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Sannyasa,  Path to Blessedness

by Swami Adhyatmananda

In the Vishnu Smriti, it is said the house holder cannot attain even by a hundred sacrifices, that state the Sannyasin attains by living properly even for one night. Hundred purified families may be ahead of him and three hundred purified families of his in the past, even in his line a single one takes to the path of Sannyas. The sun trembles when he sees a Sannyasin, he feels that Sannyasin will break the Surya-Mandala with his force of the soul and attain immortality. 

The Narayan-Upanishad says “Na Karmananaprajayaadhanenatyagenaikaamrutatvamaanashahu”. Neither by work, progeny and wealth, but only by renunciation alone immortality is attained. 

Even Yajnavalkya said to Maitreyi “Amrutattwasyatunaashaastivitteneti” sage Ved Vyasa in his great epic says O Yudhisthira,  "KaashayamaatradharopiyatihpoojyaYudhishthira”.  Even if a person wears merely the ochre robe, he is fit to be worshiped. Such is the glory of Sannyasa.

The realization of the Sannsyasa is focused in first mantra of Isavasya Upanishad “IsavasyamidamSarvam”.  All this is indeed pervaded by the cosmic spirit. The entire universe is an embodiment of God. All that lives and moves in this world is a member of a common universal family. 

In earth, air, water and either in the woods and the glades, in the hills and the dales, in the brooks and the meadows, in the aged and the young – everywhere is God. The world no longer has any exclusive sphere of possession. It loses its illusive power of bondage, “I’m His and He is mine” becomes “I’m for all, and He is Thine! O Lord”.

This is the realization of Sannyasin. The spirit of renunciation enables him not to lose sight of the spirit in matter or the awareness of divinity in multitude of names and forms. His expansive, diffusive spirit can no more be held down to particular groove of life. His great longing to realize his consciousness from the limitation of evanescent values opens up before him broad vistas of universal spiritual realization.

Worshipful Revered Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj’s Sannyasin life was most ideal and exemplary model to the Sannyasin of present era – He said ‘I have to serve mankind, to sick, needy and downtrodden, they are Roginarayana, Dukhinarayana. Hence I can’t afford to wrap myself with blanket. He celebrated Sri Krishna’s, Sri Rama’s, birth day, whereas He celebrated Christmas also with great enthusiasm. He sung “My Krishna, Oh Lord, Khuda, Hai! Mery, Hai!l Jesus! with same enthusiasm and devotion. He experienced Brahman everywhere, in everything, at all times and in all conditions. He was unique in own-self and core to renunciation; Sivananda Ashram kept on expanding, number of buildings started springing up but He never left His small cowshed where He spent His all life in pursuing His spiritual sadhana.

On His birthdays gajamala a garland (which has to be lifted by elephant only) was brought every year from Madurai but He will pick some one’s rotten shoe and bang upon His own head forty two times and used to say “it is formula forty two”. Oh Mind, are you happy now? I’m keeping in balance and harmony intact, in case if you are exited with gajmala you must enjoy this “formula formula forty two, shoe beating also”. His was the very strange way of spiritual sadhana. It was all for keeping the mind under His control and not allow it to move from His goal of life that “I’m thine, thou art mine, thy will be done,” He sung Chidananda, Chidananda, Chidananda too..! in all conditions I’m bliss, bliss, bliss Absolute.

Gurudev rejoiced in the Lord. He experienced bliss in all condition, situation, starving and feasting also. He received the President of India as well Army General with most humbleness to His Kutir, where He served the leprosy, nursed the sick people and sick street dogs also.

His was the wonderful and ideal life. His life is worth knowing. If, possible it is worth practicing

OM Shanti! .

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