Swami Sivananda Saraswati
Swami Sivananda was born in Southern India in 1887. Even as a young man, he was strongly motivated by the urge to serve humanity. For this reason, he became a medical doctor. He heard of the suffering of the poor people in Malaysia, and decided to go there.
In Malaysia, the doctor served the people, often giving free service and medicines. But still he felt that there must be more that he could do to serve humanity.
In 1923, God prompted him to renounce the world. He wandered for a year and reached Rishikesh in 1924. For the next seven years, Swami Sivananda practised severe austerities, living on alms. Yet, even during this period, he served the sick and the suffering, and established a small hospital.
Slowly a few disciples began to gather around him. In 1936 the Divine Life Society was founded.
Swami Sivananda wrote more than 300 books, trying to spread his message of love and service to people all around the world.
Swami Sivananda entered Mahasamadhi in 1963.
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