Videos
Introduction to yoga by Aravinda K
Interview with
Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani
Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani is a postgraduate doctor, teacher of ashtangayoga, yoga therapist, researcher of the effects of yogic practices on the human constitution, bharathanatya dancer, classical singer, mrudanga player, and above all, a proud son following the footsteps of his great parents, Dr. Swami Geethananda Giri and Yogacharinee Smt. Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani. Dr. Ananda is currently the chairman of the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research at Ananda Ashram, Pondicherry, India (www.icyer.com). He is also the chairman of Yoganjali Natyalayam, the premier institute of Yoga and Carnatic Music and Bharatanatyam, which was established in Pondicherry in 1993 (www.rishiculture.org). In addition, Dr. Ananda is the Deputy Director of the Center for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research (CYTER) at MGMCRI, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth University, Pondicherry.
Dr. Ananda holds the following educational qualifications: MBBS, ADY, DSM, DPC, PGDFH, PGDY, FIAY, MD (AM). He has written many books and has presented many DVDs on yoga, and in addition, has written more than a hundred research articles on yogic practices, and has given many interviews all over the world. It was his gesture of kindness that he provided me with the blanket permission to use his articles and videos in our website. A video of his latest interview is available here. Some of his prominent articles are available for download in the Publications tab, on this website.
Aravinda K.
05.06.2016
Interview with
Sri Kapardhi Siddhalinga Shivayogi
Sri Kapardhi Siddhalinga Shivayogi is living in Yogavana hills, a small ashram situated off Kanakapura Road, about 30 KM from Bengaluru. He has been staying there since 1995 and has been spearheading the cause of educating the people on herbal medication and its benefits to humankind. He has a small hospital in which there is a rare stock of herbal medicines for many common as well as chronic diseases. Many of the formulations are his own, which he has learnt by the lineage of gurus. To mention some of the medicines: Shuddha shoucha, Keshavardhaka thaila, Soundaryavardhini thaila, Lakwa thaila, Maladwara thaila, Danthadhavana choorna, Shakthi choorna, eye drops, ear drops, nasal drops, and so on. He has a special formulation of herbs called Sarasa Kashaya, whose intake is highly useful for blood purification, and for eradicating the skin diseases and allergies.
To promote healthy living, Swamiji conducts workshops of one-day duration at Yogavana Hills, in which he imparts the knowledge of self-healing, naturopathy and meditation, and the additional simple methods by means of which one can lead a disease-free and happy life. A video of his interview in Kannada is available here.
Aravinda K.
24.08.2016
Yogacharya Aravinda Koithyar on "Living Yoga" during SBV IDY 2017
The International Day of Yoga 2017 was celebrated at Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (Deemed University accredited with ‘A’ Grade by NAAC), Pondicherry, from 19-23 June 2017, as per guidelines issued by UGC and Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India. On the final day of June 23, National Seminar-cum-Workshop on “Role of Yoga in prevention, management and rehabilitation of chronic diseases” was held, with lectures, demonstrations, workshops and panel discussion by eminent experts. During the inaugural session, Yogacharya Aravinda Koithyar, of Shreyas Centre for Yoga, Bangalore, presented an invited talk on Yogic lifestyle.
Yogamaharshi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj
Yogamaharshi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj describes the unbroken lineage of Rishiculture Yoga, in this video at Sri Kambaliswamy Madam, Pondicherry, India. This video is an archival footage from 1984, and the video recording courtesy is from his illustrious student, Yogiraj Arunanatha Giri of South America. Vande Guru Paramparam.
Audios
My friend and ex-colleague Mr. Anandteerth S. Mathad is currently working as Assistant Professor at Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, and in addition, is involved in the teachings of Indology, in his spiritual school called as “PATHASHALA”. Every weekend, he spends quality time along with his team, teaching and learning Indian history, philosophy and culture. They together perform bhajans and classical music sessions, being aimed at bringing out the true essence of devotion, by means of Bhakthi-sangeetha. The main holy scriptures being studied in the school are – Bhagavadgeetha, Brahmasoothra, Ten Principal Upanishads, Bhashyas on Brahmasoothra (Shankara, Ramanuja and Madhwa), Moola Ramayana, and in addition, Sthothras from various sources. Mr. Anandteerth S. Mathad has been studying Madhwa and other philosophies formally since last 13 years. His initial spiritual studies started right from childhood, and happened under the guidance of his father Shri Pandith Srinivasacharya S. Mathad. Later on, Kavya and Sahithya adhyayana was under the guidance of Shri Pandith Pradyumnachar D. Pujar, and the core vedanthic and social adhyayana happened under the guidance of Shri Pandith Madhwacharya Mokhashi, at Sarvajna Vihara Vidyapeetha, Vijayapura. He visited our centre on 22.02.2015, and delivered a beautiful talk on “Introduction to Brahmasoothra” in Kannada. The audio version of my friend’s talk on Brahmasoothra is available here.
Aravinda K.29.06.2016
Shreemathi Veena Nagaraja is an excellent Samskrtha teacher. She is also a narrator as well as orator of spiritual texts and Holy Scriptures. She holds a postgraduate degree (M. A. in Economics), and is certified as “Hindi Visharada”. In addition, she has the certifications of Samskrtha examinations that are conducted by “Surasaraswathee sabha”, Shrngeri. Further, she possesses the skills of singing classical music and playing Veena.
During her school and college days, she had participated in Kannada, Hindi and English elocution competitions, and had secured prizes and gold medals. She had also served as “Bouddhikha pramukha” in Rashtreeya Sevika Samithi, Bhadravathi. Later on, she has served as Samskrtha teacher in “Sandeepanee sadhanalaya”, Chinmaya mission, Povai, Mumbai, under the guidance of Revered Swami Chidanandaji. She has also served as Samskrtha lecturer for two years at M. S. Ramaiah Degree College, Bengaluru.
Beyond all these achievements, Shreemathi Veena Nagaraja has acted as a narrator for more than 30 years, for the Gamaka rendering of her father “Karnataka kalashri” Gamaka vidwan Shree K. L. Narayanaswamy. In 1988, along with her father, she had narrated “Shree Shankara vijaya” at Shrngeri mutt, in front of the two holy pontiffs (Shree shree shree Abhinava Vidyatheertha and Shree shree shree Bharatheetheertha), and had obtained their blessings. She has given “Vanitha vihara” program on Bengaluru and Mumbai Radio stations.
She has conducted Samskrtha and Bhagavadgeetha classes of Bharatheeya Vidya Bhavan (Mumbai), at “Shree Saraswathee samskrtha vidyalaya”, Shree Kashi mutt, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. At “Himanshu Jyothi kalapeetha”, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, she has successfully completed the classes of Shree Lalitha sahasranama and Shree Vishnu sahasranama.
The book which she had written on the life of her father, “Narayanaswamiyavara baduku-baraha”, was released at “Gandhi sahithya sangha”, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, and the book was appreciated by the public. She has composed many spiritual poems in Samskrtha and Kannada. Out of them, 90 devotional poems have been published in the form of a book called “Divya mangala krthigalu”, and along with music composition, a CD called “Lasyalahari” has been released.
She continues her work of giving narrations as well as speeches on many spiritual poems as well as texts, at various spiritual centers of Bengaluru. At present, she is regularly delivering lectures on spiritual topics at “Adhyathma Prakasha Karyalaya”, Thyagarajanagar, Bengaluru. She is also delivering lectures on “Mankuthimmana Kagga”, at Gandhi sahithya sangha, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. She continues her classes on Shree Lalitha sahasranama and Shree Vishnu sahasranama at “Himanshu Jyothi kalapeetha”, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru.
She visited our centre on 07.07.2019, and delivered a beautiful talk on “The necessity of spirituality and the necessity of learning Samskrtha language” in Kannada. The audio version of my teacher’s talk on Samskrtha is available here.
Aravinda K.
17.08.2019
Bhishak Kavitha, grand-daughter of an Ayurveda Pandit, studied at Bangalore Government Ayurveda Medical College and graduated in the year 2000. Through and after the graduation course as well as during her internship, she worked as an associate to Dr. Sathyanarayana Bhat P. and to Dr. B. R. Ramakrishna. Later took up clinical practice, before commencing a career at Himalaya Wellness Company for a brief period. Keeping high interest in educating people on healthy lifestyle, resumed clinical practice since 2012.
She vouches on Classical (Generic) medicine over Patent Medicines. Her prescriptions consist mostly of Classical medicine and her treatment has not just medicines, but guidance on food (including home remedies) and lifestyle. During both of the COVID waves, she has treated many Corona Positive cases successfully.
She visited our centre on 02.04.2023, and delivered a beautiful talk on “The basic concepts of Ayurveda and their implementation in daily life” in Kannada. The audio version of her talk is available here.
Aravinda K.
05.04.2023
Dr. Sathyanarayana Bhat P. was born on 01.02.1956 in Ballamanja, Belthangadi taluk, Dakshina Kannada district. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Ayurveda securing first rank and gold medal, from Government Ayurveda College, Mysuru. He obtained MD in Ayurveda in 1980, from Government Ayurveda College, Bengaluru. He also has PhD in sasyashasthra from Bengaluru University. He worked in various positions in different Government organizations, and his last tenure was as Principal of Government Ayurveda College, Mysuru.
He has written more than 5000 articles, and more than 100 books. After retirement, now he enjoys living amidst nature; he has his farmland at Tribhuvana gate, Edapadi, Mala Village, Karkala taluk, Udupi district. He grows various medicinal plants at the place, and also offers Ayurvedic consultation to the patients with different ailments. In addition, he arrives at Bengaluru as well, once in a month during pushya nakshathra, and offers swarnaprashana treatment as well as Ayurvedic consultation at Guru Ayurvedic Centre, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru.
We visited his farmland on 12.11.2023, and had a very nice interaction with him. The audio version of our interaction is available here.
Aravinda K.
15.01.2024
Soan’s farm at Bannadka, Moodabidri taluk, is a wonderful place, a sanctuary for exotic fruit and flower bearing trees. This is a great treat for nature’s lovers, with Botanical garden as well as nursery. This farm was the venture of Basel Mission, as pilot agricultural project in 1926, under the leadership of Rev. Fischer, a missionary based in Karkala. Alfred Soans, who had studied Agriculture at the Allahabad Agricultural Institute in the year 1928, was employed in that year itself to vigorously pursue the project. He brought in many innovations like inter-cropping with several new crops, and eventually he was given charge of the farm on a lease. After 1947, innovations like farm mechanization and improved irrigation practices, made possible the expansion of the farm from 46 acres to nearly a hundred acres.
After the demise of Alfred Soans in 1981, the farm was being looked after by his son, Livingston Chandramohan Soans, who was born in 1934. He had found it practical to earn a Doctorate in 1966 in Agro Research from University of Montana, USA. Then onwards, Dr. L. C. Soans introduced several new crops in the farm that are grown in the tropical regions of the world namely: Rambutan, Mongosteen, Durian, Longan, Langsat and Rambi from Malaysia and Thailand, Egg fruit from South America, and Macadamia nut from Australia.
Dr. L. C. Soans was conferred with the ‘Best Horticulturist Award’ by the Karnataka Government. He was also the recipient of Alumnus Award of the year 2000 given by the University of Montana, USA. He was the first non-American to receive the award. In the farmland, Dr. L. C. Soans was supported by his younger brother Irwin Soans, an expert fruit Technologist, who had been intensively trained by CFTRI, Mysuru. Vinod Soans, the third son of Dr. L. C. Soans, is a post graduate in Agriculture, and did a special stint on horticulture in Northern Australia.
After the demise of Dr. L. C. Soans in April 2023, Irwin Soans and Vinod Soans are a vital part of the farm now, and are the supporting pillars to continue the family traditions. The commercially available products in the Soans Farm now are: Pineapple, Coconut, Pepper, Mango, Guava, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Mace, Vanilla, Banana, Rambutan, Mangosteen, Durian, Barbados cherry, Surinam cherry, Passion fruit, Cocoa, Bamboo, Jack fruit, Rangoon Cherry, Star fruit, Rose apple, Custard apple, Egg fruit, Mulberry, Allspice, Clove, Cashew nut, Breadfruit, Butter fruit, Gooseberry, Yam, Arecanut, Coffee and different varieties of ornamental and fruit Plants. Processed pure juices of fruits are also available.
We visited this beautiful place on 12.11.2023, and we had a nice view of the place along with a jeep ride, driven by Vinod Soans himself. The audio version of our interaction is available here.
Aravinda K.
15.01.2024
ಶ್ರೀ ಶ್ರುತಿಪ್ರಿಯ ಅವರು ೧೯೫೩ರಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಸೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಜನಿಸಿದರು. ಇವರು ಗಾಂಧಿವಾದಿ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಚಾರವಾದಿ ಪದ್ಮಭೂಷಣ ಡಾ।। ಎಚ್. ನರಸಿಂಹಯ್ಯನವರ ಗುರುಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದ ದಿ. ಸು. ವೆಂಕಟಾಚಲಯ್ಯನವರ ಶಿಷ್ಯರು. ಅವರಿಬ್ಬರಿಂದಲೂ ಪ್ರಭಾವಿತರಾಗಿರುವ ಇವರು ಹೊಸೂರಿನ ಡಾ।। ಎಚ್. ನರಸಿಂಹಯ್ಯ ನ್ಯಾಷನಲ್ ಪ್ರೌಢಶಾಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಿ, ಆಮೇಲೆ ಗೌರಿಬಿದನೂರು ನ್ಯಾಷನಲ್ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಪದವಿ ಪಡೆದು, ಮೈಸೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತ ವಿದ್ವತ್ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತೇರ್ಗಡೆಯಾಗಿ, ೧೧೮ ವರುಷಗಳ ವಿದ್ವಾಂಸ ಪಂ।। ಸುಧಾಕರ ಚತುರ್ವೇದೀ ಅವರ ಗರಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪಳಗಿದವರು. ಚತುರ್ವೇದೀಯವರೇ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಉಡುಪಿಯ ವೇದಪ್ರಕಾಶದಲ್ಲಿ ೧೮ ವರುಷ ಉಪಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿ, ೧೯೯೪ರಿಂದ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ವಿಶ್ವೇಶ್ವರಪುರುದ ಆರ್ಯಸಮಾಜವು ಹೊರತರುತ್ತಿರುವ ವೇದತರಂಗದ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇವರು ೧೯೯೭ರಿಂದ ೨೦ ಬೃಹತ್ ಸಂಪುಟಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಲ್ಕೂ ವೇದಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊರತರುತ್ತಿರುವ ವೇದಭಾಷ್ಯ ಸಮಿತಿಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದು, ಈ ಯೋಜನೆಯ ಸಂಪಾದಕರೂ ಆಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸ್ವತಃ ಅಥರ್ವವೇದದ ಎರಡು ಸಂಪುಟಗಳಿಗೆ ಭಾಷ್ಯ ರಚಿಸಿರುವ ಇವರು ವೇದಜ್ಯೋತಿ ಅಥವಾ ಚತುರ್ವೇದಶತಕಮ್, ಪ್ರಭುದರ್ಶನ, ಮಹಾಮಂತ್ರ ಗಾಯತ್ರೀ, ಸುಖೀಗೃಹಸ್ಥ ಭಗವಾನ್ ಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣ, ವೇದೋಪದೇಶ ಮೊದಲಾದ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನು ರಚಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಯೋಗಗುರು ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ರಾಮದೇವ್ ಅವರ ಯೋಗಚಿಕಿತ್ಸಾರಹಸ್ಯವೇ ಮೊದಲಾದ ಕೃತಿಗಳ ಅನುವಾದಕರೂ ಹೌದು. ಜಾತಿಪದ್ಧತಿಯ ವಿಕೃತಿಗೆ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಇರುವುದೇ ಆದರೆ, ವೇದಮೂಲದ ತಾತ್ತ್ವಿಕತೆಯಿಂದ ಸಾಧ್ಯ ಎಂಬ ಎಂಬ ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಇರುವ ಇವರು, ಮಾನವನ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗತ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕೌಟುಂಬಿಕ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ವೈಶ್ವಿಕ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳಿಗೆ ವೇದಗಳ ಸಂದೇಶಗಳು ಕ್ರಿಯಾತ್ಮಕವಾಗಿವೆ ಎಂಬುದನ್ನು ಅನುಷ್ಠಾನಗೊಳಿಸುವುದೇ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡು ಅದಕ್ಕಾಗಿಯೇ ತಮ್ಮ ಜೀವನವನ್ನು ಮುಡಿಪಿಟ್ಟ ಧೀಮಂತ.
ಅರವಿಂದ ಕೆ.
೧೫-೦೯-೨೦೨೪