Swami Sivananda Saraswati (स्वामी सीवानन्द सरस्वती) (Sep 8, 1887—Jul 14, 1963), as he is known under his monastic name, was born Kuppuswamy in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India. A Hindu by birth, he is a well-known proponent of yoga and vedanta. He is reputed to have written over 300 books, on these and related subjects, during his life. He went to medical school in Tanjore and worked as a doctor in Malaya. In 1923 he left Malaya for India on an extensive pilgr ...

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Swami Sivananda: (Sanskrit) One of Hinduism's most influential modern-day saints (1887-1963). He was born in South India, practiced medicine in Malaysia, published a medical journal, became administrator of a hospital and later renounced the world.

He was initiated by Swami Vishvananda Sarasvati at Rishikesh in 1924, and founded the Divine Life Society in 1939, which has branches in many countries today. He has been a powerful force in spreading Hindu teachings in India and abroad through his many books and the travels of his numerous swamis. Emphasized hatha yoga and raja yoga and a broad, universal form of Hinduism.

(See also: Swami Sivananda, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivananda (Swami): A great twentieth-century Master, founder of the world-wide Divine Life Society, whose books on spiritual life and religion are widely circulated in the West as well as in India.

(See also: Sivananda, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

O Divine Mother Kundalini, the Divine Cosmic Energy that is hidden in men! Thou art Kali, Durga, Adisakti, Rajarajeswari, Tripurasundari, Maha-Lakshmi, Maha-Sarasvati! Thou hast put on all these names and forms. Thou hast manifested as Prana, electricity, force, magnetism, cohesion, gravitation in this universe. This whole universe rests in Thy bosom. Crores of salutations unto thee. O Mother of this world! Lead me on to open the Sushumna Nadi and take Thee along the Chakras to Sahasrara Chakra and to merge myself in Thee and Thy consort, Lord Siva.

Read more here: » Kundalini Yoga: Preface to Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda

The ideals and motto of the Divine Life Society - "Serve, love, give, purify, meditate and realise" - are reflected in the life and work of Swami Chidananda Saraswati. His spiritual journey began on a Buddha Purnima day in 1943 inspired by his mentor Swami Sivananda.

Chidananda's fervour to serve found the perfect outlet in the welfare work he undertook at Rishikesh. He believes that service alone can purify and prepare the soul for deep contemplation.

(See also: Swami Chidananda, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

A prayer to mother kundalini. Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda

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The Bihar School of Yoga is an entity founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1964 and is located in Munger (Bihar, India). It publishes a large range of books on behalf of Satyananda Yoga. See also. Bihar Yoga Bharati Paramahamsa Satyananda Swami Niranjanananda Swami Sivananda Yoga Nidra ...

Read more here: » Bihar School of Yoga: Encyclopedia - Bihar School of Yoga

Kapalabhati is an exercise for the purification of skull and lungs. Though this is one of the Shat-Karmas (six purificatory exercises), yet it is a variety of Pranayama exercises.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Kapalabhati: Kapalabhati and Kundalini Yoga

Located near Munger, in India's Bihar State, Bihar Yoga Bharati (BYB) is a yoga institute dedicated to the study of yoga in a gurukul environment. Swami Sivananda first had the vision of a yoga institute when he established the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy in Rishikesh. This inspiration was carried forward by Swami Satyananda, who established Bihar School of Yoga in 1963, followed by the Ganga Darshan complex in Munger. Swami Niranjanananda, with the blessings of his predecessors, founded Bihar Yoga Bharati in 1994 to preserve and regenerate the total scope of yogic science by combining aca ...

Read more here: » Bihar Yoga Bharati: Encyclopedia - Bihar Yoga Bharati

. Early morning, answer the calls of nature and sit for the Yogic practices. Practise Pranayama in a dry, welt-ventilated room. Pranayama requires deep concentration and attention. Do not keep anyone by your side.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Pranayama: Instructions On Pranayama

An initiated journey thru the mayor Hindu Spiritual rituals by Sri Swami Sivandanda.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Rituals: An overview of Hindu Rituals

Kundalini Yoga actually belongs to Tantrik Sadhana, which gives a detailed description about this serpent-power and the Chakras.
Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda

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A poem about life and death.

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami_Sivananda.

Read more here: » Poem about life: What is real life?

A poem about death.

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Death Poetry: What is real death?

A poem about birth and death.

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Death Poem: Birth and Death

A poem on rebirth.

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Rebirth: A poem on Rebirth

Death poetry!

The death and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. This is an excerpt from the book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Death Poetry: Ode to Death

Tamas and Rajas constitute the covering or veil. This veil is removed by the practice of Pranayama. After the veil is removed, the real nature of the soul is realised. The Chitta is by itself made up of Sattvic particles, but it is enveloped by Rajas and Tamas, just as the fire is enveloped by smoke. There is no purificatory action greater than Pranayama. Pranayama gives purity, and the light of knowledge shines.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Pranayama: Importance Of Pranayama

Purification is of two kinds: Antar-Dhauti (internal cleaning) and Bahir-Dhauti (external cleaning). There are some other Dhautis, viz., Danta Dhauti (cleaning the teeth), Jihva Dhauti (cleaning the tongue), Karna Dhauti (cleaning the ears), Mula Sodhana Dhauti (cleaning the anus), etc.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Dhauti: Dhauti and Kundalini Yoga

Nauli Kriya is intended for regenerating, invigorating and stimulating the abdominal viscera and the gastro-intestinal or alimentary system. For the practice of Nauli you should know the Uddiyana Bandha. Uddiyana can be done even in a sitting posture; but Nauli is generally done while standing.

Excerpt from the book Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Nauli Kriya: Nauli Kriya and Kundalini Yoga