji’s Jalasamadhi
November 12 – Ekadasi
November 15 – Full Moon
November 26 – Ekadasi
Upcoming Courses:
Learn, Practise & Grow with Us!
Teachers’ Training Course (TTC)
Nov 10 to Dec 7, 2024,
Neyyar Dam, Kerala
Nov 17 to Dec 14, 2024,
Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Dec 15 to Jan 11, 2025,
Gudur, Andhra Pradesh
Jan 5 to Feb 1, 2025,
Neyyar Dam, Kerala
For more details, click here
Panchakarma Detoxification Programme (PDP)
Nov 14 to Nov 29, 2024,
Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Dec 1 to Dec 16, 2024,
Madurai, Tamil Nadu
For more details, click here
Fasting Detoxification Programme (PDP)
Nov 14 to Nov 28, 2024,
Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Dec 3 to Dec 17, 2024,
Neyyar Dam, Kerala
For more details, click here
Advanced Teachers’ Training Course (ATTC)
Jan 26 to Feb 22, 2025,
Madurai, Tamil Nadu
For more details, click here
Sadhana Intensive (SI)
Jan 5 to 18, 2025,
Madurai, Tamil Nadu
For more details, click here
Storytelling/Anecdotes:
How Swamiji Trained Me, by Prahlada
Back when I was still a new Staff, running the centre in Thiruvananthapuram, India, for some reason, Swamiji ordered a retired Chartered Accountant to do a thorough auditing of the ashram books and to prepare a report. Swamiji asked me to stay with the accountant for the entire process. Being very young, with a background in physics, mathematics, and chemistry from my university education, I had no clue about the accounting process, ledgers, and balance sheets. Auditing continued for more than four months. The Chartered Accountant was very strict and checked everything with the highest accounting standards, complying with the Government of India’s rules and regulations.
During that process I learned a lot about accounting, and was surprised by many things that we often casually ignore, not paying attention to details. For example: a financial request cannot be made by the same person who checks and approves it, there should be three different people, to make sure there are no lapses. I still, however, had no idea of why Swamiji wanted me to be part of this particular process.
From then I was tasked with monitoring the accounts in India and reporting any lapses to Swamiji, who would decide how to correct them. Eventually, while auditing, a number of mistakes made by a senior Swami in India were discovered by the auditor and brought to the notice of Swamiji. That senior Swami had previously packed his bags and had already left the organization when the audit was first commissioned. Swamiji reminded us to always be responsible for our accounts, as we are dealing with public money.
Many years later, when I moved to Canada to care for Swamiji, a very dedicated Staff in Canada had become exhausted with the accounting work she had been doing, and tired of there never being enough money. Despite a lack of funds, Swamiji would never stop his peace missions or charitable activities. One day in the meeting, this Staff threw the accounting books in front of Swamiji, said “I can’t do this anymore”, and walked away. Without blinking an eye, Swamiji turned his head behind to where I was supporting him to sit up and told the group gathered that from now on Prahlada would take care of the accounts. The next day the Staff member apologized and continued with her accounting work. However, within a few years I ended up monitoring and supervising the Headquarters’ accounts.
I realized Swamiji’s way of seeing the future and preparing someone with devotion and dedication for a particular task. He trained them without telling them what would come in the future. I then had the opportunity to supervise the accounts and to make the Headquarters debt free and with a surplus of funds available for new projects and ashram upkeep.
Teachings Excerpt:
Why Should We Believe in God? by Swami Sivananda
Belief in God is an indispensable requisite for every human being. It is a sine qua non. Owing to force of Avidya or ignorance pain appears as pleasure. The world is full of miseries, troubles, difficulties and tribulations. The world is a ball of fire. The Antahkarana charged with Raga, Dvesha, anger and jealousy is a blazing furnace. We have to free ourselves from birth, death, old age, disease and grief. This can only be done by faith in God. There is no other way. Money and power cannot give us real happiness. Even if we exercise suzerainty over the whole world, we cannot be free from care, worry, anxiety, fear, disappointment etc. It is only the faith in God and the consequent God‑realisation through meditation that can give us real, eternal happiness and free us from all kinds of fear and worries which torment us at every moment. Faith in God will force us to think of Him constantly and to meditate on Him and will eventually lead us on to God‑realisation.
Belief in God and God‑realisation will give us Parama Santi (supreme peace). In that peace comes the extinction of all pains. We will be no longer bewildered. We will be released from the bondage of actions. We will become immortal. We will obtain eternal Divine Wisdom. We will reach a place whence there is no return to this world of miseries, our sins being dispelled by Divine Wisdom. Our minds will ever remain balanced. We will never rejoice on obtaining what is pleasant nor feel sorry on obtaining what is unpleasant. We will have an icy cool Antahkarana. We will be ever established in the Divine Consciousness. We will get “Akshaya Sukha, ” happiness exempt from decay. We will become one with God (Samadhi) and get eternal (Nitya), infinite (Ananta), unbroken (Akhanda) Bliss. When we are established in the Divine Consciousness we will not be shaken even by heavy sorrow. We will get “Ateendriya Sukha”, happiness beyond the reach of senses (Supreme Bliss).
God will give us full security if we worship Him with unswerving devotion and undivided attention. He gives us the Yoga of discrimination to enable us to reach Him easily. Out of pure compassion for us He destroys the ignorance‑born darkness by the shining lamp of wisdom. He speedily lifts us from the ocean of Samsara if we fix our minds on Him steadily with devotion and faith. We will cross over the three qualities and, liberated from birth, death, old age, and sorrow, drink the nectar of immortality. By devotion and faith we will know Him in essence and will enter into His very Being. Through His Grace we will overcome all obstacles (Parama Pada-Parama Dhama).
Practice and Teaching Tips:
How to Build Trust in a Yoga Class
How can a yoga teacher build trust in a yoga class? How can that trust be broken?
We know that students will benefit more from their practice if they trust the teacher and the environment. Gaining the trust of students is therefore a great privilege. As teachers we should take care not to break that trust. Here are some additional tips for building trust with students:
Good and honest communication with students is essential.
Trust is sacred. Yoga practice is sacred. Relaxation is sacred and badly needed. Make it important.
Create an atmosphere where students can feel safe enough to do the inner work of yoga.
The Yamas & Niyamas of Raja Yoga will help you create trust through your conduct and actions.
Start and finish the class on time.
Keep your word.
Don’t make the class about yourself, your own ego.
Sit down during relaxation and don’t invade students’ personal space.
Don’t touch students during relaxation.
Don’t take photographs of students without consent and especially during relaxation!
We hope the video is helpful. All best wishes for your inspired practice and teaching.
Nutrition Tips:
Trust Your Gut – It’s the Intuition Revealed by the Body Intelligence!
All of us have experienced that butterfly fluttering feeling in our gut at some point in time, that strong hunch trying to communicate something, a sense of strong hope or belief in something for unknown reasons or some sense of disbelief or fear without anything concrete! It’s our gut feeling trying to communicate with us, guiding us on some decisions that seem to come from an unknown territory of being and may often prove right!
Intuition arising out of gut feeling can be a valuable tool in decision-making in situations where logic fails to convince us!
What does ‘gut feeling’ feel like? A gut feeling can reveal itself in the form of friendly or unfriendly sensations, feeling discomfort or too comfortable in a new or unknown situation, a strong sense of clarity, stress or tightness in the body, goosebumps, fluttery feeling in the gut, a sinking sensation, sweat in feel and palms, overwhelming emotions, anxiety for no reason or even a feeling of safety, peace or happiness.
The Chemistry of Gut Feeling: The gut feeling may trigger in the gut but is felt in the brain. This synergy of gut and brain suggests a strong communication connection between the gut and brain. The brain speaks to the gut and vice-versa, and this communication channel is scientifically known as the gut-brain axis. Both the systems are connected physically and biochemically as per modern understanding. However, as per ancient understanding in Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, the two systems are also connected emotionally and psychologically where each different emotion is directly associated with each organ. Feelings of will, determination, and a sense of knowing, worry or anxiety are associated with the gut in these traditional systems. These systems are connected via the nervous system, rather, it is known in science that after the brain, the maximum nerve cells reside in the gut than anywhere else in the body.
Scientifically it is understood that gut feelings aren’t random, nor do they originate in the gut. Because of the strong gut-brain connection, the emotional experiences may register in the gut as gastrointestinal distress and feelings of butterfly flutter, anxiety, fear, twitches, pain or even nausea. As the brain collects and processes sensory data daily, some data may be captured and stored in the memory and sub-conscious mind. Science believes that the flashes of intuition may not be the mystical sixth sense but are more likely to do with unconscious observations stored in the subconscious and memory coming to life based on certain triggers.
However, decoding gut feeling is a grey zone that is just on the cusp of science and spirituality and forming any conclusion on one side may leave some questions unanswered on the other side. While philosophy and spirituality look at gut feeling as a mystical sixth sense, science believes in gut feeling based on certain facts.
Facts About Gut Feeling:
- Science believes gut feelings or intuitions are based on unconsciously absorbed experiences from past experiences.
- Science believes gut feelings originate from a web of patterns of experience that one goes through in a lifetime.
- Current research suggests that a brain can compare new experiences with old experiences and form patterns that can show up in times of need or during triggers.
Mythology & Meaning: Trust in Oneself
Standing at the shore of the ocean Hanuman, Jambavan, and Angad started to think about how and who would jump across this gigantic obstacle to find Seeta in Sri Lanka. Forgetting his true powers, Hanuman stood in the corner listening to them planning to cross the ocean to find Seeta. Jambavan was aware of Hanuman’s curse and reminded him of his true hidden potential. This incident leads to breaking the curse and Hanuman unleashing his powers. He takes a great leap and flies to Lanka to finally find Seeta in Asoka vatika.
bādhase yatsamāśritya balamasmānplavangama
taddīrghakālam vettāsi
nāsmākam śāpamohitaḥ
yadā te smāryate kīrtistadā
te vardhate balam
-Valmiki’s Ramayan.
Jambavan, Hanuman, and Angada, c. 1680
The legend of Hanuman goes like this: a mischievous and curious child with boundless powers was creating troubles in the sacred yagyas of different sages. He was famous for disturbing meditating sadhus and disappearing with swiftness. One day angered by his unruly behaviour, sage Matang cursed him. And upon receiving this curse Vayu’s son forgets his true powers and stands there in shock. Looking at him Matang realized this was too harsh for a child and added one condition if someone would remind him of his powers when needed the most, he would be able to unleash them until then these powers would remain hidden in him and he would forget about his capabilities.
Humbled and determined Hanuman hence goes on this soul-searching quest. He underwent rigorous spiritual training, but it wasn’t enough for him to realize the truth. Hanuman, now oblivious of hidden potential, continues to serve Lord Rama with great devotion. It wasn’t until he faced that great challenge of failure in finding Seeta and not being able to face his Lord Rama that he finally became aware of this hidden truth. Jambavan played the role of a catalyst in making him realize and it was Hanuman’s devotion, hard work and trust in himself that made him successful in awakening those hidden powers.
Just like Hanuman, we all have those incredible powers hidden within us, but we tend to forget our capabilities, losing our trust in ourselves and overlooking the fact that we all are the universe itself, experiencing this journey called life in this physical reality. People like Jambavan or our spiritual gurus are a catalyst in our journey but ultimately the true purpose and power lies within ourselves. And it’s our trust and our hard work that unleashes them and takes us closer to our goals. Just by applying a simple formula DHT (devotion, hard work and trust in oneself) we can do great things like Hanuman too and pass any challenge with flying colors.
Ayurveda & Yoga: Decoding the Day According to Ayurveda & Science
Ayurveda has always focussed on the importance of the concept of dinacharya, a concept of living life in a way that aligns with the energies that prevail in nature in a day. A similar concept even science has been talking about associating circadian rhythm with our physical, mental, hormonal, emotional, physiological and psychological experiences in life. The beauty of the Ayurveda concept of dinacharya and the modern concept of circadian rhythm is that both emphasise the specific energy prevailing in the environment at different times of the day, impacting everything from digestion, metabolism, detoxification etc.
What is Ayurveda Dinacharya? Ayurveda dinacharya elaborates on following a daily discipline and performing certain activities at specific times of the day to best support the body’s internal balance. Ayurveda highly honours the fact that our biological clocks must be in sync with the sleep and wake-up cycle or the circadian cycles of nature. Dinacharya gives us a framework to follow and design our daily routines in a specific way, including waking, exercising, bathing, meditation, prayer, meals, studying, working, relaxing, and sleeping, all done at the right time as it aligns with nature and our body functioning.
What is Circadian Rhythm? Circadian Rhythm is a science-driven study to determine how to live, eat, and breathe in harmony with nature. In 2017, three physiologists were awarded with Nobel Prize for their research on the body’s clock and circadian rhythms. They revealed that biological rhythms are the natural cyclical changes in our body and are deeply connected to the cycles in nature or the circadian rhythms. Body processes vary based on solar and lunar-related rhythms. The hypothalamus governs the master clock in our brain and aligns our body’s physiological functions to a roughly 24-hour cycle. The body dances to the tunes of the interplay of light and darkness.
Body Functioning Associated with Circadian Rhythm: According to science, it’s proven in research how these internal clocks controlled by the hypothalamus control hormonal activity, the body’s inflammation levels, detoxification processes, digestion, sleep cycle, weight management, and much more. This internal clock is body intelligence that aligns the body to physiological pathways to do certain things at certain times. For example, the liver detoxifies mid-night in a state of complete rest.
Impact of Chronodisruption: Chronodisruption is a term used to define the disconnection from circadian rhythms. A state of chronodisruption has been linked to a host of health concerns including poor metabolism, hormonal imbalance, sleep concerns, poor cognitive function, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, reduced performance, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers.
How to Reset Circadian Rhythm? Ayurveda dinacharya gives us a laid framework that is meant to keep us best aligned with our circadian rhythm.
- Morning hours as per Ayurveda must be utilized to meditate, exercise, detox, clean the body, activate digestion, and strengthen the muscles to get ready for the day ahead.
- Breakfast must be whole and nutritious especially naturally sweet to calm the gut and strengthen the will.
- Lunch must be the heaviest meal of the day comprising of all six tastes – sweet, acidic, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
- Afternoon naps must be avoided as they may hinder with body’s detox processes as high kapha condition may manifest with afternoon nap making the body dull and lethargic inside out.
- Sunset time holds special relevance in Ayurveda signifying a balance between day and night. This is the time for evening prayers and meditations to manage the anxiety of transition.
- Dinner according to Ayurveda must be between 6-7 pm, just at sunset. It gives the body ample time to digest the food and supports the body to detox at bedtime during a state of deep sleep.
- It is best to sleep between 9 and 10 pm and allow the detox organs enough time to perform detoxification a few hours after we get into deep sleep.
“By the Vedas no books are meant. They mean the accumulated treasury of spiritual laws discovered by different persons in different times. Just as the law of gravitation existed before its discovery, and would exist if all humanity forgot it, so is it with the laws that govern the spiritual world.” -Swami Sivananda
