The feel of Yoganusasanam

  

It’s been over a month now and the feel of Yoganusasanam in me is still alive. Though our classes in Hyderabad are at halt due to some reasons, my practice isn’t affected yet. The fuel of Geetaji’s convention is still running and I must say that my practice is going on smooth and well. Guruji always said, the beginners need some inspiration for practice and what can be a greater inspiration than Geetaji? At yoganusasanam I learned how important the basics to build up a good platform for yog sadhana are.

Geeta Iyengar’s “Yoganusasanam-December2014”, the event of the year for all Iyengar yogis across World kept in skepticism ever since it has been announced. When it was announced at the institute of Pune, it spread like a fire on internet circle and everyone got excited about it. A few days later the news of Guruji’s ill health started making rounds in the community. On 20^th August 2014 Guruji left his mortal body leaving his followers in grief. Now the skepticism began to follow on cancellation of the event.

In the month of October my teacher Smt. Zarna Mohan announced that Geetaji is going ahead with her convention and few days later the institute of Pune confirmed and the registrations were invited online for the same. Our teacher referred the names of 12 students from Hyderabad for the convention.

Organization of the event:

Ever since the announcement of the event, there was a great enthusiasm among Iyengar Yogis all over the World. Looking at the enthusiasm of people willing to participate and the short period of time they had in hand for making arrangements for such a large group of people was really a challenge for RIMYI as they had never conducted such a big event in India before. They even had to shift the earlier announced venue of Law College from Baner to a Badminton court at Balewadi stadium on the outskirts of Pune to accommodate all the participants. Within a few days of lines opening up for registration, it was known that 1000 plus yogis are going to participate from all over the World. After yoga hall, the next challenge was to provide living accommodation and food for such a huge number of participants. They have arranged nearby hotels and a hostel near Balewadi stadium to accommodate and provided lunch at the Venue itself. Some of them were living nearby the institute and for them buses have been arranged to transport to and from the stadium. Every effort has been made to make the event a success. I have been in constant touch with few of my friends in Pune who were working as volunteers for the event. They were regularly updating me on the developments out there. Hundreds of students and teachers from Pune, Mumbai and others have worked tirelessly days and nights to make it a grand success. For the first time the initiative is made from the organizers to interact with people directly on facebook page “Geetaji’s Yoganusasanam - December 2014”. All the developments were updated from time to time and many questions and doubts regarding accommodation, food, travel, transport and other such things have been regularly answered through the page. Geetaji dedicated couple of hours on day 10 at the conclusion ceremony to thank one and all who helped in making this event a success. They deserved all the applaud and appreciation as they have worked to their skin to make it the event of year.

Yoga – the Union:

People say, Yoga is the Union of Individual soul with Supreme soul. I am in no position to understand this yet. But I am certainly sure that “Yoganusasanam” has successfully helped in union and re-union of hearts of different people across the World. 1200 plus people from 58 countries have represented this event for one cause “Yoga”. We were all from different countries, states, cultures, traditions, customs but none of these divisions were seen among people. We all united for one single cause of “Yoga”. Those 10 days were like a carnival for us. Every individual had his own share of experience to take back home.

  

I called it a re-union because many people who have not seen for many-many years have met again on one platform of “Yoganusasanam”. I would like to share a very interesting story of Kumbh Mela. There is a very popular story in India that people once lost in Kumbh Mela will never meet again; because it is such a huge gathering of humans at one place. I must thank Geetaji for re-uniting some of the lost ones in Kumbh Mela. I, Mohit and Sirisha from Hyderabad once again met Manouso, Eric and Anara from US, Fanny from France and couple of others from Delhi who were lost in the Maha Kumbh Mela of Allahabad in 2013. You may be wondering what I am saying. Well, the story goes this way. During early 2013, Manouso was in Kumbh Mela for a 3 day Iyengar Yoga intensive. Due to some unknown reasons a handful of Indian students 5 from Hyderabad and 8 to 10 students from Delhi have attended that intensive and another 10 to 12 students were from US who came with Manouso.

It was just a 3 day intensive but we had great time together. To many of us it was a lifetime experience. Iyengar yoga intensive with a teacher like Manouso at the banks of river Ganga, Jamuna and Sarasvati in the backdrop of Maha Kumbh Mela and who can ask more than that. All the students and teachers including Manouso and his wife Rita have enjoyed every moment we spent together in Kumbh. Those 3 days have just gone leaving memories.

I met Manouso and Eric a few number of times in Pune but haven’t seen any other thereafter. Every time I met Manouso he was always kind enough to receive me with a big hug and his wonderful trademark laughter. It was great to see Anara and Fanny back again. Anara hasn’t forgotten any one of us and neither did Fanny, which was amazing. I met couple of others from Delhi also. It was heartening to see the Kumbh Mela batch again on the same platform.

Galaxy of Stars:

“Yoganusasanam” was filled with Galaxy of stars headed by the mega star Geeta Iyengar herself. Manouso Manos, Patricia Walden, Lois Steinberg, John Schumacher, Gabriella Guibilaro, Stephanie Quirk, Tatiana and many other famous teachers from the west were present. Most of these teachers are familiar to me through their videos and books on internet. When I used to practice without a teacher during my early days into yoga, I used to look out for help and guess who used to come up for help? It was Patricia Walden, Lois Steinberg, John Schumacher and Gabriella through videos, books and journals. I was greatly benefited by Lois Steinberg’s book on shoulders. Getting a chance to meet all of these great teachers, interact and practice alongside them in the same hall was an unbelievable feeling. Just imagine a student like me who looks after someone like Manouso, Lois, Patricia, and John for inspiration is standing alongside me in the same hall, what would be the level of his enthusiasm? Lois Steinberg, whom I silently cherished and admired all my life was standing by my side taking lessons from Geetaji was a great delight. And she is such a humble and sweet person.

             

 

Birjoo, Rajvi, Devki, Gulnaz, Abhay, Rajlaxmi, Zubeen, Uday, Raya, Abhijata, Nawaz, Sunita are the star teachers from India who are not only popular in India but also abroad. I am fortunate enough to have studied with most of these teachers in Pune. It was a great delight to see all these teachers performing asanas on stage following the instructions of Geetaji with such a grace. Every beginner should be thankful to Guruji and Geetaji for providing such an opportunity to participate in the event. Apart from Geetaji’s teachings, all these teachers demonstrating on stage, helping you, guiding you in the hall, learning with you side by side works as a great inspiration for beginners and helps in understanding the essence of practice.

            

Apart from all these teachers, there were few others like Mark Zambon who were the stars of the event. Mark Zambon is a US Marine soldier who injured his legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan. Two months after his accident he took up Iyengar yoga as a rehabilitation program. He never looked back since then. Here is a short interview of Mark that I shot in his hotel in Pune.

On day six, the little stars of RIMYI – the kids surprised the visitors by some electrifying performance.

    

The Geeta Factor:

I must mention about the Geeta factor or Geeta effect here. Every word she utters shows the level of her knowledge and experience in the subject. She sounds authoritative, practical and very real. Many people think she is a strict, fearsome and stubborn person. Some even find her arrogant. These impressions are more in the minds of western yogis. I never personally interacted with her before and never been to her classes with her, so I had no attributes of her. But I heard people saying all these about her. After attending her classes those ten days I found several facets of her personality. I am not trying to make any judgment but I found some of these facets during my observation as a raw student.

She is no doubt a strict teacher but also a very compassionate teacher who wants to give out the best and also extract complete labor out of a student. She can’t tolerate people doing casually without paying complete attention and effort. She was commanding and sometimes even demanding to get the posture done correctly. Many a times she was furious also with some people. She used to call up people on stage who were doing really bad and not let them go till she makes them do the posture correctly. In the process she might be shouting, yelling to make them do. But that is only till that moment; later she would be again a different person altogether. Her effect was such that people were really nervous to be on stage with her. I think people who were on stage during those days will definitely agree with me. It is not because she is abusing you or shouting at you personally and we all know that. But still there is some unknown fear to face her. It was seen on every individual who had been on stage. This was one facet of her personality.

   

It is not always that she shouted to make the corrections done. For instance, she called upon a lady on stage to do some asana and she was terribly scared and almost shivering. Geetaji realized that and said, “Why are you so nervous? Don’t be scared. I won’t kill you. And I can’t kill you (with jiggles). The entire stadium burst out in laughter. She gave this feeling of relaxation because she knew that lady had a limitation of her age and need to be relaxed before making her do. On another occasion, she called my friend Mohit up on stage to perform a back arch. He was nervous throughout his time on stage but she was seen very patient and soft with him because she knew he is a beginner and did really well on stage for around 10 minutes doing the back arches. She was addressing and instructing him like a friend, which was amazing. She has not let him go until she made him realize what was happening to his sacrum region while he was doing different actions in the back arch. Some people might have found boring and felt the time being wasted but she did not wanted to let him go unknown. This is a typical character we often find in Guruji. Guruji once said in an interview that he cannot just sit and watch when someone is doing a wrong posture. His heart pains when someone does something wrong. He cannot rest in peace until their mistakes are being corrected.

  

During the convention Geetaji once said, Guruji was sitting in the balcony of his room from where he can see the yoga hall. He found a person doing ardha chandrasana very badly and began to shout Raya! Abhajata! When asked what happened? Why are you shouting? You are not well Guruji, you need to rest. He said, look at that fellow; how is he doing the asana? Call Raya and Abhijata to correct him. And he did not relax until they came and corrected. This was few days before his death.” So much he loved yoga that he cannot tolerate someone doing badly. And Geetaji is the daughter of this man and how can she tolerate the same?

During one of the days, they have arranged a surprise by adding the students of children’s classes of Pune in the convention. We got an opportunity to see a new facet of her life. When she was teaching to those kids, the strict, fearsome Geetaji turned into a funny, mischievous and a bubbly child. The way she was teaching them was a delight. I once read in ‘Yoga Rahasya’ Guruji saying that you need to come down to the level of a student to make him understand. And I personally experienced Geetaji doing that; which was amazing.

    

At the end of the convention, Geetaji arranged a mass lunch for all the participants. Before beginning the lunch, addressing the students she said, “Today’s food is tomorrow’s strength; so eat well. You been here for ten days and thankfully by the grace of God, no one was injured or fallen sick. This is not the end but just the beginning, go home and practice well.” Here she sounded like a mother who cares for her children.

We all know that she is not doing well with her health these days. In spite of this, she conducted the convention and she never shown us the labor of pain she has gone through those 10 days. In fact, I observed that she looked better and better as the days progressed. She was seen little low on day one and as the days progressed she looked very enthusiastic.

Yoga Experience at Yoganusasanam:

It is very difficult to define the experience of Yoganusasanam in a single word. I believe every individual has got something from the convention and Geetaji has not let anyone go empty handed for sure. For a raw beginner like me getting an opportunity to learn from Geetaji is a blessing. Learning from one of the highest authorities of yoga is obviously a blessing to the yogi of any stature. Assumptions are on that Geetaji would retire from teaching due to her health condition and Yoganusasanam would probably be the last chance for beginners to study under her. All the beginners who participated in the event must thank Guruji because it was his idea to conduct this convention for beginners. Geetaji during her inaugural speech said, “It was Guruji who suggested conducting this convention and beginners should be given the priority. After the announcement of the event, Guruji’s health deteriorated and they felt like cancelling the event. But Guruji said, ‘No! The event must go on. If I am well I will sit aside and watch.’ But Guruji is no more in his physical body but he is definitely present here watching all of us. Wherever there is yoga, Guruji will be there.” So, true! Guruji has dedicated all his life to yoga. Thank you Guruji, we owe you so much.

It was obviously my first opportunity to learn from Geetaji. Though I practiced Geetaji’s classes from videos, the experience to be in her class is terrible. The charm, the grace, the vibrancy that Geetaji has and the tenacity to extract the best from students was mind blowing. You miss out these qualities on videos. Being in her class live is altogether a different experience.

To me Yoganusasanam is definitely going to remain a memorable event for my life, because I learned how to keep ourselves grounded and not carried away by our practice. It taught me how important the basics are. It is not always you learn and do advance postures and keep improving your flexibility and strength. It is something more than that.

Throughout the convention Geetaji taught very fundamental asanas with basic instructions which I think many would ignore. To take my personal experience for instance; when she made us go to Sirsasana with one leg up, I really struggled and had to rush to the wall to go up. The pose is explained in detail by Geetaji in her preliminary course book. Believe me; I just flipped that page thinking that as a beginner’s pose. And when I did there with one leg up, I was really struggling as if I was doing Sirsasana for the first time. Somehow I managed to go up but again I felt managing would be really a bad idea before Geetaji, so I rushed to the wall and from that moment I am practicing regularly with one leg up at home. This practice has improved my feel of Sirsasana completely.

   

Another reason for Yoganusasanam being a memorable event in my life is that I got answers for many unasked and unanswered questions of mine with regards to my personal practice, my body, my asanas and pranayamas etc. Geetaji answered all those questions without being asked as if she transcribed them from my mind; which is an amazing thing. I strongly feel many other participants might have experienced the same.

She hasn’t hesitated to shower all her knowledge and experience on the aspirants. It was a great opportunity for beginners, senior practitioners and even teachers to learn the subject and keep the values of Iyengar yoga alive. She clearly said in the very beginning of the convention “I want the students, not the teachers. Now days, everybody wants to become a teacher, nobody wants to become a student. I don’t want this.”

She was not only concentrating on beginners and senior practitioners but also some of the patients and pregnant ladies and a large number of teachers from different parts of the World. She hasn’t failed to remind all the teachers not to forget the basic qualities of teaching imparted by Guruji.

Apart from Geetaji’s teachings, we had some very interesting discussions, lectures and screenings on different facets of Guruji and other aspects of yoga and yoga practice by Abhijata, Birjoo, Rajvi and others. We also had some chanting sessions by Sunitaji. For the first time ever, I chanted the complete verses of Patanjali Yoga Sutras and it was a great feeling.

Yoganusasanam has been a great inspiration to many iyengar yogis and I wish Geetaji continues her teaching. I can only pray God to give her good health so that she continues teaching and conducting events like this. Finally I would like to thank Geetaji, Prashantji and all others who were involved in conducting this event. It was a great learning experience.

Shraddhanjali to the great Master B.K.S. Iyengar

I would like to begin with few lines from Osho’s Alpha and Omega of Yoga vol. 2. In chapter 5 “The Master of Masters” he explained how a Guru flows into you and remains in touch with you. A brief of which is as follows:

“A Master is in touch with all the four layers of the Mind – The super-conscious, the conscious, the sub-conscious and the unconscious states of mind. 

The super mind which is possibility of the future, of which only seeds you carry – nothing has sprouted – only seeds just the potentiality. 

Then the conscious mind - a very small fragment with which you reason, think, decide, argue, doubt, believe – this conscious mind is in touch with a Master to whom you have not surrendered. So whenever this is in touch, the Master is in touch. If this is not in touch, the Master is not in touch. You are a student, and you have not taken the Master as a Master. You still think about him as a teacher. 

Subconscious is just below the conscious. That is possible if you love. If you are here with me only because of your reasoning, your conscious door is open. Whenever you open it, I am there. If you don’t open it I am outside, I cannot enter. Just below the conscious is sub-conscious. If you are in love with me – not just as a teacher and a student relationship but more intimate, a love-like phenomenon – then the sub-conscious door is open. Many times the conscious door will be closed by you. You will argue against me; you will be sometimes negative; sometimes you will be against me. But that doesn’t matter. The unconscious door of love is open and I can always remain in touch with you.

The third door is below sub-conscious: that is the unconscious. Reason opens the first door- if you feel convinced with me. Love opens the second door which is the bigger than the first – if you are in love with me: not convinced, but in love – feeling an affinity, a harmony, affection. The third door opens by surrender, if you are initiated by me, if you have taken the jump into sannyas, if you have taken a jump and said to me, “Now – now you be my mind. Now you take the reins of me. Now you guide me and I will follow:” And it is very difficult to close the third door – very, very difficult. It is difficult to open, it is difficult to close. It is difficult to open, but not as difficult as to close it. But that too can be closed because you have opened it. That too can be closed as you can decide some day to take your surrender back. But that never happens, because with these three doors the Master is working to open the fourth door, the door of super-conscious.

So there is very… almost impossible possibility that you will take your surrender back. Before you have taken it, he must have opened the fourth door which is beyond you. You cannot open it, you cannot close it. The door that you open, you remain the master to close it also. But the fourth has nothing to do with you. That is the super-conscious. All these doors are needed to open so the Master can forge a key for the fourth door, because you don’t have the key, otherwise you can open it. The Master has to forge; it is a forgery because the owner himself doesn’t have the key.

Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar had always showered me with his grace. He had given me more than I have asked for. My association with Guruji is more of non-physical than physical. From nowhere he came into my life in 2009 in the form of “Light on Yoga” and initiated me to the path of Yoga. I began my yoga journey with the sequences given in “Light on Yoga”. A year later, I was guided to one of his student Zarna Mohan who is teaching in Hyderabad. Finding her as my teacher, I really felt blessed and couldn’t have asked anything more. Then I got an opportunity to meet Guruji in 2011 which I never dream off. Things in my life have changed drastically after meeting Guruji. I was touched by his simplicity, generosity and humbleness. Yoga has become a part of my life as never before. Now I can’t imagine a life without yoga. Such an impact he made into my life.

With the blessings of my teacher Smt. Zarna Mohan I had been regularly seeing Guruji since 2011. Guruji has touched millions of lives across the world individually and every individual has his own share of stories and experiences with Guruji. I have some wonderful and astonishing experiences with him which I would like to share here.

 

How can I forget the first encounter with Guruji? It was 16^th July 2011, the very next morning to Guru Poornima day. Guruji was sitting on a chair in the office waiting to get into the yoga hall for practice. We all bowed before him seeking the blessings and our teacher said, ‘go and ask Guruji if you have any questions.’ I stepped forward and called, Guruji! He looked up and said what?? Raising his famous eyebrows! I looked into his powerful eyes and stood still staring him. I had hundreds of questions all my way to Pune but at that moment all of them disappeared and I felt totally satisfied as if all my questions have been answered by his eyes.

In November 2012, we were blessed with an opportunity to participate in his 94^th birth anniversary at his birth place of Bellur. Before this I always saw him speaking in media and public gatherings. I was always anxious to know how he would be in his daily life. It was – I still remember the date, 28^th of November 2012. He was sitting alone in the lawn of his guest house. We along with some of the teachers from Mumbai went to him and took his blessings. He later asked us to sit and shared some of his experiences with Dalai Lama and few other things related to the event held the other day. All that a while he never made us feel that he is the famous Yoga Guru B.K.S. Iyengar.  I was touched by his humbleness and simplicity. Before leaving I gone on to him and said, “Guruji, all these four days here, we felt part of the family and not even for a moment felt outsiders. In fact, I felt as if I am celebrating my own grandfather’s birthday.” I still remember the grand laughter he had falling back onto his sofa on hearing that.

 

After seeing him in Bellur, I got a strong wish or you call it a desire to see him in full action, practicing his asanas. A strong wish to join the classes at RIMYI and to practice alongside Guruji in the same yoga hall he practice; took shelter in my heart. I came back home and expressed the wish with my wife to visit Pune for one month. She said, why not? Save some money and go. I said you too are coming with me. What about my school job? They don’t permit me for so long! She replied. I said, No more talking you are going to resign the job and coming with me. So, I wrote an email to Panduji seeking a registration for 3 people I, my wife Tulsi and a friend Shweta for the month of August 2013.

Guruji again blessed me with an opportunity to study at RIMYI and left out few wonderful experiences behind during that month of our stay in Pune. I stepped into the yoga hall for the first time to practice with little bit of nervousness and excitement to see Guruji in action. I slowly passed through Guruji (who was getting ready for his practice) to get my mat and belt. Suddenly Ushaji a teacher from Rishikesh, pulled my shirt and pointing a finger at Guruji said, Look! What Guruji is doing? He was doing Sirsasana and he did a very long Salamba Sirsana and Niralamba Sirsasana for almost 40 minutes. You might be thinking what’s so special about that? He often does Sirsasana for long. But this Sirsasana was special. Just the other night, I mentioned with Ushaji that I want to see Guruji doing Sirsasana from close. And I asked her whether he is practicing this now? She said; never know because he is still recovering from the viral infection that made him sick during summer. The next day she took me very close to Guruji and I can’t explain how I felt. I was wondering how Guruji knew what I wanted? Is this a coincidence or does Guruji really can read my mind? But how is it possible as I was so far and he was not aware of my presence in Pune! Later, I came to know that he hadn’t practiced Sirsasana this long ever after that.

Another shocking incident occurred at the end of the month. We were about to leave Pune and wanted to seek Guruji’s blessings before leaving. He was staying away from people and office work due to a death in his family. It was our final day of practice at RIMYI. Guruji was in Savasana when I finished my practice. After keeping the things back, I walked across Guruji and uttered in my mind. “Guruji, we are leaving tomorrow, it would have been better if we could meet you before leaving.” I usually don’t used to go back to the institute once the class and practice is over. But that day a friend of mine visited from Mumbai along with her mother. I and Tulsi wanted to gift her a book of Geetaji and she also had a ladies class in the afternoon at 4 P.M. So we decided to go to the institute. Tulsi went to the class and after purchasing the book we were waiting for her to come. All of a sudden Guruji stepped in and sat on his chair. By his gesture, it looked as if he was waiting for someone. I slowly went to him took his blessings and said, Guruji! We have come from Hyderabad studying with Zarna Mohan. With a broad smile he said, I know… I know… nodding his head. I was really surprised to hear that. I added, Guruji! We came here for one month and tomorrow we are heading back to Hyderabad. He rose both of his hands and blessed saying “God Bless You!” It was such a nice gesture that I could never forget. He was full of love and compassion for all without any discrimination.

My teacher and a group of students from Hyderabad booked our tickets to visit RIMYI for Guru Poornima in July 2014. Reports came in that the Guru Poornima program has been postponed to 4^th of August 2014 due to the absence of Geetaji and other teachers who were in China for a workshop. Further it is been reported that Guru Poornima event is cancelled as Guruji was not doing well. Many of the students got disappointed on cancellation of the event.

We were not very disappointed as we have already registered at RIMYI for the month of August 2014; though we were worried about Guruji’s health. This time we knew that Guruji is not going to be in the practice hall and went with a hope and prayers to see him in action soon. 8 to 10 people from our Hyderabad batch have decided to visit Pune but only I, Tulsi and friends Sirisha, Sridhar, Suresh and Mohit could finally make it.

I think we were the most fortunate people to be there at RIMYI experiencing and living the final moments of Guruji. We reached Pune on 31st of July 2014 and were there till 1^st of September 2014. These were the most precious and memorable days for all of us who were there. 

We experienced few strange things during our entire month’s stay in Pune. We stayed in CPS Ashram which is one of the most peaceful and pollution free places in Pune. We used to have good and intense yoga classes and practice sessions at RIMYI. We used to get really tired when we go back home after the classes and practice. In spite of all this I and Tulsi could not sleep well at nights. Some unknown restlessness and uneasiness was felt during nights and we used to wake up at mid nights which neither of us are used to. When I mentioned it to my friends, they used to say, it is because of our rest in the afternoon. Last year same time, we used to take rest for couple of hours in the afternoon and yet we used to have a deep sleep. 

Another interesting thing that strike to my observation was that Guruji used to sit at the Verandah by the side of his door and observe the visitors silently. Knowing Guruji’s condition all the students would quietly surpass him paying reverence in their hearts. One day I could not believe my eyes for what I saw. Abhijata and her father were trying to take Guruji inside the house from where he was sitting. Guruji tried to hold the door for support and he was so weak that he was not able to grip the wood. He lost all his muscles and his thin hands were shivering to hold the door. My eyes filled with tears remembering the same hands which did 40 minute Sirsasana last year at the same point of time. A couple of days later, I saw him reading news paper again at the doorstep and he was looking really good. My heart filled with joy like a flower. His appearance was better and improved. Another day I saw Raya and Abhijata helping him in his practice at home and I thought Guruji is going to get back to his best shape soon. This happiness did not last long, the very next morning it is learned that he has been hospitalized. His news of hospitalization by the media has created some tension and nervousness in the minds of his students and well wishers.

Finally that fateful morning has arrived. The memories are still afresh in my mind. 20^th August 2014, around 5 A.M. early in the morning Ushaji knocked my door calling Raaam….! Raaaaam! And believe me I immediately knew this is the news and I immediately sensed before opening the door that Guruji is no more. When she told me with unsteady breath, shaky voice and tears in her eyes that Guruji has left his mortal body this morning at 3-15 A.M., I sat on the chair with a bursting exhalation knowing what had happened. There were three things that made me sure of that news.

When a bigger tragic event is about to occur, the nature tries to indicate that before it happens. Just a day before in the afternoon, Pune experienced huge and I mean really huge rains. It has been raining continuously throughout the month but this was different. It was not a normal rain. It was something different. I experienced the same in 2003 in Nepal during my vacations to the Himalayan Kingdom a day before the Royal Massacre. It was just the same kind of rain.

The second thing was that we were very restless that night and could not sleep. The whole night I felt suffocated and dehydrated. I was waking up again and again to drink water but was of no use. When I shared these views with some of my friends and other Ashramites, they also expressed similar experiences. Even they told that they have not slept till 2 A.M. in the night. We later came to know that our teacher in Hyderabad miles away from Pune has experienced the same thing. I think many others might have experienced this no matter where they lived. A study by Scientists in America has proved that sometimes the level of mass consciousness rises before a tragic incident. The scientists in US have recorded the rise in mass consciousness of the people around New York City and Pentagon before the tragic incidence of 9/11. Guruji has touched the lives of so many people around the world; he would have definitely influenced the consciousness of all those people he loved.

The third indication was Ushaji. She would never knock at the door of someone at that hour of time until it is really important. She don’t even look at the door when she passes by, such is her habit.

I immediately informed my Ashram friend Cris about the news and asked his help to let me put up the news on facebook and other social networking sites so that people living far could know and come to see Guruji for the last time. In fact, even students of RIMYI have come to know about news only after I posted on facebook.

We then rushed to the institute for the last darshan of Guruji around 7-30 A.M. We walked into Guruji’s house and bowed on the feet of Guruji’s body for the last time. Prashantji was sitting near his feet with his eyes closed till he was taken for cremation. Geetaji and other sisters were all present with tears in their eyes. Geetaji is known as a very tough lady but she too broke into tears. I can understand what he means to her. The family has lost more than any other . Off course, the entire yoga fraternity has lost the Gem of Yoga forever.

As said, it was really an emotional atmosphere with hundreds of his followers started coming in with tears in their eyes. Some of his senior students like Birjoo, Rajvi, Devki and many others could not hold their emotions and broke into tears. Around 11-30 A.M. all the people from Mumbai and other places has began to come. My teacher boarded the first possible flight to catch the last darshan of Guruji. She reached there around 12 noon at the very last moment before Guruji was been taken to the Vaikunta cremation ground. I was observing her from the crowd; she was standing at the door to get in. She closed her eyes and broke down into tears. 

Guruji was later taken to the cremation grounds at Vaikunta amidst chant of Narayana… Naryana… Narayana..! I was calm and composed till then but the moment Guruji’s body is taken into the Ambulance amidst those chants of Narayana… Narayana by the women of Guruji’s family, tears began to flow from my eyes and I could not hold myself anymore. We then headed towards vaikunta cremation ground in an auto rickshaw.

People all around the world whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and all other religions have gathered in grief for Guruji and they remained till the cremation of his body in the graveyard. Where do you find such a sight to watch? It was a great feeling to be a part of this history is being made. It reminded me of the famous words of Robin Sharma’s father who told him before dying. “It is not relevant how many people smile when you are born, but how many people cry when you die is what matters”. Guruji has touched millions of lives across the world and everyone who was there or anywhere in the world has moved by his death. Every yogi who received the shine from this great “Sun of Yoga” will be thankful to him forever for the kind of service he did to the world of yoga.

All five of us were really fortunate to be with Guruji during his last days and to be part of his funeral proceedings. Had we were in Hyderabad, we would have never made it to his last darshan. We would have definitely come but by the time we reach everything would have finished. Moreover we got the opportunity to stay in Pune till his 13^th day ceremony. We were really destined to be there. The grace of Guruji totally showered on us.

I thought the family would keep his body for couple of days before being cremated so that all his students and well wishers would see him for the last time. But, they had some other plans. They did not keep the body long and taken him for final rites by 12 noon and was cremated his body amidst traditional chants by pundits. Prashantji being the only son gave final pyre to his body. Usually women are not allowed to the cremation ground in many south Indian Brahmin families but Geetaji and all her sisters along with other ladies were present. Guruji was always against the Hippocratic ideologies against women. In many yoga systems women are not allowed to practice yoga during menses but Guruji understood this natural phenomenon of menstruation and realized the need to help women during menses by developing special sequences of asanas to be practiced during those days.

 

Everyone left the cremation ground including the family by 4 P.M. I wanted to live every moment of this day and therefore, we have decided to stay till the last moment. I, Tulsi, Sridhar, Suresh and Sweta from Hyderabad and couple of others along with Kishore ji one of the senior teachers were left out. We sat on a wall and observed till the logs turned into ash. This was the first time for me and Tulsi to observe a cremation till the end. Amidst the logs I could see Guruji’s skull which later completely exposed out. Once the cow dung burned, even his chest exposed and the flesh was melting down as the fire catches up. If left alone the body would have remained unburned. All the 8 or 10 people including Kshoreji sitting there immediately got up, collected few logs and dung pads and covered the body and the face again. Only after that; the crown of the skull burst out emitting fumes. In India it is believed to be inauspicious to let the skull unbroken. Therefore they break the skull by piercing a stick into the skull if unbroken. Anyway keeping the beliefs apart, in this way we were blessed to take part in his final pyre also.

We then joined Kishoreji who was sitting on the other side of the wall. He became emotional and slowly began to tell his experiences with Guruji. We have learned many interesting stories about Guruji from him which I think is not appropriate to share here. 

My respect for Guruji and his family increased further by witnessing the way Guruji’s final rites been conducted. It was completely a family affair of Iyengar yogis without any hullabaloo. Guruji arrived, lived and left the world very simply leaving a legacy of his work to do all the talking. No other yogi to the best of my knowledge has so much knowledge, experience and has practiced yoga till the last breath of his life in his 90’s. There was, is and will be only one B.K.S. Iyengar incomparable and shining as long as yoga survives.

After this tragic event the institute was declared to remain closed till 2^nd of September 2014. The yoga hall was kept open with a garlanded photo of Guruji for all those visitors who have began to come from long distances and for those who could not have make it on 20^th August 2014. Prayers, bhajans and Kirtans were held the whole day by the students and teachers of the institute. A shraddhanjali program was announced on 30^th of August 2014 and a mass lunch was arranged on 1^st of October 2014 as a part of Guruji’s 13^th day Program.

 

There were no classes and we wanted to stay there till the final day of the proceedings i.e. on 1^st of September 2014, our restless souls were looking for some peace after this tragic incident. Therefore we have decided to visit Shirdi and other shrines in Nasik and Aurangabad. We travelled restlessly throughout the week in search of peace which we found nowhere. Arrived back to Pune on 30^th of August 2014 and attended the Shraddhanjali Program.

Abhijata and Prashantji spoke from the Iyengar family sharing their experiences with Guruji while Geetaji silently listen to them. Birjoo and Patricia Walden were others who addressed the gathering for a brief period of time. I am adding all these videos here so that you can watch and listen to them directly.

    

On 1^st of September 2014, we attended the lunch provided at the institute for all the visitors. Paying adieu to all our teachers at RIMYI we headed back to Hyderabad with one and only advice from them ‘Practice’ and was also the last advice of Guruji ‘the Practice’. 

Thank you Guruji for all the love and grace you showered on us. I hope this continues to the rest of our lives as well. Our heart is always filled with love for you. Thank you very much again.

Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar turns 95

 

14^th December has a special place in the hearts of Iyengar yogis all over the world.  It is on this day the 14^th of December 1918, the legendary yogaacharya Sri. B.K.S. (Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja) Iyengar was born in a remote village of Bellur in Karnataka, India.

He had a very difficult childhood as he suffered from many diseases and disorders like influenza, malaria and tuberculosis etc. He was then introduced to yoga by his guru and brother-in-law Sri. T. Krishnamacharya in order to improve his health.  He has come long way in this journey of yoga from his initial days of struggle. Today Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar and Iyengar yoga has transcended geographical boundaries and is arguably the most popular form of yoga in the world. He played a pivotal role in taking yoga to all the six continents of the world.

95^th Birthday Celebrations:

 

This was my second opportunity to participate in Guruji’s birthday after his 94^th birthday last year at his birth place of Bellur in Karnataka. His birthday celebrations are getting bigger and bigger every year. By the time I could forget the grand event in Bellur last year, a grander event was organized this year to celebrate his birthday. It was an amazing and colourful event, where all the Iyengar yogis across the World have attended.

Guruji’s birthday is like a festival for Iyengar yogis living all over the world. Iyengar yogis all over the world have reached Pune well in advance to participate in the celebrations. There was a huge attendance of Iyengar yogis that gathered at Govinda Garden, the venue for the event in Pune. As Guruji said in his speech, he doesn't remember to have ever celebrated his birthday before his 60^th birth anniversary. Since then the celebrations are getting bigger and bigger. Off course, he deserves all this love and affection and even more for the work he has done over the years. He not only popularized Iyengar yoga across the world but also has revolutionized the practice of yoga in many ways.

Highlights of the Event:

  

1. 14^th of December 2013 was the day when Guruji turned 95. It is amazing to see Guruji prepare himself for bigger events in such a terrific way. Even at this age of 95 he is unbelievably electrifying. He might have attended many rituals from early in the morning and had spent 3 hours at a stretch attending the program organized for him. Sometimes, I feel it is too much for him but we all love him so much that we can’t resist ourselves from troubling him. There was a huge crowd in the auditorium and it was requested to pay reverence all together at once from their seats in order to avoid any trouble to Guruji. Guruji himself had to stand up and speak in this regards. In spite of this, people were thronging at Guruji to touch his feet and Guruji was patiently attending them. My teacher in the past; used to say not to trouble Guruji but I never understood that until I observed Guruji from close during my stay at RIMYI for one month in August 2013. I realized that he never stops you but we must respect his age and give some space for him to live with some peace. He is a master! You need not pay reverence personally. His presence itself is a blessing for all.

2. Guruji is the gigantic Ocean of Iyengar yoga and his students teaching Iyengar Yoga are the rivers flowing in different parts of the World and the students who are learning Iyengar yoga are the small stream of water joining the rivers flowing towards the Ocean. 14^th December 2013 has witnessed the communion of these rivers and streams with the Ocean at Govinda Garden in Pune.

3. All the famous and infamous Iyengar yoga teachers and students all over the World have gathered on the occasion to wish Guruji and seek his blessings. All the big names from India and abroad were present on the occasion. Jawar Bangera, Birju Mehta, Rajvi Mehta, Firooza, Zubeen, Rajiv Chanchani, Manouso Manos, John Schumacher, Patricia Walden, Gabriella Gubilliero and many others were part of the celebrations.

4. Iyengar yoga is now like a kalpataru – a gigantic tree (like the one we saw in Hollywood movie Avatar) rooted deep and wide in soil with branches reaching sky high and wide across the World. It was a great feeling to see all those Iyengar yogis from all over the world under one roof of Iyengar yoga in Pune. The presence of Guruji and the entire Iyengar yoga family from all over the World has made the atmosphere vibrant and electrifying at the Govinda Garden of Pune.

5. Guruji addressed the gathering in his signature style by saying, “My dear children, grand children and great grand children in the field of yoga. I do not know how to thank my children and grand children; though we know how to thank our parents. I am touched by your love and affection that so many people and so many students are here today to celebrate my 95^th birthday.” Guruji addresses his direct students as children, their students as grand children and their students as great grand children and therefore he is associated with one and all that practices Iyengar yoga. He is therefore the dearest father, grandfather and great grandfather of this big Iyengar yoga family.

6. Guruji has influenced the lives of millions of people across the World with or without his knowledge. Few such students from different countries have got the opportunity to express their gratitude to Guruji on the occasion. Many of them broke out in tears while speaking. That shows how deeply Guruji has influenced their lives.

7. Speaking on the Occasion Guruji said, “What amazed me today was that my students who are even sincere and practicing yoga from 1950’s used to address “B.K.S.” as the one who beats, kicks and shouts.” The moment he said this, entire auditorium busted in laughter. He then added, “I have heard the same people and new generation practitioners from different countries saying, “B.K.S.” stands for Beauty…! Knowledge…! And Serenity...! What a transformation! Even the media in those days used to project “B.K.S.” as beat, kick and shout and the same media is appreciating my work now for transforming and transcending millions of people across the World.” The entire auditorium broke out its silence with huge claps applauding Guruji.

8. He gone on to say that he took yoga to improve his physical health in childhood. He was not sure, this practice implanted by his Guru Sri. T. Krishnamacharya would make him the missionary of yoga in taking yoga to all the 6 continents of the World. He is grateful to all his students who are responsible for making yoga popular all over the World.”

9. In spite of his popularity, name and fame you can’t find a modest man than Guruji today. During his speech he said, “At this age, admiration and appreciation do not have any weight on me. I am still a yoga student. God has made me reach a certain stage in the field of yoga and that has kept me alive, alert and active.”        

10. Guruji further said, “Those who say Iyengar yoga is only physical yoga, they are only observers who know nothing about the depth of yoga or the bhavana or the feel of a practitioner. We can see the death but we cannot experience death, we can see the time but we cannot experience the time. Similarly those who call my system as physical yoga, do not know anything because they do not know or experienced the time or seen the totality of death.”

11. Guruji was suffering from upper respiratory infection for some time now. He was seriously ill during last summer and was coughing frequently during our stay at Pune in the month of August 2013. Throughout the evening on his birthday Guruji appeared perfectly fit and he wasn't seen coughing at all. This shows a great sign of improvement in his health. But only factor that worried me was his losing weight. Guruji has lost lot of flesh from his body and has become very thin ever since we left him in August’13. Color of his skin also turned dark. However, it is very difficult to judge the level of Guruji’s health by his appearance. As my teacher once told us that his upper respiratory infection is quite old from his 60’s which he is coping it well.

12. Another heartening thing was the presence of Geetaji in the event. I hadn't seen for some time Geetaji participating in the events even at the institute due to her sickness. Geetaji has recovered well from what we have seen her in August.

 

13. I thank Guruji from the bottom of my heart for letting me shoot him once again through my camera. I really enjoy filming Guruji because he offers you so many moods and emotions in quick succession. I really enjoy his smile and I am glad to capture those wonderful moments in my camera.

14. Apart from Guruji’s birthday, it was like a reunion with some of our old friends and teachers from RIMYI. We had great time talking to our teachers like Abhay Ji, Kishore Ji, Devki Ji and Panduji, Mandharji, Parvez ji and ever smiling Zareenji from RIMYI and other teachers like Manouso Manos, Rita and Eric whom we met at Kumbh Mela 2013 in Allahabad, Ushaji and Rudra Ji from Rishikesh etc.

The event ended after dinner that was served to all the visitors who have attended from different parts of the World. All the Iyengar yogis flew back to their homes with a hope to see another such grand event next year; wishing Guruji for his long life so that he showers some more light on us with is knowledge and wisdom.