APPROACHING THE GURU : 3-1.

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Young  Paramananda with his mother before sannyasa at Swami Sivananda Ashramam

3. HOW THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY WAS BORN-1.

Many are curious to know when Sri Swamiji wrote his first book, how he was able to establish his second-to-none Divine Life Society within a few years of his coming to Rishikesh.


The first book that was written and published by Swami Sivananda is his master-piece Practice of Yoga.

The year was 1929.

That, as all of you know, is an excellent book.

I had the opportunity to see a 'deluxe' edition copy of the book at the Connemera Library in Madras.

The book was priced as low as rupees two only.

Even in those early days of Sannyasa life, when it was very difficult for him to procure money, Sri Swamiji brought out costly editions of books for supplying free of charge to all public libraries and poor aspirants who would treasure them.

For those of ordinary means there were cheap editions priced very low.

Incidentally, it also happens to be the book that brought me so close to him.

That much regarding his first book.


The Divine Life Society, if I can say, was virtually born the very moment Sri Swamiji stepped into Rishikesh, i.e., in 1923.

What he started that day, he is still continuing now.

SRI SWAMI PARAMANANDA
To be continued  ...


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