Yogamaharishi Swami Gitananda

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Early years

Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj was born on 24 July 1907, in

Sindhi father. His father, Sukraj Bhavanani, was a High court Advocate in the Patna High Court and an extensive landowner. His mother Leelavathi was converted to Hinduism through the Arya Samaj rites. Yogamaharishi received his early schooling at home from his mother. His mother died when he was eight years of age. When he was ten years, his Guru, Yogamaharishi Swami Kanakananda Bhrigu, (Ram Gopal Majumdar) entered his life. For six years, he studied in the Guru Kula of his Master, imbibing not only the traditional education, but also Yoga, Tantra and Yantra
.

When he was sixteen, his Guru sent him to England to study medicine. After receiving his medical degree, he entered the

British Royal Navy to serve as a ship's doctor during World War II. He was injured during the war, and used the time recuperating to further his medical education. He immigrated to Canada and set up his practice there, also establishing Yoga schools and centres wherever he lived. Pujya Swamiji was one of the pioneers to introduce Yoga to the Western mind in the early 1950s. He also hosted visiting Yoga Gurus and Swamijis at his centre in Vancouver. In addition to his medical practice, he traveled widely lecturing and teaching. He worked several years for the US Atomic Energy Commission in the United States and also took up assignments for World Health Organization in South America
.

Ananda Ashram

He returned to settle permanently in

Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Tradition of South India
.

Pujya Swamiji became an active fighter for Hindu rights and leader of the Hindu community in addition to his many other numerous duties. He served as vice president of the All India Association of Maths and Ashrams under the presidency of Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal the senior Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Petam.

Achievements

He wrote twenty-five books on the subjects of Yoga[1] and made ten world tours and more than twenty All India tours. He was known as the Lion of Pondicherry.[2]

Pujya Swamiji was Patron and President of many Yoga and Scientific Organisations World Wide. Notably he was Patron of the Indian Academy of Yoga with headquarters at the famous Banaras Hindu University. He was President of Vishwa Yoga Samaj, a World Wide Organisation of Yogis, and Vice President of the All India Association of Madathiapathis. He was also the Governor-General for Yoga (1992–1995) in the World development Parliament (Vishwa Unnayan Samsad) with headquarters in West Bengal, India. He trained many students in Rishiculture Ashtanga (Gitananda) Yoga. His students have established more than 135 centres of Yoga in 30 countries around the world.[3]

He received many honors in his lifetime. He was chosen by the

Government of Pondicherry
has also instituted Yoga teaching in all Government schools from 1997.

Pujya Swamiji collaborated with many films makers in making educational films on Yoga, including the famous film MUDRAS by Rajiv Mehrotra. He also was the guiding spirit behind the immensely popular television series YOGA FOR YOUTH, directed by Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani which has been broadcast for several years from 1989 over Doordarshan, India's national television network.

Swamiji was a scientist and researcher and presented more than thirty papers on his scientific research into Yoga at various Conferences throughout India. He collaborated with scientists from leading institutes throughout the country including

JIPMER
in Pondicherry.

His work is carried on by his son and successor Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani[5][6][7][8] under the guidance of Ammaji Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani[9] who is current Resident Acharya ICYER at Ananda Ashram.[10]

Publications

[11]

  1. Yoga Life: Monthly Journal
  2. Yoga: Step-By-Step[12][13]
  3. Yoga Samyama
  4. Yoga Life Annual
  5. Yoga World Wide Directory 1992
  6. Siddhis and Riddhis
  7. Yoga For Expectant Mothers And Others
  8. Yoga:One Woman's View
  9. Yoga and Sports
  10. Surya Namaskar
  11. Yantra
  12. Tribute to a Great Guru
  13. A Heart That Is Distant
  14. Frankly Speaking
  15. The Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali
  16. A Yogic Approach to Stress
  17. Yoga and Modern Man
  18. A Primer of Yoga Theory
  19. Yoga: 1 to 10
  20. Yoga For Breathing Disorders
  21. Hatha Yoga of Gitananda Yoga (Tamil)
  22. Gita Inspirations (Poetry & Short Articles By Swamiji)
  23. Mudras
  24. Thirukkural and Yoga
  25. Yoga for Weight Loss
  26. Chakras
  27. Yoga For Health and Healing
  28. Pranayama in Gitananda Tradition
  29. Yoga and Wellness
  30. Understanding the Yoga Darshan[14]
  31. Yoga for a Wholistic Personality
  32. Yoga Chikitsa: The Application of Yoga as a Therapy[15]
  33. Saraswati's Pearls –Dialogues on the Yoga of Sound[16]
  34. Yoga Dristhi[17]

References

  1. ^ "*** ICYER ***". icyer.com.
  2. ^ "Yogarishi Dr. Swami Gitananda: "The Lion of Pondicherry" Attains Mahasamadhi at Age 88 - Magazine Web Edition March 1994 - Publications - Hinduism Today Magazine". www.hinduismtoday.com. March 1994.
  3. ^ "*** ICYER ***". www.icyer.com.
  4. ^ "International Yoga festival - Pondicherry". Webindia123.com.
  5. ^ "Log into Facebook". Facebook. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  6. ^ "Yogacharya AB Bhavanani". www.slideshare.net.
  7. ^ "Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani - YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  8. ^ "CYTER of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth - YouTube". www.youtube.com.
  9. ^ "Log into Facebook". Facebook. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  10. ^ "Log into Facebook". Facebook. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  11. ^ "ICYER". icyer.in.
  12. ^ "yoga step by step by yogarishi Dr. swami gitananda — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists". www.goodreads.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2016.
  13. ^ "YOGA: STEP-BY-STEP by Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri". 23 November 2015.
  14. ^ "UNDERSTANDING THE YOGA DARSHAN (An exploration of the Yoga Sutra of M…". 19 August 2014.
  15. ^ "YOGA CHIKITSA: Application of Yoga as a THERAPY (Sample pages)". 26 August 2014.
  16. ^ "Saraswati Pearls: Dialogues on the Yoga of Sound". 21 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Yoga Drishti of Swami Gitananda Giri". 6 July 2014.

External links

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