Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Divine Life Society

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Formation
  
1936

Type
  
Religious organisation

Founder
  
Swami Sivananda

Legal status
  
Foundation

Divine Life Society

Purpose
  
Educational, Philanthropic, Religious studies, Spirituality

Headquarters
  
Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India

The Divine Life Society (DLS) is a spiritual organisation and an ashram, founded by Swami Sivananda Saraswati in 1936, at Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh, India. Today it has branches across 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.

Contents

Aims

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)
  • 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 granted him a plot of land to construct the present day Shivanandashram. Chidananda Saraswati served as president of the society from August 1963 to 28 August 2008, while Krishnananda Saraswati served as the General-Secretary of the Society in Rishikesh from 1958 until 2001.

    Departments

  • 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

  • The official website of Divine Life Society
  • The other official website of Divine Life Society
  • Swami Krishnananda, former General Secretary of the Divine Life Society

    • References

    Divine Life Society Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA