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'''Sivananda Saraswati''' (or Swami Sivanada) (8 September 1887 – 14 July 1963) was a [[Hindu]] spiritual teacher and a proponent of [[Yoga]] and [[Vedanta]]. Sivananda was born '''Kuppuswami''' in [[Pattamadai]], in the [[Tirunelveli]] district of [[Tamil Nadu]].  He studied medicine and served in [[British Malaya]] as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism. He lived most of his life near [[Muni Ki Reti]], [[Rishikesh]].

'''Sivananda Saraswati''' (or Swami Sivanada) (8 September 1887 – 14 July 1963) was a proponent of [[Yoga]] and [[Vedanta]]. Sivananda was born '''Kuppuswami''' in [[Pattamadai]], in the [[Tirunelveli]] district of [[Tamil Nadu]].  He studied medicine and served in [[British Malaya]] as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism. He lived most of his life near [[Muni Ki Reti]], [[Rishikesh]].

He was the founder of the [[Divine Life Society]] (DLS) in 1936, [[Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy]] (1948) and author of over 200 books on yoga, Vedanta, and a variety of subjects. He established [[Sivananda Ashram]], the headquarters of the DLS, on the bank of the Ganges at Sivanandanagar, {{convert|3|km|mi}} from [[Rishikesh]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/166607/Divine-Life-Society Divine Life Society] [[Britannica.com]]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zBVyeRnJ64oC&pg=RA1-PA164&dq=%22Divine+Life+Society%22&as_brr=0#PRA1-PA164,M1 Divine Life Society] ''Divine enterprise: Gurus and the Hindu Nationalist Movement'', by Lise McKean. University of Chicago Press, 1996. {{ISBN|0-226-56009-0}}. ''Page 164=165''.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PguGB_uEQh4C&pg=PA144&dq=%22Divine+Life+Society%22&lr=&as_brr=0 Swami Shivananda] ''Religion and anthropology: a critical introduction'', by Brian Morris. Cambridge University Press, 2006. {{ISBN|0-521-85241-2}}. ''Page 144''.</ref>

He was the founder of the [[Divine Life Society]] (DLS) in 1936, [[Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy]] (1948) and author of over 200 books on yoga, Vedanta, and a variety of subjects. He established [[Sivananda Ashram]], the headquarters of the DLS, on the bank of the Ganges at Sivanandanagar, {{convert|3|km|mi}} from [[Rishikesh]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/166607/Divine-Life-Society Divine Life Society] [[Britannica.com]]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zBVyeRnJ64oC&pg=RA1-PA164&dq=%22Divine+Life+Society%22&as_brr=0#PRA1-PA164,M1 Divine Life Society] ''Divine enterprise: Gurus and the Hindu Nationalist Movement'', by Lise McKean. University of Chicago Press, 1996. {{ISBN|0-226-56009-0}}. ''Page 164=165''.</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PguGB_uEQh4C&pg=PA144&dq=%22Divine+Life+Society%22&lr=&as_brr=0 Swami Shivananda] ''Religion and anthropology: a critical introduction'', by Brian Morris. Cambridge University Press, 2006. {{ISBN|0-521-85241-2}}. ''Page 144''.</ref>

==Biography==

==Biography==

=== Initiation ===

=== Initiation ===

Upon his return to India in 1924, he visited [[Varanasi]], [[Nashik]], and then [[Rishikesh]], where he met his [[guru]], [[Vishwānanda Saraswati]]. It was Vishwānanda who initiated him into the Sannyasa order, and gave him his monastic name. However, since Sivānanda spent only a few hours with Vishwānanda, the full [[Viraja Homa]] ceremonies were performed later{{when|date=November 2011}} by Vishnudevānanda, the Mandaleswara of Sri Kailas Ashram. After initiation, Sivananda settled in Rishikesh, and immersed himself in intense spiritual practices.  Sivānanda performed austerities for many years but he also continued to nurse the sick.  With some money from his insurance policy that had matured, he started a charitable dispensary at [[Lakshman Jhula]] in 1927, serving pilgrims, holy men and the poor using his medical expertise.

Upon his return to India in 1924, he visited [[Varanasi]], [[Nashik]], and then [[Rishikesh]], where he met his [[guru]], [[Vishwānanda Saraswati]]. It was Vishwānanda who initiated him into the Sannyasa order, and gave him his monastic name. However, since Sivānanda spent only a few hours with Vishwānanda, the full [[Viraja Homa]] ceremonies were performed later by Vishnudevānanda, the Mandaleswara of Sri Kailas Ashram. After initiation, Sivananda settled in Rishikesh, and immersed himself in intense spiritual practices.  Sivānanda performed austerities for many years but he also continued to nurse the sick.  With some money from his insurance policy that had matured, he started a charitable dispensary at [[Lakshman Jhula]] in 1927, serving pilgrims, holy men and the poor using his medical expertise.

=== Travels ===

=== Travels ===

After a few years, Sivananda went on an extensive pilgrimage and travelled the length and breadth of India to meditate at holy shrines and came in contact with spiritual teachers throughout India.  During this Parivrajaka (wandering monk) life, Sivānanda visited important places of pilgrimage in the south, including [[Rameshvaram]]. He conducted [[Sankirtan]] and delivered lectures during his travels. He visited the [[Sri Aurobindo]] Ashram, and met [[Shuddhananda Bharati|Maharishi Shuddhananda Bharati]] to which he gave the title of [[Maharishi]].  At the Ramana Ashram, he had the [[Darśana|darshan]] of [[Ramana Maharshi]] on Maharshi's birthday. He sang [[bhajan]]s and danced in ecstasy with Maharshi's [[bhakta]]s. He also went on pilgrimages to various places in northern India including [[Kedarnath]] and [[Badrinath]]. He visited [[Mount Kailash|Kailash]]-[[Lake Manasarovar|Manasarovar]] in 1931.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

After a few years, Sivananda went on an extensive pilgrimage and travelled the length and breadth of India to meditate at holy shrines and came in contact with spiritual teachers throughout India.  During this Parivrajaka (wandering monk) life, Sivānanda visited important places of pilgrimage in the south, including [[Rameshvaram]]. He conducted [[Sankirtan]] and delivered lectures during his travels. He visited the [[Sri Aurobindo]] Ashram, and met [[Shuddhananda Bharati|Maharishi Shuddhananda Bharati]] to which he gave the title of [[Maharishi]].  At the Ramana Ashram, he had the [[Darśana|darshan]] of [[Ramana Maharshi]] on Maharshi's birthday. He sang [[bhajan]]s and danced in ecstasy with Maharshi's [[bhakta]]s. He also went on pilgrimages to various places in northern India including [[Kedarnath]] and [[Badrinath]]. He visited [[Mount Kailash|Kailash]]-[[Lake Manasarovar|Manasarovar]] in 1931.

=== Founding the Divine Life Society ===

=== Founding the Divine Life Society ===

During Sivananda's stay in Rishikesh and his travels around India, many came to him for guidance in the spiritual path.  He permitted some of them to live near him and instructed them. Sivananda asked his students take copies of his short articles and send them for publication.  Over time, large numbers of people started coming to him and his devotees started growing in numbers.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

During Sivananda's stay in Rishikesh and his travels around India, many came to him for guidance in the spiritual path.  He permitted some of them to live near him and instructed them. Sivananda asked his students take copies of his short articles and send them for publication.  Over time, large numbers of people started coming to him and his devotees started growing in numbers. He founded the DLS in 1936 on the banks of the [[Ganges River]].  

 

Sivananda founded the DLS in 1936 on the banks of the [[Ganges River]].  The free distribution of spiritual literature drew a steady flow of disciples to him, such as [[Satyananda Saraswati]], founder of [[Satyananda Yoga]].

In 1945, Sivananda created the Sivananda [[Ayurvedic]] Pharmacy, and organised the All-world Religions Federation.  He established the All-world Sadhus Federation in 1947 and [[Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy]] in 1948.  He called his yoga the ''[[Yoga of Synthesis]]''.

In 1945, Sivananda created the Sivananda [[Ayurvedic]] Pharmacy, and organised the All-world Religions Federation.  He established the All-world Sadhus Federation in 1947 and [[Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy]] in 1948.  He called his yoga the ''[[Yoga of Synthesis]]''.

;Disciples who went on to grow new organisations

;Disciples who went on to grow new organisations

* [[Chinmayananda Saraswati]], founder of the [[Chinmaya Mission]]

* [[Chinmayananda Saraswati]], founder of the [[Chinmaya Mission]]

* [[Jyotirmayananda Saraswati]], President of the Yoga Research Foundation, Miami, USA

* [[Jyotirmayananda Saraswati]], President of the Yoga Research Foundation, Miami, USA