Swami Pranavananda
Encyclopedia
Swami Pranavanda Saraswathi (known previously as N. Ponniah) was a founding member of the Divine Life Society
in Malaysia.
. His parents Nagamuthu and Kannagi were devout Hindus. Even at an early age, when he was learning at Arunodaya College, he had the first awakening of his life. His college Principal T. Sinnathamby was a great influence in these formative years. He came into contact with Yoga Swamigal, through the help and guidance of K. Satkunasingam - who was later known as Siva Sathar - who showed him the Yoga Marg which alone is sufficient to take one to the realms of spiritual unity with the Supreme. Even during his younger days Ponniah found great pleasure in doing good to anybody and everybody.
, Sri Aurobindo
, and Kavi Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar. He received during his later pilgrimages the benedictions of Swami Ramadas, Paramahamsa Nityananda, Swami Gnananda Giri and Ananda Mai Ma. Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar grew very fond of him and adopted him as his god-son and revealed to him the secret of yoga asanas and sadhanas. When Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar started the Sudha Samajam at Kuala Lumpur Ponniah was his handy man.
. In the year 1952 a copy of the Divine Life from Sivanandashram, Rishikesh reached Ponniah and he wrote his first letter to Swami Sivananda
on 1 October 1952. Finally in 1953, Ponniah was drawn to Rishikesh and had darshan of Maha Mandaleswar Swami Sivananda. While he was in Rishikesh in 1959, Swami Sivananda was so pleased with his services that he made him a Committee Member of Divine Life Society Headquarters at Rishikesh and confirmed upon him the title of 'Gurubakthi Ratna', and 'Prachara Praveena'. Ponniah became the founder member of Divine Life Society, Kuala Lumpur. He was given conditional initiation into sannyas by Sivananda in this year and was named Swami Pranavananda. Sivananda's letters and advice to Pranavananda have come out in the form of a book titled Elixir Divine.
In 1964, when Pranavanda was at Rishikesh, the then President of Divine Life Society, Swami Chidananda Maharaj accepted him fully in the fold of sannyasins with viraja homam in front of Gurudev's Samadhi, and acclaimed him Swami Pranavananda Saraswathi on the sacred Guru Purnima
Day (24 July 1964).
He founded the Sivananda Ashram on 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of land at the foot of the Holy Batu Caves (a miniature Rishikesh), and became its President. Through his brahmacharya (celibacy) and tapas, Pranavananda like a loving father caring for his child nurtured the ashram and brought it to its present stage of being a beacon light for Divine Life Societies. It has become a centre of pilgrimage in Malaysia.
Today, Divine Life Society has 20 branches in Malaysia and of these 12 came into being mainly because of Pranavananda's tireless efforts, guidance, love and wisdom.
but also the timeless wisdom of saints, sages and prophets throughout the spiritual world.
Pranavananda compiled and published the book of common prayer entitled Bhajananjali for the use of the spiritual seekers in Malaysia, the first edition was released in September, 1967.
Divine Life Society
The Divine Life Society is a religious organization and an ashram, founded by Swami Sivananda Saraswati in 1936, at Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh, India...
in Malaysia.
Early life
N. Ponniah was born on 28 August 1908 at Alavaddi, in Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. His parents Nagamuthu and Kannagi were devout Hindus. Even at an early age, when he was learning at Arunodaya College, he had the first awakening of his life. His college Principal T. Sinnathamby was a great influence in these formative years. He came into contact with Yoga Swamigal, through the help and guidance of K. Satkunasingam - who was later known as Siva Sathar - who showed him the Yoga Marg which alone is sufficient to take one to the realms of spiritual unity with the Supreme. Even during his younger days Ponniah found great pleasure in doing good to anybody and everybody.
Service in Malaysia
In 1925, Ponniah came to Malaya and joined the Railway Department. Thereafter he took up employment with the Rubber Research Institute of Malaya served for more than 35 years and retired as Administrative Assistant in the year 1963 rising from the rank and file to a position of trust and responsibility. He found immense joy in helping others and as a result shared whatever he earned with the less fortunate ones. Ponniah's name became a synonym for good deeds among people who lived in and around Kuala Lumpur. He became a true friend of all those who came in contact with him. Indeed you can say that there was no society which did not boast of Ponniah being at its helm. He identified himself conspicuously with the activities of Vivekananda Ashrama, Brahma Gyana Sabah, Arul-Neri Thirukkuttam, Theiva-Neri Kazhakam, The Theosophical Society, Hindu Prachar Sabha, Pure Life Society especially during their formative years.Blessings of the Sages
Ponniah undertook his first pilgrimage to the sacred land of India in 1948 and had darshan and blessings of Bhagawan Ramana MaharshiRamana Maharshi
Sri Ramana Maharshi , born Venkataraman Iyer, was a Hindu spiritual master . He was born to a Tamil-speaking Brahmin family in Tiruchuzhi, Tamil Nadu. After experiencing at age 16 what he later described as liberation , he left home for Arunachala, a mountain considered sacred by Hindus...
, Sri Aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo , born Aurobindo Ghosh or Ghose , was an Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, philosopher, yogi, guru, and poet. He joined the Indian movement for freedom from British rule and for a duration became one of its most important leaders, before developing his own vision of human progress...
, and Kavi Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar. He received during his later pilgrimages the benedictions of Swami Ramadas, Paramahamsa Nityananda, Swami Gnananda Giri and Ananda Mai Ma. Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar grew very fond of him and adopted him as his god-son and revealed to him the secret of yoga asanas and sadhanas. When Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar started the Sudha Samajam at Kuala Lumpur Ponniah was his handy man.
Guru and Divine Life
About the year 1950 he started his association with the Divine Life SocietyDivine Life Society
The Divine Life Society is a religious organization and an ashram, founded by Swami Sivananda Saraswati in 1936, at Muni Ki Reti, Rishikesh, India...
. In the year 1952 a copy of the Divine Life from Sivanandashram, Rishikesh reached Ponniah and he wrote his first letter to Swami Sivananda
Swami Sivananda
Swami Sivananda Saraswati 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 Malaya as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism...
on 1 October 1952. Finally in 1953, Ponniah was drawn to Rishikesh and had darshan of Maha Mandaleswar Swami Sivananda. While he was in Rishikesh in 1959, Swami Sivananda was so pleased with his services that he made him a Committee Member of Divine Life Society Headquarters at Rishikesh and confirmed upon him the title of 'Gurubakthi Ratna', and 'Prachara Praveena'. Ponniah became the founder member of Divine Life Society, Kuala Lumpur. He was given conditional initiation into sannyas by Sivananda in this year and was named Swami Pranavananda. Sivananda's letters and advice to Pranavananda have come out in the form of a book titled Elixir Divine.
In 1964, when Pranavanda was at Rishikesh, the then President of Divine Life Society, Swami Chidananda Maharaj accepted him fully in the fold of sannyasins with viraja homam in front of Gurudev's Samadhi, and acclaimed him Swami Pranavananda Saraswathi on the sacred Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima
Guru Purnima is a festival traditionally celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists.On this day, disciples offer puja or pay respect to their Guru . It falls on the day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh of the Shaka Samvat, Indian national calendar and Hindu calendar...
Day (24 July 1964).
He founded the Sivananda Ashram on 3 acres (12,140.6 m²) of land at the foot of the Holy Batu Caves (a miniature Rishikesh), and became its President. Through his brahmacharya (celibacy) and tapas, Pranavananda like a loving father caring for his child nurtured the ashram and brought it to its present stage of being a beacon light for Divine Life Societies. It has become a centre of pilgrimage in Malaysia.
Today, Divine Life Society has 20 branches in Malaysia and of these 12 came into being mainly because of Pranavananda's tireless efforts, guidance, love and wisdom.
World Tour
In August 1969, Swami Vishnudevananda, Founder Director of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre, Montreal, Canada invited Pranavananda to the Yoga World Brotherhood. This opportunity afforded him "viswa parikramana" - going round the globe - expounding the teachings of Gurudev. The countries he visited included Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii, United States, England France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Egypt, India and Sri Lanka. While in Europe he participated in the International Yoga Conference held at Brussels by the Belgian Yoga Federation. On 15 November 1969 Pranavananda had the good fortune of having audience with His Holiness Pope Paul VI at the Vatican. Through the Divine Life Society and his other multifarious activities he is ever instilling in the heart of all love divine and through love divine, love for one's fellowmen, irrespective of creed community and social status - not in theory but as practiced in everyday life.Other organizations
Pranavananda's services were always available to other organizations. To mention some: He was Malaysian delegate at the World Hindu Religious Convention held at New Delhi (1965); Patron of the Malaysian Hindu Youth Council which directs 50 Hindu Youth Organisations. He was Patron of the 8th Hindu Youth Convention held in Kuala Lumpur (1967); Spiritual Adviser to the Malaysia Hindu Sangam - he was Conference Chairman of the First, Second and Third Malaysian Hindu Conferences (December, 1968, April 1970, December 1975). He was Director of Studies for 8 courses of training in Hinduism for Tamil Teachers and others from 19 onwards; Malaysian delegate to the World Conference on Religion Philosophy and Culture held at Madurai, South India, sponsored by H. H. Jagadguru Sri Sankaracharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakodi Peeta 1977.Publications
Pranavananda was instrumental in the publication of Divine Messenger, a periodical, carrying not only the message of Swami SivanandaSwami Sivananda
Swami Sivananda Saraswati 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 Malaya as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism...
but also the timeless wisdom of saints, sages and prophets throughout the spiritual world.
Pranavananda compiled and published the book of common prayer entitled Bhajananjali for the use of the spiritual seekers in Malaysia, the first edition was released in September, 1967.