Founder

Sri Swami Satchidananda (lovingly called “Sri Gurudev” by his students) was one of the first Yoga masters to bring the classical Yoga tradition to the West. Invited to America in 1966 by iconic pop artist Peter Max, the distinctive teachings he brought with him blend the physical discipline of Yoga and the spiritual philosophy of India, as well the interfaith ideals he pioneered. Surrounded by students eager to learn from him, the Integral Yoga Institute of New York opened in1966 and grew into the global Integral Yoga® organization. In 1969, he opened the Woodstock festival and became known to an entire generation as the “Woodstock Guru.” He made 8 world tours, 20 European tours, and logged nearly two million miles of travel around the globe sharing the Yoga teachings.

Family Life

Born to a spiritual family in South India in 1914, Sri Satchidananda’s childhood was filled with visiting swamis, poets, and artists. Sri Gurudev spent his early years studying and working in such diverse fields as agriculture, cinematography, and electronics. He was successful in all of them, yet he chose to give up a personal life for a life dedicated to inner peace, spiritual knowledge, and communion with God. He studied with some of India’s greatest saints and sages including many South India siddhas, Sri Ramana Maharshi, Swami Ramdas, and his own spiritual master, the world-renowned Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj of Rishikesh, Himalayas.

Early Service

When Sri Gurudev was sent by Sri Swami Sivananda to serve in Sri Lanka, it was not long before the first Satchidananda Thapovanam (ashram) was founded by students who wanted to learn more from him. The impact of his service was felt throughout the country, which he traveled for the next 13 years, sharing the teachings of Yoga with one and all—from college students to plantation owners and workers to police forces—and advocating for women’s rights and the end of dowries. In 1966, he was invited to visit the West, where his deep spiritual realization made a profound and lasting impression. Once again, he was soon surrounded by sincere students inspired to follow in his footsteps.

“Truth is One, Paths are Many”

Sri Gurudev was the visionary behind the Light Of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) located in the United States at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville, Virginia and in South India. The LOTUS is dedicated to the light of all faiths and to world peace and it stands as a beautiful example of the universal teachings of Sri Swami Satchidananda. Sri Gurudev sponsored innumerable interfaith symposiums, retreats, and worship services all over the world. Over the decades, his interfaith vision and advocacy was praised by many religious leaders during private audiences with several Popes and in collaborating with H. H. the Dalai Lama, Buddhist roshis, Jewish rabbis, Muslim imams, Native American leaders, among many other spiritual luminaries. He received many honors for his public service, including the Juliet Hollister Award and the U Thant Peace Award. In 2014, on the occasion of his birth centennial, he posthumously received the James P. Morton Interfaith Award as an interfaith pioneer and visionary, honored for his efforts in promoting world peace through interfaith understanding.

Ambassador of Peace

Sri Gurudev received invitations for over fifty years from around the globe to speak about the way to peace. He served on the advisory boards of numerous Yoga, interfaith and world peace organizations and met with spiritual and governmental leaders and other dignitaries including Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa, U Thant, three U.S. Presidents, and members of the U.S. Senate.

A small sampling of appreciation for his service over the years:

“It is through the work of pioneers such as Swami Satchidananda that Yoga has gained acceptance and recognition across the world.” –Sri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

“Through his many years of devotion, he enriched the lives of countless others and served as an example of faith to those in his community. His efforts made a positive difference to our world and our future.” –President and Mrs. William Jefferson Clinton

“Sri Swami Satchidananda is one of the true religious leaders I have known in my lifetime.”
–(the late) Sister Joan Kirby, R.S.C.J., Temple of Understanding, United Nations Office

“Swami Satchidananda was the pioneer of interfaith work. He really lifted it up as the way to be—that there is one Creator, one universe, one God. There are 900 million ways of getting to that unity and they all have to be respected. And he was the one who really first gave language to that conviction.” –(the late) Very Reverend James Parks Morton, President Emeritus, Interfaith Center of New York

“None of my work would have been accomplished were it not for Sri Swami Satchidananda’s inspiration, for which I remain deeply grateful.” –Dr. Dean Ornish, President, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, California

“Direct inspiration for my album, “Journey in Satchidananda,” comes from my meeting and association with someone who was near and dear to me. Swami Satchidananda was the first example I saw of universal love or God in action. He expressed a love that encompassed thousands of people.” –(the late) Alice Turiyasangitananda Coltrane, spiritual teacher, musician

“Swami Satchidananda was one of the early pioneers in bringing the knowledge of Yoga and Vedanta to this country. Had it not been for his contribution we wouldn’t have seen the popularity of Yoga that we see today, which is mainstream. I salute him for helping to change the course of the world.” –Dr. Deepak Chopra, spiritual teacher, author

“I consider Swami Satchidananda one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time.”
–Richard Gere, humanitarian and actor

“The 60s were a cosmic age of spiritual consciousness blossoming in America from the teachings of the great yogi Swami Satchidananda.” –Peter Max, pop artist icon

“Of all my most memorable guests, there have been so many, but I really liked what Swami Satchidananda told me. He made a lot of sense. There was a wonderful peace about him. He was fascinating to listen to. I never forgot that.” –(the late) Larry King, former CNN news host

“Swami Satchidananda has done more than anyone else to make the riches of the yogic tradition available to Americans of all faiths, affording them an opportunity to integrate some of the Yoga practices profitably into their own practice.” –(the late) Father M. Basil Pennington, Abbot, Spencer Abbey, Massachusetts

The Legacy of  Sri Swami Satchidananda

Sri Gurudev left his body on August 19, 2002. Today, Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville® is a growing multifaith Yoga community dedicated to his teachings and retreat center. Integral Yoga centers based on his teachings can be found on six of the seven continents. The Integral Yoga global community includes over 20,000 Integral Yoga teachers and therapists—many of whom have become trailblazers, founding successful programs. organizations, and applications of Yoga for specific populations. Integral Yoga-inspired programs include Dr. Dean Ornish’s landmark work in reversing heart disease, Dr. Michael Lerner’s noted Commonweal Cancer Help program, Sonia Sumar’s Yoga for the Special Child, and Rev. Jivana Heyman’s Accessible Yoga, among many others.

As one of the most revered Yoga masters of our time, Sri Gurudev remains a much-loved teacher and truly universal spiritual teacher, well-known for his combination of practical wisdom and humor, as well as making ancient Yoga teachings accessible for modern-day life.