An interview with Nirmalananda Yogi

His smile greets every visitor to this hermitage, a beautiful place surrounded by a lake and lush greenery. With a snow colored beard, spectacled eyes and always-in light colored clothes, he sits in a spacious room listening patiently to all his visitors and giving advises. His powerful words on spirituality and life always leave an ever-lasting effect. That’s Swami Nirmalananda Yogi – President of Alathur Sidhashramam.

Alathur Sidhashramam was founded by Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi (1852-1929), the greatest rationalist yogi ever. He advocated the religion of Ananda or bliss through his literature, speeches and meetings, for the same reason Alathur Sidhashramam came into existence. Located in Palakkad in the state of Kerala in India, this institution has visitors from all over the globe. Peace, serenity and the aroma of Sivayogi’s ideals surround this place often giving spark to discussions on spirituality, life and happiness. A little stroll around this place flees off all the tensions and worry and fills you with peace. This place preaches the importance of Raja yoga in life to conquer enemies like lust, passion, anger and violence. The religion of Ananda proclaims that mind is God and control of mind is supreme achievement. Under the management of this hermitage there are two high schools, one Women's college and a women’s hostel.

Here is an interview with the present president Swami Nirmalananda Yogi who is working towards Sivayogi’s desire that his ideals should cross the country and reach among the minds of foreigners.

Roopa: India has a rich and great culture. Yet many Indians are superstitious. Why is it so? What can be done about it?

Nirmalananda Yogi: We have both knowledge (Vidya) and ignorance (Avidya). True knowledge is the realization of the mind. Our great men of true knowledge are spreading it. We have a large mass of ignorance; they accept every thing blindly and not critically. Some men spread blind beliefs for their selfish interests. This is true of many countries. India is not an exception. I am deeply concerned with the mental health of modern man. They are steeped in worry and anxiety. Stress follows them like their shadows. They run after god men who cheat them. If they follow the golden path shown by the great Guru Brahmananda Shivayogi, they have hope.

Roopa: Very often, women are the most vulnerable targets of superstition mongers. Why is it so?

Nirmalananda Yogi: Men and women have different mindsets. It is very difficult for women to have salvation without love. That is why Hindus created “Krishna”. A man gets into a cult for his own reasons whereas a woman seeks entry out of love and devotion. Thus women become soft and vulnerable targets.

Roopa: God men and god women claim miraculous powers. We find even educated people gravitating to them what is the secret of this attraction?

Nirmalananda Yogi: Education and enlightenment are different. Academic qualifications cannot bring in true knowledge. If you study books well and reproduce the text in the tests, you can score high marks and merit certificates. You have not used your critical faculty. So you have not achieved true real knowledge. These certificate holders run after god men spreading superstition. Modern life has built in high stress. Tension is rampant. People cannot look at these problems squarely in the face. They run after the human gods in search of imaginary solace. There are only a handful of enlightened saints like Shivayogi who taught that the absorption of the mind in itself is the real eternal bliss.

Roopa: Please give us a brief account of the life and work of Shivayogi.

Nirmalananda yogi: Shivayogi was a philosopher par excellence. He was a reformer, thinker, eradicator of blind faiths and a pathfinder for humanity. As an astute Raja yogi, he developed his unique style of meditation. He advocated formless meditation. You have to sit or lie down and relax your body, close your eyes and try to empty your mind of all thoughts for a while. Mind should be totally away from all thoughts. This process increases mind control.

Roopa: What brought you to this great hermitage?

Nimalananda yogi: I used to practice Raja yoga from my very boyhood. The more I grew, the more my quest for truth increased and I felt uncomfortable at home. Like in the case of Swami Vivekananda, I began to search for a Guru (teacher) who can quench my spiritual thirst. As a result of this I reached Sidhashram as a disciple of Shiva yogi and took the “brahmacharya” (bachelorhood) vow and became a sanyasi (saint). From there I learnt spiritual texts and got well versed in Sanskrit. When Yogini Matha (Shivayogi’ wife who was leading the hermitage) died on 15th February 1956, I had to take up the responsibility of the Ashram (hermitage). As I was inclined to spirituality in my very boy hood, I never felt it hard. More over a man of spirituality in a relative of the world. I am happy in being a spiritual person.

Roopa: Yogini Matha ( Shiva yogi’s wife) was the successor of Shivayogi. Please tell us how it was possible for Sidhashram to work in a gender-less way at that time when woman was considered second to Man?

Nirmalananda yogi: Yes, certainly as a woman it was not possible in those times for a woman to take charge of an Ashram. But Shiva yogi was a rational thinking saint. He considered that women had equal status as men in society. He opposed all types of discrimination between male and female. He promoted women’s education, which only can raise their status in society.


Roopa: Explain us the unique concept of “path of bliss” in your school of thought.

Nirmalananda Yogi: It is undeniable that every human being yearns for happiness. What is happiness? To some it is having a sumptuous and hearty meal. To some others, it is seeing a film or hearing good music. To some it is seeing places or engaging themselves in sports or games. To some others it is being absorbed in the thought of their beloved god or goddess. Thus for different persons, happiness arises from different objects or pursuits. For this reason it becomes difficult to define happiness. One point is however clear, the happiness that one gets when one eats tasty food or sees a film or plays a game or pray to god is transitory and ends the moment that particular activity ceases. If one were to enjoy this kind of happiness always, one has to be engaged in the particular kind activity perpetually. This is impossible. It is in this context that the memorable declaration of Shiva yogi is relevant-“It is the peace of mind that constitutes happiness”. Control of mind is supreme achievement. Happiness is with us as long as our mind is in our own control. To achieve happiness, we should wipe out ignorance from our mind. Every religion has superstitions. Superstitions enslave us and give us sorrow. Hence the “Ananda Religion” (Religion of Bliss) founded by Shiva yogi is the only true religion as it is based on the path of bliss. It is devoid of blind faiths, customs or rituals. Sidhashram does not promote any blind faith. It promotes a rational and scientific approach to life and living. To achieve eternal bliss or happiness, Sidhashram advocates Raja yoga. If one is able to keep one’s mind at rest always, no greater happiness is possible or need be aimed at. Shiva yogi’s advice to all is that “absorption of mind is our supreme achievement”. He advocated ahimsa (non violence). Your thinking or actions should not cause harm to any other living being. Every living being has a right to live on earth.

[This article was published in BHAVAN'S JOURNAL]

You can write to Sidhashramam at the following address:

President,
Sidhasramam,
P.B. No.1, P.O.Alathur, Palakkad District,
Kerala, South India, pin- 678541
Ph: 91-0492-222342
www.sidhasramam.org