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Hindu Saints and Philosophers Details

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Hagiography

Pranavānanda Saraswati, previously known as N. Ponniah, was a founding member of the Divine Life Society in Malaysia. He was born on August 28, 1908, in Alavaddi, Sri Lanka, to devout Hindu parents. He studied at Arunodaya College and was greatly influenced by his college principal, T. Sinnathamby. Through the guidance of K. Satkunasingam (later known as Siva Sathar), he came into contact with Yogaswami, who introduced him to the path of yoga.

In 1925, Ponniah went to Malaya and joined the Railway Department. Later, he worked at the Rubber Research Institute of Malaya for over 35 years, eventually reaching the position of Administrative Assistant before retiring in 1963. Throughout his time in Malaysia, he actively participated in various organizations such as Vivekananda Ashrama, Brahma Gyana Sabah, Arul-Neri Thirukkuttam, Theiva-Neri Kazhakam, The Theosophical Society, and Hindu Prachar Sabha, as well as the Pure Life Society during their formative years.

Ponniah embarked on his first pilgrimage to India in 1948, where he had the opportunity to receive the blessings of spiritual luminaries like Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi, Sri Aurobindo, and Kavi Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar. During subsequent pilgrimages, he received the benedictions of Ramadas, Paramahamsa Nityananda, Gnanananda Giri, and Ananda Mai Ma. Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar became his spiritual mentor and taught him yoga asanas and sadhanas. Ponniah actively assisted Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar when he established the Sudha Samajam in Kuala Lumpur.

Around 1950, Ponniah became associated with the Divine Life Society. In 1952, he wrote his first letter to Sivananda Saraswati, the founder of the society, and in 1953, he had the opportunity to meet Sivananda in Rishikesh. Sivananda appointed him as a Committee Member of the Divine Life Society Headquarters in Rishikesh and honored him with the titles &#39;Gurubakthi Ratna&#39; and &#39;Prachara Praveena.&#39; Ponniah became a founding member of the Divine Life Society in Kuala Lumpur. In the same year, Sivananda granted him conditional initiation into sannyas and named him Pranavānanda Saraswati. Correspondence and advice from Sivananda to Pranavananda were compiled into a book called Elixir Divine.

In 1964, during a visit to Rishikesh, Pranavānanda received full acceptance as a sannyasin by Chidananda Maharaj, the President of the Divine Life Society. This was marked by a viraja homam ceremony in front of Sivananda&#39;s Samadhi, and he was acclaimed as Pranavānanda Saraswati on the auspicious day of Guru Purnima (July 24, 1964).

Pranavānanda founded the Sivananda Ashram on a 3-acre plot of land at the foot of the Holy Batu Caves in Malaysia. He became its president and dedicated himself to practicing brahmacharya (celibacy) and tapas. The ashram became a significant pilgrimage center in Malaysia. Today, the Divine Life Society has 20 branches in Malaysia, with twelve of them established mainly by Pranavānanda.&nbsp;

In August 1969, Vishnudevananda Saraswati, the Founder Director of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Montreal, Canada, invited Pranavānanda to join the Yoga World Brotherhood. This invitation provided him with the opportunity to embark on a world tour, spreading the teachings of Gurudev. His journey took him to several countries, including Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii, the United States, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Egypt, India, and Sri Lanka. During his time in Europe, he actively participated in the International Yoga Conference organized by the Belgian Yoga Federation in Brussels. Additionally, on November 15, 1969, Pranavānanda had the privilege of an audience with Pope Paul VI at the Vatican.

Aside from his involvement with the Divine Life Society and the Yoga World Brotherhood, Pranavānanda actively engaged with other organizations as well. In 1965, he served as the Malaysian delegate at the World Hindu Religious Convention held in New Delhi. He also held positions such as the Patron of the Malaysian Hindu Youth Council, which oversees 50 Hindu youth organizations, and Spiritual Adviser to the Malaysia Hindu Sangam. Pranavānanda played a crucial role as the Conference Chairman for the First, Second, and Third Malaysian Hindu Conferences held in December 1968, April 1970, and December 1975, respectively. Moreover, he served as the Director of Studies for eight Hinduism training courses for Tamil Teachers and others starting from 1969. In 1977, he represented Malaysia as a delegate at the World Conference on Religion, Philosophy, and Culture held in Madurai, South India, sponsored by H.H. Jagadguru Sri Sankaracharya of Sri Kanchi Kamakodi Peeta.

Pranavānanda also made notable contributions to publications. He was instrumental in the publication of Divine Messenger, a periodical dedicated to Sivananda Saraswati and various saints, sages, and prophets. Additionally, he compiled and published the book of common prayer titled Bhajananjali in September 1967. This book was intended for spiritual seekers in Malaysia and served as a guide for their devotional practices.

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