OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

To all members and Devotees of the Divine Life Society, Malaysia, Branch.

The Committee of Management, Divine Life Society, Malaysia Branch with  a heavy heart hereby inform all members and devotees the sudden passing away and Samadhi of His Holiness, Revered Sri Swami  Guhabhaktananda Saraswathy Maharaj, President, Divine Life Society on May 2 2013 at 11:02pm in Penang Hospital. Swamiji had a massive heart attack while on his visit to the northern DLS branches on a collective spiritual retreat.

Swamiji’s mortal remains arrived at our Holy Sivanandashram, Batu Caves at 8am on May 3 2013 and was placed on a bed of floral decoration at the ground level of Pranavananda Bhavan, Yoga Block for dignitaries, disciples, devotees and the general public to pay their last respect and homage. In spite of minimal and late media coverage, thousands thronged the Ashram throughout the day with a continuous flow of people who made their way to pay their last respect. The hall was packed with devotees reciting Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra, Kirtans, Gurudev’s Nama Smarana and continuous singing of holy hyms in complete dedication.

At 3.30pm Swamiji was gloriously placed on a beautifully decorated palanquin canvas, wrapped with saffron cloth and shoulder carried by devotees around the ashram up to the front entrance of the main prayer hall, for Arathi at Gurudev’s Murthy.

At 4.30pm Swamiji was gently placed into a Mercedes hearse, escorted by uniform police out riders on a procession to the Petaling Jaya crematorium. The crematorium was packed with people. The cremation was carried out with Vedic – chanting, Mantras, Thevarams and rituals befitting a Sanyas. Daily prayers for Revered Swamiji continued at Sivanandashram and sub-branches until the 16^th day Sodashi. The Sodashi ceremony was held on 17 May 2013 began with prayers in the morning, procession to Batu Caves Murugan Temple followed by paduka puja and lunch. In the evening, prayers and tribute to Revered Swamiji was held in a grand manner with a gathering of approximately 500 people. The memorial speeches were delivered by H.H. Swami Swayamjayanandaji, H.H. Swami Karunyanandaji, Br. Prem Chaitanya and Sri P Balashamugam.

On May 13 2013, Sri A Perinpacumarasamy(Senior Vice–President), Dr Kumarajah, H.H. Swami Samyamanandaji, Br. Brahma Chaitanya, Sri Gnanaguruparan and many other devotees took the mortal ashes of Revered Swamiji Maharaj to Sivanandashram, Rishikesh. Ceremonial rites were performed at the Sivananda Ghat before consignment of the holy ashes into the Ganges. The Sodashi ceremony was grandly conducted with prayers and gift offerings to 16 Sanyasins. Memorial tributes on Revered Swamiji’s contributions to Gurudev’s mission were given by all senior Swamijis lead by Param Pujya Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj. Sri Swami Samyamanandaji led a small group to Kasi and Allahabad for further consignment of Revered Swamiji’s remains.

The Committee of Management, DLS on hearing of President Swamiji’s sudden passing away, met immediately at the wee hours on May 3 2013 at 2am with Swamiji’s purvashram family members to discuss on the last rites arrangements.

A full committee of 15 members met again on the May 4 2013, mainly to propose and nominate an Acting President for the society. HH Sri Swami Swayamjayanandaji Maharaj was unanimously accepted. Subsequently, all the 5 Trustees of DLS signed and endorsed the proposed nomination. The delegation to Rishikesh led by Sri A. Perinpacumarasamy presented the documents to the World President H.H. Param Pujya Sri Swami Vimalanandaji Maharaj and the General Secretary H.H. Sri Swami Padmanabhanandaji Maharaj both of whom accepted the nomination and gave their full support and blessings. H.H. Sri Swami Swayamjayanandaji Maharaj is now officially the Acting – President of the DLS Malaysia branch.

Swamiji’s pre-monastic name was Dr A. Kreetharan, a pathologist by profession, served in various General Hospital throughout the country and ended his carrier on early retirement to completely dedicate himself to the society. He was ordained into the holy order of Sanyasa in the year 2002. He was a close associate of President Swamiji serving the Sivananda clinic and earnestly took up spiritual studies.

The Committee of Management, DLS Malaysia, extends its heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Trustees, DLS Malaysia, the World President, General Secretary, and the Senior Swamijis at Rishikesh ashram for the immediate support and encouragement to all the officials and members of the society during the hour of bereavement and great loss of our revered and beloved President Swamiji Maharaj. It is our earnest duty to continue the noble and good work left by our Revered Swamiji. The Committee of Management is confident that with all the support of members, the society will be able to reach greater heights to carry on the mission set by GURUDEV.

May the blessings and grace of the Lord and worshipful Gurudev be upon all.

In the service of the Lord and Gurudev,

P Balashanmugam

Hon. General Secretary

Divine Life Society                                                                                        28^th May 2013

We regret to inform that our beloved Swami Guhabhaktanandaji,

President of Divine Life Society Malaysia, left his mortal coil at 12.20am

in Penang hospital on 3rd May 2013. The funeral will be held on 3rd May 2013

at Divine Life Society, Batu Caves . The Cortege will leave DLS Ashram

Batu Caves at 4.30pm for MBPJ Crematorium, JLN 222 KG TUNKU.

This celebration will be celebrate at Sivananda Ashram on the 19/4/13 Friday.