PILGRIAMAGE, SADHANA, AND FORMAL DIKSHA

Sivananda Ponniah left for India on 25 December, 1963 and after a tour of the South, proceeded to DLS Headquarters at Rishikesh and stayed there from March to August, 1964. During this period, apart from participating in the activities of the Ashram, he successfully completed a strenuous pilgrimage to Holy Kedarnath 11,750 ft. high in the Himalayas, partook in Sadhana Week held at the Headquarters from 25 July to 1 August, attended the Maha Aradhana Celebration - the first anniversary of Satgurudev's Mahasamadhi. On Guru Purnima Day, 24 July, 1964 the final confirmatory rites of purification (Viraja Homa) were performed and Sri Sivananda Ponniah became a fullfledged sannyasin assuming Sri Swami Pranavananda Saraswati as his monastic name. In memory of this sacred occasion a special edition of the book entitled "Elixir Divine'' was published by the Headquarters, out of Swamiji's own donation, containing Gurudev's last message to mankind, Heart of Gurudev's Teachings, and 59 of his Letters to Sri Ponniah. The first shrine Sri Swami Pranavanandaji visited after his official elevation to the Holy Order and had his bhiksha was Nilkand on a steep mountain opposite Sivanandashram.

Swamiji returned to Malaysia via New Delhi, Calcutta, Puri, Madras and Sri Lanka. At Calcutta he stayed for a week. The devotees who accompanied him on the pilgrimage to Kedarnath entertained him. He addressed a large gathering at Gurudev's Birthday Celebrations on 8 August, 1964.

A huge crowd, including the retired Principle of his Alma Mater, the Arunodaya College, and other elders received him with great reverence at the Palali Airport (Sri 1anka.) on his arnval there on l November. 1964. Swarmed was profusely garlanded. At all DLS branches, several temples, Colleges, schools and religious institutions, there were receptions, seminars and lecture meetings. Within a period of one month Swamijl had to deliver not less than 45 lectures. Having completed a very crowded programme in Sri Lanka, he left for Malaysia on 5 December, 1964.

A Reception Committee composed of representatives of all religious and cultural institutions was organised to welcome beloved and revered Swamiji back to Malaysian. The Chairman of the committee was none other than Saivaperiyar Sri K. Ramanathan, B.A.B.L. who was one of those who had profoundly influenced Swamiji in his spiritual aspirations. Ardent devotees, spiritual comrades and friends in divine fellowship-some 600 in all, had assembled at the Kuala Lumpur Airport when Sri Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj alighted. It was a joyful sight. At tike glimpse of Swamiji, donned in saffron with his radiant smile and utter humility several devotees broke into tears of joy and cheered him. Swamiji was escorted to the VIP Hall; their institutions and individuals profusely garlanded him. Many, young and old, men and women paid their homage to him, in the traditional manner of prostrating before him or touching his feet ! It seemed as though these were the outer expressions of their gratitude to the bountiful Providence and to Maha Guru Sri Swami Sivananda for blessing the Malaysians with a spiritual guide and friend whom they could now ca11 affectionately ''Our Swamiji"

Swnmiji was taken in a motor-cade procession to Sivanandashram, the National Headquarters of the Devine Life Mission at Batu Caves, and accorded a traditional Purna Kumbha reception. The Vivekananda Ashram with which Swamiji was very closely associated over a period of many years proudly took priority in organising a grand reception.

This was followed by a public reception. Welcome addresses presented to Swamiji in Tamil and English, on behalf of the Public, appear elsewhere in this Souvenir. Needless to say that Swamiji was accorded receptions by DLS branches, temples and other institutions in various arts of the country. Our World President, H.H. Sri Swami Chidanandaji Maharaj heard of these receptions and write to one of his disciples: "Swami Pranavananda is a silent and dynamic monk. He is spreading the Master's Divine Life message since many years. It is rare to find such a noble and dedicated soul''.

The high esteem in which Gurudev Sri Swami Sivanandaji held swami Pranavananda is evident from the following extract from the Publisher's Note to "Elixir Divine'' (Special Edition) : "The readers will be glad to learn that this publication in its present form is associated with a name that has always been a byword here at the Headquarters of the Society a name which Sri Gurudev Swami Sivanandaji used to quote oftentimes for the unselfish services that are connected with it. Sri N. Ponniah (now Pranavananda) is the President of the Divine Life Society's Branch at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and is a hero who has worked hard for the propagation of the gospel of Divine Life. He, with a band of colleagues, has been able to set up a strong foundation of Divine Life in Malaysia and has earned the goodwill of sincere seekers there''