States » SouthPosted at: Nov 11 2026 7:42AM


Sivananda Rath Yatra concludes after spreading Gurudev's message across four South Indian states

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 11 (UNI) The Sivananda Rath Yatra, an extensive spiritual pilgrimage across four South Indian states under the leadership of Swami Advaitanandaji Maharaj, General Secretary of the Divine Life Society, headquartered at Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, has concluded after taking the timeless message of Gurudev Swami Sivananda, 'Be Good – Do Good', to thousands of people and spreading the ideals of spirituality, compassion, love and universal brotherhood.
The pilgrimage, which traversed Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, covered several prominent temples, sacred destinations, ashrams and spiritual centres, bringing together spiritual leaders, saints, representatives of religious and cultural institutions and people from different walks of life.
The initiative sought to revive and propagate Swami Sivananda's eternal teachings and promote goodness, selfless service, mutual love, goodwill, spiritual awakening and peaceful coexistence in society.
Describing the yatra as an extraordinary experience extending far beyond an ordinary religious pilgrimage, the organisers said it had offered profound spiritual enrichment, cherished memories and invaluable opportunities to spend time with revered spiritual masters and saints, receive their affectionate guidance and seek their blessings. The precious moments shared with spiritual personalities and representatives of various ashrams and institutions had left a lasting impression on everyone associated with the journey.
The central objective of the pilgrimage was to carry the immortal teachings, philosophy and vision of Swami Sivananda to people in different parts of South India. It also aimed to spread universal human values, including compassion, selfless service, spiritual awareness, mutual affection and goodwill, and strengthen the spirit of love, harmony and fraternity among people.
During the extensive journey, the team visited a number of prominent temples and sacred places across the four states. The important destinations included Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Guruvayur Temple, Madhur Siddhivinayaka Temple, Tirumala Balaji Temple, Srikalahasti, Srirangam, Jambukeswaram, Pillayarpatti Ganapathy Temple, Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram, Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai, Thiruparankundram, Tiruchendur, Kanyakumari and Rajarajeshwara Temple. The pilgrimage also included visits to several spiritual institutions, including Anandashram and Nithyananda Ashram.
The yatra also paid respectful homage to great spiritual masters, sages, philosophers and social reformers who made invaluable contributions to India's rich spiritual and philosophical traditions. The lives, teachings and enduring legacies of Adi Shankaracharya, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sarada Devi, Ramana Maharshi, Swami Vivekananda, Chattampi Swamikal, Swami Abhedananda, Sree Narayana Guru, Saibaba, Swami Chidananda, Swami Krishnananda, Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Vishnudevananda, Swami Ramdas and Mata Amritanandamayi were accorded special importance during the pilgrimage.
The organisers expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and the governments of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for their support, cooperation and encouragement towards the successful organisation of the spiritual initiative.
Several religious, spiritual, cultural and charitable institutions and organisations extended valuable assistance and cooperation at different stages of the pilgrimage. The organisers specifically acknowledged the contributions of the Divine Life Society headquarters at Rishikesh; Vyasashram at Yerpedu; Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam; Sivananda Charitable Hospital at Pattamadai; Ramakrishna Tapovanam, Madurai; Divine Life Society centres at Madurai, Karaikudi, Pattamadai, Palakkad and Bengaluru; Vivekananda Kendras at Kanyakumari and Kodungallur; Suchindram Devaswom; Abhedashrams at Neyyattinkara and Thiruvananthapuram; Neyyar Sivananda Yoga Centre; Sivagiri Mutt at Varkala; Perumon Sambodharanya Ashram; Chattampi Swami Ashrams at Panmana and Vazhoor; Chinmaya International Foundation at Ernakulam; Sringeri Mutt at Kalady; Amritam at Kodungallur; Guruvayur Devaswom Board; Hotel Krishna Vatsam Regency at Guruvayur; Advaita Ashram at Kolathur; T.T.K. Devaswom at Kannur; Anandashram; Nithyananda Ashram at Kanhangad; and Anjum Perfumes.
The organisers also placed on record their special appreciation for the spiritual leaders and saints whose presence, guidance, affection and blessings throughout the journey had been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement to the team.
Those acknowledged included Swami Sivananda Sundarananda, Swami Jagadeeshwarananda, Swami Chidanandapuri, Swami Ramapadananda Saraswati, Swami Sachidananda Bharati, Swami Sivaswaroopananda, Swami Viviktananda Saraswati, Swami Krishnananda Bharati of Pothamkandam, Swami Guruprasad, Swami Prajnananda, Swami Adhyatmananda, Swami Advayananda, Swami Swaroopananda, Swami Muktananda, Swami Pavanaputra of Panchagni Akhada at Tryambakeshwar, Swami Sitaramdas of Swargashram, Rishikesh, Nithyananda of Kondayur, Mataji Dr Lakshmikumari, Bhanudas Dhakras, Swami Kesavananda Bharati and Aryayur.
The organisers also conveyed their heartfelt gratitude and profound respect to the members of the Travancore royal family, particularly Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi Thampuratti and Avittom Thirunal Aditya Varma Thampuran, the Maharajas and Maharanees of the Cochin royal family and the Zamorin Raja of Kozhikode for their goodwill and encouragement.
Several individuals who worked with dedication to coordinate arrangements, extend assistance and facilitate the pilgrimage at various destinations were also remembered with special gratitude.
They included Guruvayur Devaswom Chairman A.V. Gopinath, Administrator Harigopal, Arunachalam of Karaikudi, Auditor Gopalakrishna Iyer, Sunil of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Ramkumar of Abhedashram, Dr A.M. Unnikrishnan, Director of Vidyadhiraja Chattampi International, Venu Mahadevan, Prof. Dr Rajaram Viswanathan of Kalady, Dr Krishnan Namboothiri of Nagarjuna, Harikumar of Ambedkar Foundation, Sudhakaran of Amritam, Kodungallur, advocates M.A. Jayakrishnan and Jijobal, Anil Pillai and Dr Pillai of Chinmaya International Foundation, the Deputy Tahsildar of Kollam, Vijayan Nair and Radhakrishnan Nair of Hotel Krishna Vatsam Regency, Sreekumar of Panmana Ashram, Dr Premkumar, Dr Susheela Ravindranath, Dr Smitha, C. Harikumar of Dhyanasankalpam, Kozhikode, K.P. Vinayan of Rajarajeshwara Temple, advocate Ullas of Taliparamba, Manibhai and Uthaman of Anandashram, Annapoorneswari (Kalavathi Akka), Inspector Saifuddin, P.B. Achu of Kasaragod, Jayan Edakkazhoor of Guruvayur, Venkitramana Maiya, Umesh Kumar of Edaneer and Rev. Fr Joseph Crasta of Narampady.
The contribution of the organising committee members who were actively involved in planning, coordination and the successful execution of the pilgrimage was also specially acknowledged.
The committee comprised senior journalist and former editor of the Malayalam Manorama women's publication Anil Mangalath, D. Santhosh Kumar, Kerala Correspondent of a leading national news agency, Dr Atmadev and Sreekanth of the Sivananda Atmabodham Centre, Kozhikode. The organisers expressed their gratitude for their dedicated efforts, contributions and coordination throughout the various stages of the yatra.
Journalists and media organisations that helped disseminate news and developments relating to the pilgrimage and take its spiritual message to a wider section of society were also thanked for their valuable cooperation.
The organisers made special mention of Ram Chaitanya, who travelled a considerable distance from Uttarkashi to join the pilgrimage, and Sandeep, who expressed his willingness to participate in the yatra despite being engaged in Sabarimala duty. They also appreciated everyone who travelled from different states to become part of the spiritual initiative, along with the volunteers and well-wishers who worked tirelessly to ensure its success.
Recalling the experiences of the journey, the organisers said that being able to experience the blessings and presence of Gurudev at every stage was itself a great blessing. Every visit to a temple and spiritual centre became a sacred occasion, while the meetings and interactions strengthened relationships founded on spiritual friendship, affection and brotherhood.
They said the warm reception, generous hospitality, affection, cooperation and encouragement extended by individuals and institutions across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh had made the pilgrimage a distinctive and unforgettable experience.
Acknowledging that it would be practically impossible to individually mention everyone who had extended assistance, support, encouragement and blessings during the different stages of the journey, the organisers expressed their heartfelt gratitude to all individuals and institutions associated with the initiative. They recalled with appreciation the contributions of everyone who supported the pilgrimage directly or indirectly and those who extended their affection, goodwill and encouragement towards its successful completion.
The organisers emphasised that the conclusion of the Rath Yatra did not mark the end of efforts to propagate the timeless teachings and philosophy of Gurudev Swami Sivananda. The immortal message, 'Be Good – Do Good', would continue to serve as the guiding principle and inspiration for all future activities.
They also affirmed their commitment to continuing efforts to strengthen the universal human values of compassion, selfless service, spiritual awareness and universal brotherhood in society and transmit these ideals to future generations.
UNI DS
Tags: #Sivananda Rath Yatra concludes after spreading Gurudev's message across four South Indian states
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