'Sivananda, the Modern World Prophet' by Dewan Bahadur and KS Ramaswami Sastri

The Absolute cannot be held to be modified into the Universe because it would then cease to be the Absolute. 

Hinduism is a monotheistic religion: Rigveda, Purusha Sookta, Kalidas declares that God has many names and forms but He is only one entity.

Man proposes but God disposes. This is the popular view. Man proposes but woman disposes. This is the numerous view. God proposes and God disposes. This is the philosophical view. 

By knowing the nature of inspiration and expiration, by having a comprehensible understanding and practice of the Swara Sadhana (science of breath), there comes into being the knowledge of the past, present and future. Many miraculous powers are attained.

Ida is cooling and Pingala is heating. Pingala digests the food. Ida is of pale color, Shakti Rupa. it is the great nourisher of the world. Pingala is of fiery red color, Rudra Rupa. Ida and Pingala indicate kala (time) and Sushumna swallows up time. The yogi knows the time of his death; takes his prana into sushumna; keeps it in Brahmarandhra, and defines time (kala or death). 

Ida and the Pingala have duration of five ghatikas (two hours) each. They flow in order during the 60 ghatikas of a day. By a ghatika each, the five Tatwas also flow. The days begin with the Pratipata (the first lunar day). When the order is reversed, the effect is reversed. In the bright fortnight, Ida is powerful. In the dark fortnight, Pingala is powerful. If the breath rises by Ida at sunrise and flows throughout the day and Pingala rises at sunset and flows throughout the night, it convers considerable good results. 

The famous Yogi Sri Chand Dev of Maharashtra fought against death several times by taking the prana into sushumna. He was a contemporary of Sri Jnana Deva of Alandi (near Poona). It was he who had Bhuta Siddhi, control over wild animals, through his yogic practices.

If one such person stands in the Sun when his shadow is not shorter than five feet nor longer than ten fee and directs his gaze towards either the neck, the hands or the feet of his shadow, without shaking his body and looks at the sky at once without closing his eyes, he will be able to see his image. If it is the color of gold, he will get gold. If it is white, he need not be afraid of death. His life time will increase. If he sees red, his life-period will decrease. If he sees it as a black image, decline will begin. If he does not see the head, he will die in three months. (contd..)

(contd...) If one practices looking at his own shadow in this fashion for twelve years, his own shadow will speak to him. Through that talk, he will gain the eight great Siddhis. After some days, this shadow will assume the shape of a man and go with him wherever he goes, lie where he lies, rise up when he rises, and will tell him beforehand of all the good and the bad that are going to befall him.