An Excerpt from An Eagle’s Flight: A Yogi’s Spiritual Autobiography, by Swami Nirmalananda Giri, which we plan to publish in early November. This is from the extensive Appendix, Blessed Memories.
Swami Sivananda-Hridayananda
The next heart-treasure I want to tell you about is Swami Sivananda-Hridayananda of Sivananda Ashram. Her name means Bliss of Sivananda’s Heart, and it was very appropriate. In the ashram she was simply known as Doctor Mother because she was an eye surgeon and presided over the free eye hospital Swami Sivananda had established in the ashram.
Doctor Mother’s early life
Doctor Mother had been born in Madras State (Tamilnadu) as had Swami Sivananda. She told me that when she first learned to speak her grandmother taught her that the moment she awakened in the morning she should say: “O Lord, I am thy dear one; be with me this day.” And so she always did. She was born loving temples and worship of God.
Being outstandingly intelligent and having a heart embracing others, she became a very successful eye surgeon in a clinic of her own. She was married to an equally dedicated and spiritually devoted man and had two daughters.
Meeting Swami Sivananda through his books
Spiritual reading was her favorite pastime and she frequently went to a large bookstore in Madras (Chennai) where the owner would keep aside any new spiritual books for her to look over. One day he showed her the book Spiritual Lessons by Swami Sivananda. She had never heard of Sivananda before, but when she saw his photograph in the book she felt that she knew him very well.
Standing there in the midst of the store she began reading and inwardly heard the voice of Sivananda speaking the words as she read them. This was a new experience, so she bought the book and asked that any others by Sivananda should be reserved for her.
She took the book home and read it through. By the end she knew that the author was a spiritual giant and she must go to Rishikesh and meet him. Until that time she was in frequent correspondence with Sivanandaji. As soon as she could she went to Rishikesh and spent some time there. This was the pinnacle of her life, but she had to return to her family and business.
A permanent visit
The second time she visited Sivanandashram, when she came to bid farewell to Sivananda she said to him: “How I wish I did not have to leave.” His reply was: “Then don’t leave!” And so she did not. After a while she became Swami Sivananda-Hridayananda.
I have already told you about how in the morning satsang with Swami Sivananda I would feel as though we were transported into infinite space far beyond this world. This would always occur when Swami Sivananda would say: “Kirtan by Swami Sivananda-Hridayananda,” and she would sing as he would sit there with closed eyes in perfect stillness.
Sivananda’s Heart
Doctor Mother was remarkable in her appearance. She was always regal, and made me think of the poet-queen Mirabai. She had a dignity beyond any I had previously seen. But most important of all she truly was Sivananda’s heart. Being an advanced yogini, her appearance and manner were always inward.
Sivananda was her life in actuality, not sentimentality, and she always radiated a quiet joy as she sat or walked next to him. It was a beautiful sight, and unique. Just a glimpse of her was inspiring.
Fortunately I found a book in the ashram office called Sivananda My God. It was by Doctor Mother and contained the correspondence between her and Sivananda and the story of her spiritual transformation. It was thrilling and I never forgot it. After some years I miraculously found a copy for our ashram library. It, like Doctor Mother herself, is unique as a spiritual record.
Doctor Mother visits our ashram
My first trip to India I never spoke with Doctor Mother, but in my second trip we became acquainted and spent wonderful hours remembering Sivananda and extolling his loving greatness. “I alone am the theme of their discourse: thus delighting each other, they live in bliss and contentment” (Bhagavad Gita 10:9).
A few years later she came to America and spent some time in our ashram. I found that she was always even-minded and inward, calm, peaceful, wise and joyful. We had many wonderful satsangs with her and she often said to her traveling companion: “What a treat this is to be here!” It certainly was for us.
After quite a bit of time spent in America she went to Europe and eventually settled in Belgium until she left the body. The world was blessed by her every word and act. Saints such as her make life in this world worth living.
Further Reading:
Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke)
Swami Nirmalananda Giri, founder of Light of the Spirit Monastery, has spent over six decades immersed in the study and practice of Yoga and and the spiritual traditions of East and West. He is the author of more than 30 books on meditation, practical spiritual life and Sanatana Dharma.
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