September 2025 | Abhinivesha/Fear of Death
Om Namah Sivaya
Blessed Self,
This month we share the very good news that we installed a Panchloha Ayyappa Statue in the newly built Ayyappa Temple at our Tapaswini Ashram in Gudur. This temple has been donated by a close devotee family from Australia who will come in January to complete the granite idol installation. The installation has already infused the ashram with positive energy and attracted more Yoga Vacationers. There are many Ayyappa devotees in the vicinity of the ashram, who have begun to take their vows a our new temple before they begin their trek to Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple in Kerala. You can view photos of the temple here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1M4wwVjcilSgK– EjM0Fmif3nfVxPlow_?usp=drive_link
The ashram temple still requires a new granite floor, which will cost 15 lakhs, and new roofs for all the temples, which will cost another 30 lakhs. Sponsorships are available and most appreciated. Anyone wishing to donate a portion of, or the entire project’s costs please contact: [email protected].
Unfortunately, we have suffered lots of damage in the Himalayas due to the heavy rains this year. Fortunately, the Netala Ashram remains fully intact and its activities continuing, but with fewer guests. The Government is busy clearing and rebuilding the damaged roads and we are expecting everything to be back to normal by September. Please do visit us and enjoy the serenity of the Himalayan Mountains and Mother Ganga. The Netala Ashram has made many improvements for its guests and students, appearing now as a full-fledged ashram with all-new facilities.
In the spirit of Swami Vishnudevanandaji we are continuously praying for peace in all areas of the world in conflict. We appreciate your continued support and we work to offer the purest teachings with the highest standards. May Master and Swamiji’s blessings be with you always.
Pranams,
Prahlada
Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Ashrams & Centres, India
Photo Credit: Calida Garcia Rawles
Of the kleshas, or the five afflictions which disturb the equilibrium of the mind and cause suffering, the last—abhinivesha or fear of death—is said to be the deepest. Considering death, we fear extinction of the ego. In a sense a of loss of the personality; what we think makes us unique and who we are. So, we cling to life and become comfortable with inertia. Because we don’t know what lies ahead, we choose to continue the status quo. This is an impossibility as everything changes.
Many of our choices in life, if we examine them closely, may have a fear of death underlying them. For example, interest in fitness, diet culture, and natural health are all good things, but may be strategies to avoid death. We want an anti-aging ‘hack’ we want to turn back the clock. Many of the “good” things we do for ourselves such as changing diet or taking up yoga are, at the root, because we have a fear of death or want to avoid suffering. All fears, at their root reflect an underlying fear of death.
Two things are certain in life: change and death. As yogis we work to embrace both, to live beyond fear. It is quite interesting that we may have initially taken up yoga to improve our health, appearance, or state of mind. All of this is wonderful, but eventually, yoga calls our attention inside and asks us to make peace with change and to make peace with death. Our behaviours and our mental habits, clinging and reactions are perhaps all that we can really hope to change. We love stories of heroes, those who have triumphed. To triumph over death can be simply to accept it, a natural and beautiful part of life.
In this issue of Sivananda Yoga Sandesha we look at fear of death, and at fear itself. Eating is an important ritual that transmits prana from one object to another. Something is destroyed to give life. So, we look a little more closely at diet culture and healthy eating, food cravings and the lunar cycle. We discover a temple in Varanasi with an intimate connection to death. We also learn from mushrooms, and Yudhishthira’s dog. We also share a webinar revealing the history of the Hatha Yoga practices, which help us to accept death and change our habits.
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 at: [email protected]
Snapshots: August Events & Programmes
August led some of our senior staff to Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort in Delhi, and to meet with other leaders in the fields of Yoga and Ayurveda at the All India Institute of Ayurveda. At the Neyyar Dam Ashram new murals were unveiled at the Siva Hall entrance and new solar panels installed on the roof of the staff quarters. We also share a couple of photos of the Panchloha Ayyappa Statue installation in the Gudur Ashram.
Links/Research: Fear of Death
Some different perspectives on fear of death. Read more here:
6 Reasons Why Dying is Scary
https://www.verywellmind.com/scared-to-death-of-death-1132501
The Impact of Death Anxiety on Mental Health
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272735824001119
Spiritual Calendar
Sep 3 – Ekadasi
Sep 5 – Onam
Sep 7 – Full Moon
Sep 8 – Swami Sivananda’s Birthday
Sep 14- Sri Krishna Jayanti
Sep 17 – Ekadasi
Sep 21 – New Moon
Sep 23 – Navarathri starts
Upcoming Courses:
Learn, Practise & Grow with Us!
Teachers’ Training Course (TTC)
Sep 14 to Oct 11, 2025
Uttar Kashi, Himalayas
Oct 5 to Nov 2, 2025
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Oct 12 to Nov 8, 2025
Madurai, Tamilnadu
Nov 9 to Dec 6, 2025
NeyyarDam, Kerala
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Sadhana Intensive (SI)
October 16-29, 2025
Uttarkashi, Himalayas
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Vedanta Retreats
Sept 2 to 12, 2025,
Uttar Kashi, Himalayas – Tattva Bodha
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Panchakarma Detoxification Programme (PDP)
Oct 1 to 15, 2025,
Madurai, Tamilnadu
Oct 17 to 31, 2025,
Madurai, Tamilnadu
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Teachings Excerpt: Abhinivesha/Fear of Death by Swami Sivananda
What is abhinivesha?
Abhinivesa is the strong desire for life, supported by its own potency, established all he same even in the learned.
In all living beings exists the self-benediction: May I continue to exist. May I live on. This self-benediction cannot exist in him who has not experienced the nature of death. By this the experience of former life is inferred. The experience of death in the previous birth remains as a subtle Vasana in next birth that this should be separated from this body. This Vritti is Abhinivesa. This Vritti will not remain in a man who has no experience of death. We infer from this that there had been previous birth in a man, from his fear of death. Even worms have got fear of death. This fear of death exists in both the learned and the ignorant. This fear cannot be explained by Pratyaksha, inferential and Sabdha Pramanas. The fear is common in both the literate and the illiterate. The past experience of pain of death is there in your mind. Therefore, you are afraid of death in this life. This is the reason for the strong desire for life.
They (the afflictions) are to be destroyed when they are in subtle state by raising opposite modifications.
Klesas have two states, gross and subtle. When they are in a state of Samskara, they are subtle. When the Yogi enters into Samadhi, these Klesas are burnt up like burnt seeds and are dissolved along with the mind in the Purusha through the fire of knowledge. Svaroopa-nasa of the mind takes place when the mind moves inward towards the Purusha and gets Laya (dissolution) in the Purusha during Asamprajnata Samadhi. By raising opposite currents or waves of thoughts, the subtle Samskaras of Klesas should be destroyed. Hatred ceases not by hatred but ceases by love. This is the method suggested in this Sutra. This is Pratipaksha Bhavana method. Habituate the mind to contraries. Do always virtuous actions. Develop Sattvic qualities. These good Samskaras will act as antidotes to the Samskaras of Klesas.
Teachings Excerpt: Raja Yoga Sutras, from Meditation and Mantras by Swami Vishnudevananda
Ch. 2, v. 3
avidya ‘smita-raga-dveshabhinivesha kleshah
Ignorance, egoism, attraction and aversion, and fear of death are the afflictions which cause suffering.
Fear of death, or clinging to life, is binding and stifling. Many who have been pronounced dead and were later revived have reported the experience of death as indescribably beautiful and peaceful. None can say when death will come. Fear of death is useless imagination, a waste of energy, and creates waves of pain which exist only in the mind.
Ch. 2, v. 9
svarasa-vahi viduso ‘pi tatha rudho ‘abhinivesha
Fear of death is the continuous desire to live which is rooted even in the mind of the wise.
The fear of death is the fear of loss of identity, of letting go of the ego. Even when all else is given up, there is still the clinging to life. It is only when a sage reaches the very last stage of asamprajnata samadhi that he cares for nothing but merging with the Lord; and when this level is reached he remains in the body for only a few days.
Practice and Teaching Tips: History of Hatha Yoga Webinar
When we talk about Hatha Yoga, we are referring to the more physical aspects of the practice, typically: asana (postures), pranayama (breathing exercises), mudra (seals of vital energy), bandha (locks within the sushumna nadi), and kriya (cleansing actions).
We often hear a statement made that yoga is thousands of years old…but is this true? In this webinar we’ll look at archaeological evidence for the early practices in India, the classical hatha yoga texts, as well as more modern influences on the practices that we know as yoga. It will be of benefit to yoga teachers who may not be able to comfortably answer questions about the history of the practices, as well as anyone more deeply interested in yoga.
This webinar is part of a series of FREE webinars available on our self-paced learning platform, Sivananda TV. We hope you enjoy and gain some inspiration for your practice and teaching.
With best wishes for your yoga practice! Pranams.
Nutrition Tips: Diet Culture Versus Healthy Eating
Precise timing of meals and eating patterns are not based on short-term goals but intuitively connecting with body’s intelligence to optimize body systems, especially the gut. The right foods act as medicine to keep the body systems in balance. The idea is to keep the inner environment, clean and free flowing so that the three internal toxins: gas (vata), acidity (pitta), and mucus (kapha) do not clog the digestive pathways creating imbalances from which health concerns arise.
Diet culture may promote restrictive eating. Fad diets such as the keto diet, calorie-counting, and the mono diet, to name a few, may be targeted towards fulfilment of short-term health goals such as weight loss, staying thin, muscle building, or even maintaining social status. Diet culture may lead to yo-yo dieting, sluggish metabolism, nutrient deficiencies, obsession towards the targeted health goal, anxiety, guilt, and a disturbed relationship with food and one’s body.
Eating for Health and Longevity:
- Involves eating a variety of whole, minimally processed foods, cooked according to season and one’s body type (dosha) to maintain internal balance
- Supports the functioning of the body, gut health, and helps maintain the body’s inner balance at the root level, keeping the body in a state of internal purity, and
- Supports long-term health, healthy emotional and mental states, balanced eating habits, improved body image, increased self-esteem, and a higher quality of life.
Moon Cycles:
Effect of Moon Cycles on Food Cravings
Do you know that your appetite may fluctuate within a month? By observing your eating habits closely, you may realise that you crave more food on several days in a month than you do on the other days. And while your eating behaviour may trigger the craving, the subtle and invisible reason for such cravings may arise from your relationship with the moon!
Traditionally, it is known that the lunar cycles influence our mood, sleep, and appetite. While scientifically it’s not proven, theories suggest that food cravings due to moon cycles are for real. Here are a few notions that give credence to this theory:
Brightness During Full Moon Phase – More light and brightness that can interfere with our sleep patterns. The more light at night, the more there will be disruption in our circadian rhythm. Our internal 24-hour clock uses light to sense the time. In a state of darkness our body produces melatonin, the sleep hormone, which may get disturbed during the full moon phase due to increased brightness of the moon. Disrupted melatonin may directly impact our appetite. Research shows that melatonin production reduces hunger while disturbed melatonin may give us food cravings.
Impact of Full Moon on Hunger Hormones – Lack of melatonin production during the full moon phase may also impact the hormone leptin, the hunger hormone. This is the hormone that makes us feel satiated when we eat, sending out signals of satisfaction and fullness to the brain. On the contrary, ghrelin, the hunger-inducing hormone signals the brain when you are hungry and ready to eat. Disruption in sleep may alter these hormones creating imbalances in the appetite.
Impact on Women’s Monthly Hormonal Cycle – Traditionally, a women’s monthly cycle was highly influenced by the moon cycles causing deep internal hormonal shifts.
Hormonal changes can trigger food cravings; therefore, many women may end up eating and snacking more at the different phases in their monthly cycle.
In short, moon phases impact the functioning of our body and cause shifts in the physiology and chemistry of the body. These shifts may impact body psychology, ultimately creating shifts in how our body perceives its need for food and food cravings. If you find yourself eating more or less food at certain times during a month, it may be the impact on your sleep and hormones due to bright moon light during the full moon. This may subtly trigger shifts in hormones, physiology, chemistry, and psychology!
Temple Showcase: Shri Kashi Karvat Temple, Varanasi
In the winding gullies of Varanasi, every corner seems to hold a hymn, a story, or a sacred secret. Among its many temples, the Shree Kashi Karvat Mandir stands out, not only for its grandeur–and its 9-degree tilt–but for its unsettling intimacy with death.
The word karvat means saw, and the temple gets its name from a wooden saw-like blade that once hung from its ceiling. Centuries ago, devotees believed that surrendering beneath it and letting the saw fall by the will of the divine would grant them moksha, freedom from the endless cycle of birth and death. What might sound frightening today was, for them, an act of utmost trust: to place their lives in the hands of Lord Shiva.
Over time, however, the practice took a darker turn. Legends whisper of pilgrims being tricked or even forced into the crypt below, their deaths hastened in the name of faith. Authorities eventually banned the ritual, and today the saw is gone, the passage sealed. What remains is the temple itself and the powerful story it holds.
The mysterious sanctum lies low near Manikarnika Ghat, where the flames of cremation never cease to burn. During the monsoon, the garbhagriha often floods, as if the Ganges herself were washing over the Shivling. Unlike the towering Nagara-style temples, Karvat Mandir is modest, with simple stonework and profound silence. The temple almost blends into the earth, symbolizing its connection to endings, release, and what lies beyond. Inside, the damp smell of old stone mingles with the faint fragrance of oil lamps. The silence is only broken by the soft echo of footsteps, and in the dim sanctum, flickering flames cast trembling shadows on the walls. There are no gilded walls or towering spires; instead, a small opening in the floor allows pilgrims to glimpse the Shivling underground. The atmosphere is heavy, not with fear, but with surrender and a sense of mysticism.
For centuries, humans have feared death as the great unknown. Yet here, in the heart of Kashi, death is not shunned; it is embraced as the doorway to truth. The temple especially draws the elderly, who come to spend their last days near its sanctum. It is said that dying here is the final release, the forever freedom from worldly bonds.
The Kashi Karvat Mandir reminds us that death is not the enemy; it is simply the passage home. While fear trembles at the thought of the end, faith whispers something softer: that beyond the final breath, Shiva waits with open arms.
When we reflect on death, fear often emerges because we cling to what is temporary—youth, possessions, identity. However, the Karvat Mandir offers a different perspective: death not as loss, but as liberation. Perhaps that is the temple’s truest teaching—that when we face death not with fear, but with surrender, then every breath we take becomes liberation.
Mythology & Meaning: Yudhishthira’s Dog
Amidst the roar of battles and the weight of crowns, there is a quiet moment in the Mahabharata that shines with timeless light. It is the moment when Yudhishthira, weary and alone, climbs toward the Himalayas. All his loved ones have fallen. Only a stray dog walks beside him silently, faithful and unassuming.
At heaven’s gates, Indra appears with an invitation. “Enter, O righteous King,” he says, “but leave the dog behind. There is no place here for such a creature.” Yudhishthira, standing at the threshold of eternity, replies with quiet strength: “I cannot abandon one who has never abandoned me.” In that instant, the dog reveals its true form, Dharma itself, righteousness personified. Yudhishthira’s final test was not in power or sacrifice, but in simple compassion. Thousands of years later, the same question stands before us. When fear and compassion clash, which one will we choose? In Delhi, where thousands of stray dogs roam freely, fear has often outweighed kindness. Rabies cases and dog bites create panic and calls for removal stir unease. For a moment, it seemed these creatures would be erased from the very streets they call home.
But then, as though dharma whispered once again, a gentler decision emerged. The Supreme Court once again reminded us that compassion, too, has a place in law. After declining the older verdict, a new statement was passed: sterilised and vaccinated dogs are to be returned to their neighbourhoods, under the care of the very communities they walk with. Only the sick and aggressive will be separated, while feeding zones are to be created with dignity. Is this not the same teaching that the epic gave us? That to walk with the vulnerable, to honor loyalty, to protect life even when fear clouds us, is the highest dharma?
Yes, we, like any other creature, fear death. We fear disease. We fear the unknown. But the lesson of Yudhishthira’s dog is simple: fear dissolves not through punishment but through compassion. When we feed a stray or show mercy to a trembling creature, we are not just saving them; we are easing the burden of fear within ourselves. The ultimate reality is that death will come to all, but if we walk in dharma, we walk unafraid. With compassion in our hearts, we can truly make a difference. The Mahabharata does not present us with distant ideals; it offers us mirrors. The true test of our times is not in how high we climb, but in whether we can pause to walk alongside humble lives. May we, too, walk unafraid side by side with the voiceless, carrying dharma in every step, offering a glimpse into a world where dharma and love truly reign.
From the Community: Mushrooms, Seen from a Yogic Eye, by Deva
During my time at the ashram in Uttarkashi, I often sat in silence, observing how nature reveals its lessons. Every rock, tree, and the current of sacred Ganga seemed to hold wisdom. Later, as I resumed my work cultivating mushrooms, I began to see how even these humble beings mirror the same truths we explore in yoga. Although mushrooms are typically not included in a yogic diet and many consider them tamasic, for me they became quiet teachers of resilience, patience, and surrender.
Why the Fear? Mushrooms have always carried an aura of mystery. Some nourish the body with rich nutrients, some possess great medicinal properties, some have psychedelic effects that can alter consciousness, and a few can be dangerous. This blend of nourishing and poisonous qualities has created hesitation, sometimes even fear. Yogic philosophy teaches that fear arises from avidya, ignorance. When we learn, observe, and approach life with clarity, fear begins to fade. I believe the same applies to mushrooms. They invite us to look deeper, beyond appearances, and meet them with awareness rather than avoidance.
Resilience of Mushrooms – One of the most beautiful qualities of mushrooms is their resilience. They grow silently in places most people overlook—dark corners, damp soil, fallen wood. From what seems like decay, they bring forth new life. This reminded me of meditation practice in the ashram. Often it felt like nothing was happening, only silence and stillness. But with patience, an inner flowering quietly began to appear, just like the sudden bloom of mushrooms after days of invisible growth.
Mushroom Cultivation as Sadhana – Cultivating mushrooms is like daily sadhana. The process requires discipline, purity, and constant vigilance. We prepare the substrate through pasteurisation, removing unwanted elements like viruses and bacteria, just as we develop vairagya or non-attachment. Then, we plant the appropriate seed, like engaging in abhyasa or spiritual practices. A small impurity or carelessness can impact the entire growth. Results cannot be forced; instead, we must prepare the environment and wait patiently. This is how yoga works, too. We practice asanas, pranayama, and meditation—not to demand immediate results but to prepare ourselves. The transformation, the inner harvest, comes only when the right moment arrives, through grace. This understanding deepened for me as I cared for my first batches of mushrooms. Each day’s quiet attention felt like an extension of the practice I learned in Uttarkashi.
Even if mushrooms are not part of the traditional sattvic diet, they serve as teachers of humility and surrender. In their quiet process of recycling what is old and nourishing what is new, they serve the earth like karma yogis—without seeking recognition.
Swami Sivananda said: “See God in everything. Then all will be for you sacred.” To me, mushrooms serve as a reminder of this teaching. They demonstrate that growth can emerge even from darkness, that patience and resilience bear fruit, and that the divine manifests itself in the smallest, most overlooked corners of creation.
“Birth follows death, just as waking follows sleep. You will again resume the work that was left off by you in your previous life. Therefore do not be afraid of death.”
-Swami Sivananda