The Divine Life Society was founded by Swami Sivananda Saraswati at Rishikesh, India in 1936. Its aim is to disseminate spiritual knowledge through publication, the arranging of conferences, by establishing training centres, etc.

• By publication of books, pamphlets and magazines dealing with ancient, oriental and occidental philosophy, religion and medicine in the modern scientific manner, and their distribution on such terms as may appear expedient to the Board of Trustees
• By propagating the Name of the Lord, and by holding and arranging spiritual discourses and conferences and frequent Sankirtans (singing the Lords name) or spiritual gathering for singing and glorifying the Name of the Lord
• By establishing training centres or societies for the practice of Yoga, for moral and spiritual Sadhanas (spiritual practices) and the revival of true culture, to enable aspirants to achieve regeneration through worship, devotion, wisdom, right action and higher meditation with systematic training in asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing exercise), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (superconscious state)
• By doing all such acts and things as may be necessary and conducive to the moral, spiritual and cultural uplift of mankind in general and to the attainment of the above-mentioned objects in Bharatavarsha(India) in particular
• To Establish and Run Educational Institutions

On modern lines and on right basic principles and to help deserving students by granting them refundable and non-refundable scholarships for doing research work in the various branches of

• To Help Deserving Orphans and Destitutes

By rendering them such assistance as the Society may deem proper, whether in any individual case or in any particular class of cases;

• To establish and Run Medical Organizations

Or any other medical institutions and hospitals or dispensaries for the treatment of diseases and dispensing medicines and performing surgical operations, etc., to the poor in particular and to the other public in general, on such terms and in such manner as may be deemed expedient by the Board of Trustees

• To Take Such Other Steps from Time to Time

As may be necessary for effecting a quick and effective moral and spiritual regeneration in the world and in Bharatavarsha in particular.

General philosophical outlook

for all round development - of heart, intellect and hand - of human beings in order to achieve realisation.

In the mind there are three defects, viz., Mala or impurity, Vikshepa or tossing, and Avarana or veil. The impurities of the mind should be removed by the practice of Karma Yoga, by selfless service. The tossing should be removed by worship or Upasana, by Japa and devotion. The veil should be torn down by

Spiritual disciplines generally advocated

Study of Vedantic scriptures and Japa

Administrative set-up

The President is the head of the organisation. The twin organisations are The Divine Life Society and The Divine Life Society Trust.

Provision for joining

is the training centre and publication centre.

Present chief of the movement

Activities

Religion & spirituality

Spiritual counselling, Yoga training, Retreat centre, Libraries, meditation calsses etc. Publication of many books and booklets on various topics related to Hinduism and Self-development keeping in view the needs of the modern man.

Social field

• Charitable hospital at Sivanandanagar

Education field

Around 1000 students from poor classes are given financial assistance from primary level to post-graduation level.

Cultural field

Relief activities

• Thorugh The Leprosy Relief Work of the Society around 200 or more leper-patients are rehabilitated and taken care of in a suitable manner.
• The Social Service Wing attends to such services as medical aid to the poor and needy, contribution towards different relief works in the country, and such other gestures of charity as would relieve the sufferings of people, in some measure, from poverty, disease and ignorance.

Province of its influence

Headquarters at Sivanandanagar, Tehri-Garhwal, Uttaranchal, India. Has in major western countries such as France, Germany, Italy etc.

Major publications

Published a lot of books on Hinduism, Yoga, Personality Development etc. Many of them are .

• Divine Life - monthly magazine in English
• Divya Jeevan - monthly magazine in Hindi
• Bliss Divine - Swami Sivananda
• - Swami Sivananda
• All about Hinduism - Swami Sivananda
• Concentration and Meditation - Swami Sivananda and

Related Links

See also Survey of Hindu organisations