The Divine Life Society (DLS) is a

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

spiritual organisation and an

ashram An ashram ( sa, आश्रम, ) is a spiritual hermitage or a monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or a ...

, founded by Swami Sivananda Saraswati in 1936, at

Muni Ki Reti Muni Ki Reti is a town and a municipal council in Tehri Garhwal district in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It lies close to the pilgrimage town of Rishikesh and is known for its ashrams, including the Divine Life Society of Sivananda Saraswat ...

, Rishikesh,

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

. Today it has branches around the world, the headquarters being situated in Rishikesh. Also, many disciples of Swami Sivananda have started independent organisations in Mauritius, the US, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa, South America, and Europe.

Aims

Ashrams on the banks of Ganges, Rishikesh

Its aim is to disseminate spiritual knowledge in the following ways: * through publication of books, pamphlets and magazines on the subjects of Yoga and Vedanta * holding and arranging spiritual conferences and discourses (

Satsang A satsanga (), also rendered satsang, refers to the practice of gathering in the company of good people for the performance of devotional activities. It also refers to an audience with a Satguru for yogic instruction. Satsangas are group events, ...

) * establishing training centers for the practice of Yoga * enabling aspirants to develop their spiritual lives via systematic training in yoga and philosophy * establishing charitable organisations * through the preservation of the ancient traditions and cultural practices of India

History

In 1936, after returning from a pilgrimage, Swami Sivananda stayed in an old hut on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. Other disciples desirous of his company stayed with him in difficult circumstances. Eventually, he started the Divine Life Society to serve mankind. The King of

Tehri Garhwal Tehri Garhwal is a district in the hill state of Uttarakhand, India. Its administrative headquarters is at New Tehri. The district has a population of 618, 931 (2011 census), a 2.35% increase over the previous decade. It is the 7th ranked dist ...

granted him a plot of land to construct the present day Shivanandashram.Introduction

Chidananda Saraswati Chidananda Saraswati (24 September 1916 – 28 August 2008) was President of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, India. He is well known in India as a yogi, dnyani and spiritual leader. He succeeded as President of the Divine Life Society in ...

served as president of the society from August 1963 to 28 August 2008, while

Krishnananda Saraswati Swami Krishnananda Saraswati (25 April 1922 – 23 November 2001) was a disciple of Sivananda Saraswati and served as the General Secretary of the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh, India from 1958 until 2001. Author of more than 40 texts, ...

served as the General-Secretary of the Society in Rishikesh from 1958 until 2001.

Departments

Interiors of the Sivananda Temple, Divine Life Society, Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh

* Sivananda Ashram is the headquarters of the Divine Life Society. * Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy trains seekers in the practice of yoga as a general discipline for personal integration as well as for human welfare. * Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy Press prints the cultural and spiritual books as well as the journals and other literature of the Divine Life Society. * Sivananda Publication League is the publishing arm of the Divine Life Society. * The Free Literature Section freely distributes books and other literature to seekers and aspirants worldwide. * Sivananda Charitable Hospital renders free medical service to the public and conducts periodical medical relief camps freely. * Sivananda Home Takes care of food, clothing and medical needs of Destitute Patients

Branches

Branches are found in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago

Aims

History

Departments

Branches

See also

References

Further reading

Related links