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The force behind the system of visual education which psychologists today acclaim as
infinitely superior to text-book education will be apparent if you reflect over a very common
phenomenon. Leave on your table in the study a few good books, a few pictorials and a few
photographs. Let your children, your friends, come into the study. What do they pick up first?
The books? No. The photographs first, and then, the pictorials.
It is not entirely without reason that the old women in South India prevented their
grandchildren from being photographed, saying, “Your lustre will be taken away by the
photograph”. It is true that your lustre is transferred to the photograph. To your friends and
relatives, to your near and dear ones, your photograph is alive, aglow with your lustre. Therefore,
to a devotee, a picture of the Lord, and to a disciple, a picture of the Guru, is a Living Presence.
It is necessary for meditations.
Why are there so many photographs, you may ask. Different people want different
photographs, in different poses, with different backgrounds. I have to satisfy all of them. A
photograph of mine taken twenty years ago may look more youthful and may be better
technically than the photograph taken today; but the aspirant who has seen me for the first time
today insists that he should have a photograph of me as I am today and does not accept another
taken twenty years ago, however nice it may be. And then, people want to be photographed with
me; these photographs act as mementos of their visits and inspire the visitors.
Refusing to be photographed is subtle egoism. It is timidity or fear of criticism in the
garb of humility. If you have right discrimination, you will at once understand.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda