Pranavānanda Saraswati (known previously as N. Ponniah) was a founding member of the Divine Life Society in Malaysia.
Service in Malaysia
In 1925, Ponniah came to Malaya and joined the Railway Department. Thereafter he took up employment with the Rubber Research Institute of Malaya served for more than 35 years and retired as Administrative Assistant in 1963 rising from the rank and file to a position of trust and responsibility. He found immense joy in helping others and as a result shared whatever he earned with the less fortunate ones. Ponniah's name became a synonym for good deeds among people who lived in and around Kuala Lumpur. He became a true friend of all those who came in contact with him. Indeed you can say that there was no society which did not boast of Ponniah being at its helm. He identified himself conspicuously with the activities of Vivekananda Ashrama, Brahma Gyana Sabah, Arul-Neri Thirukkuttam, Theiva-Neri Kazhakam, The Theosophical Society, Hindu Prachar Sabha, Pure Life Society especially during their formative years.
Ponniah undertook his first pilgrimage to the sacred land of India in 1948 and had darshan and blessings of Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi, Sri Aurobindo, and Kavi Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar. He received during his later pilgrimages the benedictions of Ramadas, Paramahamsa Nityananda, Gnanananda Giri and Ananda Mai Ma. Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar grew very fond of him and adopted him as his god-son and revealed to him the secret of yoga asanas and sadhanas. When Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar started the Sudha Samajam at Kuala Lumpur Ponniah was his handy man.
About 1950 he started his association with the Divine Life Society. In 1952 a copy of the Divine Life from Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh reached Ponniah and he wrote his first letter to Sivananda Saraswati on 1 October 1952. Finally in 1953, Ponniah was drawn to Rishikesh and had darshan of Sivananda. While he was in Rishikesh in 1959, Sivananda was so pleased with his services that he made him a Committee Member of Divine Life Society Headquarters at Rishikesh and confirmed upon him the title of 'Gurubakthi Ratna', and 'Prachara Praveena'. Ponniah became the founder member of Divine Life Society, Kuala Lumpur. He was given conditional initiation into sannyas by Sivananda in this year and was named Pranavānanda Saraswati. Sivananda's letters and advice to Pranavananda have come out in the form of a book titled Elixir Divine.
In 1964, when Pranavānanda was at Rishikesh, the then President of Divine Life Society, Chidananda Maharaj accepted him fully in the fold of sannyasins with viraja homam in front of Gurudev's Samadhi, and acclaimed him Pranavānanda Saraswati on the sacred Guru Purnima Day (24 July 1964).
He founded the Sivananda Ashram on 3 acres (12,000 m2) of land at the foot of the Holy Batu Caves (a miniature Rishikesh), and became its President. Through his brahmacharya (celibacy) and tapas, Pranavānanda like a loving father caring for his child nurtured the ashram and brought it to its present stage of being a beacon light for Divine Life Societies. It has become a centre of pilgrimage in Malaysia. Today, Divine Life Society has 20 branches in Malaysia and of these 12 came into being mainly because of Pranavānanda's tireless efforts, guidance, love and wisdom.
Early life
N. Ponniah was born on 28 August 1908 at Alavaddi, in Sri Lanka. His parents Nagamuthu and Kannagi were devout Hindus. Even at an early age, when he was learning at Arunodaya College, he had the first awakening of his life. His college Principal T. Sinnathamby was a great influence in these formative years. He came into contact with Yoga Swamigal, through the help and guidance of K. Satkunasingam - who was later known as Siva Sathar - who showed him the Yoga Marg which alone is sufficient to take one to the realms of spiritual unity with the Supreme. Even during his younger days Ponniah found great pleasure in doing good to anybody and everybody.Service in Malaysia
In 1925, Ponniah came to Malaya and joined the Railway Department. Thereafter he took up employment with the Rubber Research Institute of Malaya served for more than 35 years and retired as Administrative Assistant in 1963 rising from the rank and file to a position of trust and responsibility. He found immense joy in helping others and as a result shared whatever he earned with the less fortunate ones. Ponniah's name became a synonym for good deeds among people who lived in and around Kuala Lumpur. He became a true friend of all those who came in contact with him. Indeed you can say that there was no society which did not boast of Ponniah being at its helm. He identified himself conspicuously with the activities of Vivekananda Ashrama, Brahma Gyana Sabah, Arul-Neri Thirukkuttam, Theiva-Neri Kazhakam, The Theosophical Society, Hindu Prachar Sabha, Pure Life Society especially during their formative years.
Blessings of the sages
Ponniah undertook his first pilgrimage to the sacred land of India in 1948 and had darshan and blessings of Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi, Sri Aurobindo, and Kavi Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar. He received during his later pilgrimages the benedictions of Ramadas, Paramahamsa Nityananda, Gnanananda Giri and Ananda Mai Ma. Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar grew very fond of him and adopted him as his god-son and revealed to him the secret of yoga asanas and sadhanas. When Yogi Sudhananda Bharatiar started the Sudha Samajam at Kuala Lumpur Ponniah was his handy man.
Guru and divine life
About 1950 he started his association with the Divine Life Society. In 1952 a copy of the Divine Life from Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh reached Ponniah and he wrote his first letter to Sivananda Saraswati on 1 October 1952. Finally in 1953, Ponniah was drawn to Rishikesh and had darshan of Sivananda. While he was in Rishikesh in 1959, Sivananda was so pleased with his services that he made him a Committee Member of Divine Life Society Headquarters at Rishikesh and confirmed upon him the title of 'Gurubakthi Ratna', and 'Prachara Praveena'. Ponniah became the founder member of Divine Life Society, Kuala Lumpur. He was given conditional initiation into sannyas by Sivananda in this year and was named Pranavānanda Saraswati. Sivananda's letters and advice to Pranavananda have come out in the form of a book titled Elixir Divine.
In 1964, when Pranavānanda was at Rishikesh, the then President of Divine Life Society, Chidananda Maharaj accepted him fully in the fold of sannyasins with viraja homam in front of Gurudev's Samadhi, and acclaimed him Pranavānanda Saraswati on the sacred Guru Purnima Day (24 July 1964).
He founded the Sivananda Ashram on 3 acres (12,000 m2) of land at the foot of the Holy Batu Caves (a miniature Rishikesh), and became its President. Through his brahmacharya (celibacy) and tapas, Pranavānanda like a loving father caring for his child nurtured the ashram and brought it to its present stage of being a beacon light for Divine Life Societies. It has become a centre of pilgrimage in Malaysia. Today, Divine Life Society has 20 branches in Malaysia and of these 12 came into being mainly because of Pranavānanda's tireless efforts, guidance, love and wisdom.
