By Rajiv Malik, HPI Correspondent, India/South Asia
(HPI note: The announcement below run on the October 24th edition of HPI but mistakenly stated Swami was 86. We reproduce the article with Swamiji’s correct age.)
NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 20, 2008: His Holiness Sri Swami Vimalananda, 76, a senior monk of the Sivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, has been elected as the Chairman of the Divine Life Trust Society and ex-officio President of the Divine Life Society with effect from 28th September, 2008.
Through a message published in the October 2008 issue of The Divine Life, a monthly magazine published by the Divine Life Society, Shri Swami Vimalananda Ji conveyed his warm greetings to all and offered his prayers to Lord Viswanath, Sri Swami Sivannanda Ji Maharaj and Sri Swami Chidananda Ji Maharaj. He prayed for the welfare of all devotees, members and well wishers of the Society. “May the choicest blessings and benedictions of Satgurudev be upon one and all,” he stated. HE explained that he seeks the good wishes of all devotees worldwide so that he many continue to serve the holy institution founded by Swami Sivananda.
Sri Swami Vimalananda was born to pious Brahmin parents in Chamarajanagar, near Mysore, Karnataka in the year 1932. As a spiritual aspirant he offered himself at the holy feet of Swami Sivananda in the year 1953. He served the Holy Master for almost 10 years. After Swami Sivananda attained mahasamadhi, Swamiserved under Sri Swami Chidananda as his personal attendant and secretary. He was initiated into the holy orders of Sannyasa on the Sacred Guru Purnima, 26th July, 1972. Swami was appointed as General Secretary of the Divine Life Society on 28th June 2004 and was serving the Society in that capacity till he was elected President.