On 5th May 2024, Swamiji informed me that from 7th April 2025 to 27th April 2025,I will be with you in Tamilnadu! For a flash of a moment, I couldn’t believe my ears, twenty one days with Swamiji in Tamilnadu! That night, I prayed to Sri Swamiji and Swami Sivanandaji, and to my Guru Swami Niranjan, the vision of Swamiji traveling to important cities manifested in the mind and the locations where the program should be arranged also flashed in the mind. When the names of the cities were informed, Swamiji approved them and additionally asked me to organize in Vijayawada too, along with the five cities that were proposed . I had the good fortune of organizing the auspicious Bharath Yoga Yatra in six locations across South India. This has been the most amazing experience to bring Swamiji to these wonderful cities of Tamilnadu! Vijayawada, Chennai, Pondicherry, Trichy, Madurai and Coimbatore are the cities that were blessed this time, to host the Bharath Yoga Yatra of Swamiji!
Next day when the proposed plan for the yatra was shown to Swamiji, it was approved provisionally. I had to coordinate the program with the help of these people. One year time was available before me to collect a team that would work together to make the event a befitting offering at the lotus feet of our beloved Guru Parampara.
The persons who would organize the program in respective cities, appeared vividly in my mind. When I spoke to them all of them were more than willing to involve themselves, but had very little experience, particularly it was a program where Swamiji would be present on the stage. It is a Bihar School of Yoga Program to be conducted in the manner in which ashram would organize the program. Even though the task at hand had appeared so big, there was no need to re consider anyone in any one of the locations.
The news that Swamiji would be visiting Tamilnadu and be with us was informed to the members of Seva Shibiram. A thrill, and a sense of embarking on a project of such grandeur and multiple locations with so many aspects and intricacies and layers of logistics and communications stood in front of us like a huge mountain!
For each location a main coordinator was identified. A local person who has learnt Satyananda Yoga and had been associated with our tradition for at least a decade had agreed to take the effort and all of them needed inputs, guidance, direction, support. Over the next twelve months, we had to conceive and deliver six programs within a period of 21 days.
I visited each city at least three times as a preliminary visit to the city, to have an understanding of the strengths, capabilities, needs and resources that could be locally garnered and other probable volunteers who could support the event in whatever capacity that they could were being met. It took us three to six months to assemble our seva teams in each of the city. During the visits, local volunteers, who had no connection with the tradition, with no introduction to yoga were integrated into our team of local sevaks.
We were guided to organize small sized programs, with participant size not exceeding 500 in each venue. The purpose of the program was to establish a positive connection with the people of each city, with the original teachings of the parampara, that too directly from the Guru’s and not indirectly through teachers. Swamiji wanted to have a personal and intimate connection with the participants, rather than having thousands of people sitting like a sea in large stadiums.
We were directed to communicate about the Experiential Satyananda Yoga Progam only through our website and use of social media platforms were prohibited from being used to deploy communication. Most of the city coordinators were apprehensive about reaching out to sufficient aspirants with such restrictions.
Yatra Data
Swamiji traveled over 5500 kilometers to make this Yatra! 5102 eyes met with Swamiji’s eyes and the eyes of 633 people were given a new vision by the Mantra Diksha Swamiji that they received from Swamiji. 433 sevaks involved themselves in coordinating the mammoth yatra. The message that Swamiji is undertaking the Bharath Yoga Yatra to Tamilnadu was reached out to over 1,00,000 people in Tamilnadu, through word of mouth and personal invitation.
Experiential Satyananda Yoga program for two full days was conducted in six locations by Swamiji and under his guidance by the Satyananda Yoga teachers of Tamilnadu. The message of Manah Prasad – Being Happy at all times and all situations and being in Japa were given to all participants. Swamiji spent about 500+ hours of his time in Tamilnadu during the yatra and participants across the six cities had the good fortune of being in the presence of Swamiji for over 96 hours during the 21 days Yatra.
Satyananda Yoga in Vijayawada
Swami Bhakti Chaitanya Saraswati has been a humble and simple disciple devout to his Guru, Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati and Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati. He has been teaching since early 1980’s in Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu. He was initiated into Poorna Sannyasa by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati in 1989. He has travelled with his Guru across the length and breadth of India and has accompanied his Gurus on their international tours too.
Swami Bhakti Chaitanya devotes his time in propagating the scientific wisdom of Satyananda Yoga far and wide. Organizes Satsangs to focus on the hidden treasures of Upanishads, Bagavad Gita and out Epics. Swamiji conducts, Havan, Pooja and retreats and Yoga courses, bringing the ancient teachings with a scientific and modern view for the benefit of public at large. Thousands of people have benefitted at all levels of their personality, through the initiatives taken by Swamiji.
Swami Bhakti Chaitanya has undertaken several yatras to Bihar School of Yoga and Rikhiapeeth, along with his disciples and created opportunities for many people to connect with our Revered Guru Parampara.
Swami Satyananda Yoga Ashramam dedicated to the Bihar School of Yoga tradition was founded by Swami Bhakti Chaitanya in 1989 on the banks of the historic Krishna River, in Amaravati Karakatta, in Tadepalli, in Andhra Pradesh. It is the only dedicated ashram in Andhra and Telengana to connect the people of both the states to Bihar School of Yoga.
Satyananda Yoga course are offered in several places in Vijayawada by the students of Swami Bhakti Chaitanya. Guided by him over the last two decades, Shridharana has been teaching Satyananda Yoga in Vijayawada.
These two persons and over twenty disciples of our tradition assembled in Shri Dharana Yoga Sikshanalayam, when I visited Vijayawada first time. I gave the details of the program and guidelines that were received from ashram. After this meeting there was a jolt to the group, they realized that the program in not just another program. It was a historic program. They also responded very well with adaptability and eagerness.
Three visits to Vijayawada and a series of online meetings and thousands of calls over the next ten months helped to collect a great team of sevaks in Vijayawada. A team of over 75 sevaks of Vijayawada and a core team of ten sevaks from SYC-Chennai, hosted a historic Bharath Yoga Yatra in Murali Resort in Vijayawada.
Two in person and several online trainings for kirtan were conducted. People from Hyderabad and Vijayawada were trained for ashram kirtans. The last training happened on 29th March 2025 with three sevaks from Chennai, visiting Vijayawada and having a marathon of kirtan singing. We were confident that the kirtan team would be able to pull of an uplifting kirtan experience for participants.
The message about Swamiji’s historic visit to Vijayawada was shared with over thirty thousand people in Vijayawada, Andhrapradesh and in Telengana. A dedicated page with stringent guidelines was developed and sent to aspirants.
Over 550 registrations were received, after filtering 488 persons registration were approved. Originally a smaller hall with over 250 capacity was arranged, however when we realized that 500+ persons had to be accommodated, a larger venue had to be looked for. Finally a sprawling venue that could accommodate about 700 persons on yoga mats was re-booked.
For the organizers, this was like a wedding celebration of all their families! I had to contain their enthusiasm and mellow down the way in which they wanted to express their gratitude and happiness. The program had to happen in resonance with the guidelines given by Ashram, rather than how they wanted to celebrate the occasion.
On 8th April 2025, when Swamiji’s vehicle entered Murali Resort campus, the reverberation of the three mantras chanted by the 500+ people in the venue filled the entire environment and it was as though a Nada Swagatam was being accorded to Swamiji in Vijayawada.
Out of their veneration for Swamiji, participants appeared like they were frozen in the first round of satsang, but the kirtans and yoga nidra did the magic and evening when Swamiji arrived at the venue and during the remaining sessions, participants poured their adoration and love for Swamiji.
Divya Paduka Aradhana
Throughout the Bharath Yoga Yatra in Tamilnadu, the Divya Paduka of Sri Swamiji also made a Anugraha Yatra along with Swami Niranjan. At every venue an Acharya of the tradition, performed the Divya Paduka Aradhana to the chant of Guru Paduka Stotram, Guru Stotram and Sivananda Mangalam. In Vijayawada, the Divya Paduka Aradhana was performed by Swami Bhakti Chaitanya and Shridharana. Sandal paste and vermillion were applied to the Divya Paduka, Garlands and flowers were offered and incense was waved as the chants were being done by all the participants.
The Divya Padukas Aradhana brought the deep and intimate connection with the Guru Parampara and at all the venues, on the second day, all participants offered flowers to the Divya Padukas and offered sashtanga namaskar to the padukas and thus felt the proximity and received the blessings of the Guru Parampara.
Message of Bharath Yoga Yatra
Swamiji’s Satsangs touched upon several range of topics that are relevant to people living in the society. From simple topics of Asana & Pranayama which Swamiji elucidated to suit the level of each group of participants in different locations.
The scientific research that was were undertaken in the decade of thee 1960-1970 on the effects of asana and pranayama on the physiological and psychological dimensions and the application of yoga in Therapy, Self development, education, stress management and other such research that are useful and relevant to humanity were enumerated.
Swamiji also talked upon Yoga Nidra, his experiences in Yoga Nidra, gave inputs about scientific research that has been undertaken and the efficacious outcomes that has helped the society in many ways. Samiksha meditation was also introduced for effective self transformation.
The need for yogic approach to management of the mental dimension, as a method of self transformation was emphasized by Swamiji throughout the Yatra. Swamiji asked participants to take responsibility for their mind and its content. Swamiji asked participants to use the simple practices of the Panchanga Yoga that was presented during the Bharath Yoga Yatra as the yogic capsules.
Swamiji’s satsangs covered the nuances of Mantra Sadhana from both its practice as well as the underlying principles and how the mantras were received in a higher meditative state by the Rishis. Swamiji gave participants insight about how mantas penetrate the deepest dimensions of one’s personality!
The type and range of mantras their application in life and the efficacy of mantras in alleviating physical, physiological and psychological imbalances were revealed to participants. The method and intricacies of practicing japa as a spontaneous smaran and as sadhana were explained during Swamiji’s satsangs. A new and everlasting friend who will always follow till one’s death from the time of receiving was introduced to those who were given Mantra Diksha. Swamiji emphatically stated that the Mantra is indeed the best friend one could have in life!
Four satsang sessions were conducted by Swamiji in the two days, each session spread over two hours . Swamiji spent almost eight to nine hours in the venue with the participants in each city. Even if one goes to the ashram and stays there for a week or a fortnight, the time one gets to have Swamiji’s Darshan or hear Swamiji’s Satsang is just a few minutes. During Bharath Yoga Yatra all the eyes and ears were filled with the divine form and the wise words of our beloved Guru.
The most important message Swamiji gave to participants was the Yama of Manah Prasada (Happiness) and the niyama of Japa. Given the situations prevailing in society and the problems that humanity is facing, these two Happiness and Japa seem to be the most appropriate and useful states of mind that will protect people from the pitfalls of this society. It is only a visionary and a person of compassion who can provide such clear guideline for progressing spiritually and experience abiding peace and harmony in life.
People of Vijayawada were overjoyed by the time and value that they receive through the presence of Swamiji amidst them. Each person felt deeply connected with Swamiji and when the kirtan “The time to be happy is now! The place to be happy is here! The way to be happy is to make someone happy! Bring a little spark of heaven here! Was sunbg, to conclude the session, people rose to their toes and raised in their spirit to be in an unobstructed state of Bliss!
Swamiji was able to see the sincerity and devotion of the people and the teams that rendered selfless seva to make the event a grand success. Swamiji became so much satisfied and delighted with the seva bhava of the entire team of sevaks that in an unscheduled program, as a surprise, visited the yoga centre of Jignasu Shri Dharana and extended an hour of special satsang at the yoga centre. Over 150 people including sevaks and invitees participated in the evening program on 10th April. On 9th April the yoga centre that was operating since last two decades got renamed by Swamiji as Satyananda Yogalayam! Swamiji’s blessings for this yogalayam will go a long way to help and guide the people of Telengana and Andhrapradesh to connect with the original source of yoga in the years to come.
Sri Swami Satyananda Yogashramam, Vijayawada
Swamiji had originally decided on going to Vijayawada to fulfill the request that has been long outstanding from Swami Bhakti Chaitanya. On 10th April 2025, Swamiji had allotted time to visit Sri Swami Satyananda Yoga Ashramam, Krishna River Karakatta, Vijayawada.
In the month of February 2025, there was a severe rain and the Krishna River was flooded. The entire ashram had got marooned up to the ceiling of the ground floor! Swami Bhakti Chaitanya had a lovely Goshala with about fifteen cows. Everything in the ground floor had got destroyed, the cows had to be moved out of the ashram and handed over in a shelter! Swami Bhakti Chaitanya was facing one of the most difficult times in his life! He too was diagnosed with some age related health issue and was asked to take complete rest! Swami Bhakti Chaitanya was in the worst abysmal difficulty of life!
When the Swamiji’s decision to visit Vijayawada ashram to Swami Bhakti Chaitanya’s place, there couldn’t have been anything more healing and magical in his life. When the news was informed to Swami Bhakti Chaitanya, his heart was filled with inexplicable joy, for which I was a witness.
Swami Bhakti Chaitanya was speechless and was filled with one lakshya for the next almost ten months. Swamiji’s visit to Sri Swami Satyananda Yogashramam was such a fulfilling one! Over the last four decades and more the ashram has been waiting for the feet of Swamiji to be set on the floor of the ashram. Many disciples of Swami Bhakti Chaitanya who are in their late seventies, who had come into the fold about forty years before in their early twenties and early thirties, got the rare opportunity of sitting at the feet of Swamiji, satiate their hunger for the sammepya (proximity). They were filled with joy and Swamiji addressed the small gathering and expressed his delight. Swamiji narrated his relationship with Swami Bhakti Chaitanya and expressed his delight in being in the Satyananda Yogashramam.
Swamiji narrated the story of a child who was born in the clan of Appayya Deekshitar as an avatar of Shiva. Swamiji explained how the Bharath Yoga Yatra was born, when Swamiji visited Divine Life Society to participate in the Sannyasa Centenary of Swami Sivananda in June 2024. A tradition that began with Swami Sivananda in Tamilnadu was making one full circle. Swamiji narrated to participants, about his visit to Pattamadai, the birthplace of Swami Sivananda earlier this year!
The genre of people who participated in the Experiential Satyananda Yoga Program in Vijayawada were primarily adults, out of them many had already learnt Satyananda Yoga from teachers in Vijayawada. About 150 aspirants received mantra Diksha from Swamiji.
Swamiji’s presence, words of wisdom and the whole program was an immeasurable blessings on all those who were present and has opened the avenues for thousands to come into the fold in the years to come.
Satyananda Yoga in Chennai
It has been such an uplifting experience organizing the Bharath Yoga Yatra programs in five places in Tamilnadu.
The most satisfying experience was when three veterans of our tradition in Tamilnadu, were present with us during the Bharath Yoga Yatra 2025. In the early 1980’s Swami Dharma Keerthi (Usha Sundaram) Dr.Swatanthra Devi and Shivaroopananda (Krishnaswami) had arranged a yatra for Sri Swamiji to many places in South India, which include Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore, Palakad, in Kerala.
Swami Gambhirananda and Swami Vajrapani have been the foremost teachers in Chennai. They have hosted Swamiji several times in the past. The Shiv Darshan Yoga Vidyalaya is an ashram in Chennai where both the Swamis are residents and guide the yoga programs.
Sannyasi Krishna Yogam is a very senior teacher, who has been associated with our tradition for more than four decades. HE got connected to our tradition through Swami Swaroopananda of Bhubhaneshwar. Has started Satyananda Yoga activities in Tamilnadu, Andhra, Kerala, Maharashtra, Bhubhaneshwar and has taught to thousands of aspirants. Satyam Yoga Trust is a public charitable Trust founded by Sn Krishnayogam, managed by his students. Satyananda Yoga Centre, founded by Sn Krishnayogam conducts classes in several localities in Chennai as a seva, without charging any fee for the last three decades. The opportunity to host the Bharath Yoga Yatra, Chennai program was given to Sannyasi Krishnayogam. A team of 175 sevaks came together under his leadership to conduct a grand program in Chennai.
The largest convention center in Chennai was booked and we planned a program for over a thousand people to participate in the Chennai Program. Actually Swamiji wanted to have programs for smaller crowds, with about 300 to 500 participants in each location.
Given the fact that there are three active centers in Chennai and there are many teachers we had a larger student population. Swamiji approved the program for thousand people. Communication was not even shared among public. The Chennai program was attended only by disciples of the tradition. Many of them had already received Mantra, Jignasu and Karma Sannyasa Diksha. We had to restrict the communication and within a month the registration for Chennai program got completed.
Since the program was attended by disciples of the tradition, Swamiji gave a more appropriate message and even the practices of meditation and yoga nidra were conducted to suit the participants experience and capabilities.
The morning asana and pranayama sessions were conducted by Sannyasi Yoga Ratna, a disciple of Sannyasi Krishnayogam. Guru Paduka Aradhana and three mantra session were conducted by Sannyasi Vidya Shakti and Yoga nidra sessions were conducted by Sannyasi Shivarishi.
All the thousand people stayed in the venue from 6am to 6.30pm, went home just to sleep and returned next day for more immersion into the Experiential Satyananda Yoga Program. Simple yet nourishing breakfast, lunch and a tea and snack were offered to all participants by a dedicated team of sevaks. The feeling was as though we had brought the Ashram to Chennai.
The whole venue was filled with devotion and grace. Swamiji’s presence functioned like a catalyst that enhanced the flavor of divinity! Two thousand feet dancing in ecstasy was a delightful sight which will remain etched in our hearts forever.
Swamiji had given a simple yet an impactful schedule for the program. All the six spokes of yoga chakra were integrated seamlessly in the two day program. Asana and pranayama, Guru Paduka Aradhana, Three Mantra Sadhana, Satsang, Kirtan, Yoga Nidra, Guided Meditation, Mantra Diksha, Ashram Video Satsang and simple prasad had all together converted the environment into an Ashram in Chennai.
Practice aspects of Yoga Chakra
Swamiji’s satsang guided the disciples present to take responsibility for the mind and its management. Swamiji explained the process and method of uplifting the mind from its limited and restricting tendencies to the uplifting and liberating qualities that too are present in the same mind.
In the Chennai program Swamiji emphasized the need for progressing in Pratyahara. Swamiji explained the steps and milestones of pratyahara. Swamiji explained in detail to the participants the importance of the groundwork, which is cultivation of awareness and deepening of relaxation at physiological and psychological levels. How relaxed are you? How aware are you? Are pertinent questions that Swamiji put forth to aspirants. The intricate stages of pratyahara training in resolving the conscious, subconscious and unconscious stresses and blockages was spoken.
Further Swamiji spoke on the development of focus and onepointedness. The distractions and the disturbances of the modern day life in the form of the social media and internet inputs, the problem of FOMO fear of missing out and then Swamiji coined a new and liberating state of mind JOMO, which Swamiji expanded as Joy of Missing out! When Swamiji announced about JOMO, the entire hall burst into the joy of being in the satsang. Swamiji explained about the two types of focus, the focus without awareness and the focus with awareness.
Swamiji explained about Dharana, the state of undisturbed focus which then leads to the natural state of dhyana, a meditative state. Swamiji narrated about his experience with the state of dhayana, when the sense of duality had just dissolved and how Swamiji had merged completely with the object upon which Swamiji was absorbed into. Swamiji defined the state of meditation as “The complete and total identification that happens without trying and desiring”. Then mentioned about the state of samadhi.
Swamiji further deepened the subject matter for discussion, towards the third aspect of the Yoga Chakra, Kriya Yoga. Swamiji compared the mind to the ocean, the surface and the waves on the surface to the conscious state of mind and the darker silent area to the subconscious mind and the bottom of the surface which is completely dark to unconscious. Swamiji explained how Kriya yoga allows us to dive deep into our unexplored potentials of the dormant chakras and possibility of awakening them and bring out the luminious, harmonious and divine nature to be discovered through the practice system of Kriya Yoga.
Swamiji was comparing the use of meditation for the management of stress, management of insomnia and such petty use to the use of a cannon ball to kill a mosquito. Swamiji conducted a simple yet powerful guided meditation practice. At the end of the session, participants were speechless and eagerly started looking forward to the next session.
On the second day Swamiji spoke on the expressive aspects of the yoga chakras, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Myths and misunderstandings about these were clarified by Swamiji.
The second day Swamiji initiated 193 persons were given mantra diksha. Speaking about diksha, Swamiji explained that diksha wasn’t a way to make disciples, instead, diksha is the process of giving a new vision to the person receiving the diksha. Swamiji also explained that the mantras given in the yogic tradition, weren’t related to religion, but were based on the science of nada, the basis of how mantras emanated from specific locations in the psychic and pranic dimension of the body and how the repetitive contemplation of the mantra awakens those dormant potentials. Swamiji explained the method of mantra meditation practically.
Swamiji’s satsangs across Tamilnadu, touched upon and clarified a range of topics from the rich experience of six decades of being involved in the very core of the renaissance of Yoga in the world. To have such a series of talks in every city gave us the opportunity to see the sacrifice, commitment, dedication and efforts that have been taken by Sri Swamiji and his first generation of disciples in the last sixty plus years.
Satsang Topics
The scientific research that was were undertaken in the decade of thee 1960-1970 on the effects of asana and pranayama on the physiological and psychological dimensions and the application of yoga in Therapy, Self development, education, stress management and other such research that are useful and relevant to humanity were enumerated.
Swamiji also talked upon Yoga Nidra, his experiences in Yoga Nidra, gave inputs about scientific research that has been undertaken and the efficacious outcomes that has helped the society in many ways, through the application of yoga nidra in several walks of life.
One more meditation practice that Swamiji recommended to participants is the Samiksha meditation. A method of reviewing the day, looking at the activities, thought process, attitudes, behavior. Observing the underlying pattern, coming to conclusion of bringing change in the behavior, attitude, shifting from reaction mode to a responsive mode, taking responsibility to health, to create a happier and positive mind. The need for yogic approach to management of the mental dimension, as a method of self transformation was emphasized by Swamiji.
Swamiji’s satsangs covered the nuances of Mantra Sadhana from both its practice as well as the underlying principles and how the mantras were received in a higher meditative state by the Rishis. Swamiji gave participants insight about how mantas penetrate the deepest dimensions of one’s personality!
The type and range of mantras their application in life and the efficacy of mantras in alleviating physical, physiological and psychological imbalances were revealed to participants. The method and intricacies of practicing japa as a spontaneous smaran and as sadhana were explained during Swamiji’s satsangs.
A new and everlasting best friend who will always follow till one’s death from the time of receiving was introduced to those who were given Mantra Diksha. Swamiji emphatically stated that the Mantra is indeed the best friend one could have in life! All the participants were introduced to the three mantras.
Guru Darshan Ashram – Thindivanam
Swamiji made a visit to Guru Darshan Ashram, situated in the border of Thindivanam and Pondicherry, on the auspicious day of Tamil New Years Day. Guru Darshan ashram is founded by Sannyasi Krishnayogam for sadhana and has been silently offering its seva to the neighborhood villagers taking its inspiration from Rikhiapeeth.
The happiest and most rewarding moment in the life of Sannyasi Krishnayogam happened when Swamiji visited his ashram and eternally planted the blessings of our beloved Guru Parampara by planting a coconut tree in the ashram premises.
The short satsang at the Guru Darshan ashram was full of appreciation for the forty plus years of seva that has been done by Sannyasi Krishnayogam and his team of sevaks.
The core group of sevaks who were involved in organizing the Chennai program had all assembled and had a lovely time interacting with Swamiji and all of them felt so rewarded and blessed by this proximate presence with Swamiji. They even got a lovely group photo taken along with Swamiji in Guru Darshan Ashram, a memento that they will have forever!
Bharath Yoga Yatra – Pondicherry
The Pondicherry program went through several twists and turns over the whole year, since it was decided that it will be organized in Pondicherry. At one point we even set to ourselves an ultimatum, that if what we want to do is not welcome, then we can even discuss with Swamiji and call off the program from Pondicherry.
Several introductory programs were organized by Dr.Soundarya and Kailasanathan in colleges in Pondicherry. Initially we had few rounds of discussions with medical colleges in and around Pondicherry and Cuddalore. To their support, they had Dr.Elanthirayan, who has rich experience of organizing hundreds of programs in the last one decade in Cuddalore and Pondicherry. Satyananda Yoga Centre has sent teachers and sevaks for over a decade to offer seva to the people of Cuddalore and Pondicherry, under the supervision and initiatives of Dr.Elanthirayan.
Initially, it was conceived that the eight to ten medical colleges in Pondicherry, would send their assigned students and the Pondicherry Bharath Yoga Yatra program would be attended by about three hundred and more medical students. After making few moves forward, a few months later, we realized that there were too many factors that were unclear, we couldn’t see the fruition of this plan and we had to change our approach.
The second approach was to go to society, and invite people in the society, who might be interested in yoga and had spiritual inclinations. The organizers were feeling kind of lost and needed several rounds of guidance and inspiration to realize that their effort is the seva opportunity that they were being blessed with and whoever had the blessings in their lives will definitely be there in the venue and they need not worry! They discovered the power of surrender and dedication in their effort to organize Bharath Yoga Yatra in Pondicherry.
They had a promising response initially from the tourism department of the Government of Pondicherry, a sprawling venue in the famous Promenade Beach Port of Pondicherry was booked and efforts were taken to reach out to the citizens of Pondicherry. The department of Tourism suddenly backed out and there were many bottlenecks going ahead with the venue.
While rest of the locations were reaching their full capacity of registration, Pondicherry did not even have a venue booked. Local coordinators had severe stress and needed access to the full quota of Guru’s grace! Seva was ironing out all the wrinkles of ego, allowed the local coordinators to become a true instrument of Guru. Several visits were made and several programs in local colleges, in Auroville and in the local society were done one after another like a marathon and Dr.Soundarya, Kailasanathan and Dr.Elanthirayan, involved themselves in full throttle for the last three months, because of their undeterred efforts, we had the most auspicious and beautiful program in Pondicherry.
Finally when the program happened, an amazing venue in a prominent location on the scenic East Coast Road with a capacity of accommodating about two hundred and fifty people was identified and booked. About 265 people including sevaks from SYC Chennai assembled in the venue. Students from three colleges, locals were present for two scintillating and uplifting days of blissful time with Swamiji.
The Chief Minister, many ministers from his cabinet, the Deputy speaker of their Legislative assemble their minister for tourism, the Chief Secretary of Pondicherry and many important people of the Pondicherry society dropped in and exclaimed on the quality of the program that was being offered. So many requests for guidance, collaboration, support were made by them.
Swamiji’s satsangs covered a series of topics that covered the panchanga yoga or the yoga capsules, across all the locations, but in each location, there was something unique and an emphasis on one or more aspects. Given the six decades of contributions that the tradition has been offering for the welfare of humanity, there are a variety of areas and genres where the tradition has made special contributions.
In Pondicherry, Swamiji narrated a lot about the different intricate collaborations undertaken by the French with our tradition. The efforts taken by disciples and teachers of Satyananda Yoga tradition in France and the impact of these efforts on the entire fabric of the society were enumerated. The French Government had made the learning of Satyananda Yoga mandatory from kindergarten to university level of learning. Swamiji narrated how the French Government requested Bihar School of Yoga to help them with introducing yoga to every strata of their society, in the schools, colleges, universities and even in their jails.
There were requests from the ruling disposition, from the administration and from their society for a long term relationship with ashram. About fifty persons were initiated into mantra diksha during the program.
The organizers had a lovely and trans formative experience as they involved themselves in organizing Swamiji’s Bharath Yoga Yatra in Pondicherry.
Satyananda Yoga in Trichy
Trichy is a rocky terrain and it was rockier to organize the Bharath Yoga Yatra in Trichy. The Andavar Ashramam is a Vaishnava tradition, that begins with Sri Ramanuja. They have a lovely college in Sri Rangam on the bank of river cauvery and the Guru of the tradition, Andavan Swamiji was delighted to know that Swamiji would be traveling in Tamilnadu and will be conducting a program in Trichy. Andavan Swamiji willingly instructed their college in Sri Rangam to provide the venue for the program and instructed the college to also send students of the college to participate in the program and benefit from the lovely program that was being organized.
Tamil Translation of Satsang
Swamiji introduced a new model in satsang! Two components were being introduced. Satsang happened in a question and answer mode! Instead of a long talk on a chosen line of topic, Swamiji encouraged a set of questions to be asked on behalf of the participants, that were relevant to them and what they can imbibe from the program.
Swamiji responded to the questions and gave simple solutions and guidelines to the people of Trichy. In response to the questions asked Swamiji spoke about his Grandfather Guru Swami Sivananda. About the contributions of Swami Sivananda to the cause of yoga! Swamiji spoke about the unique contributions of his Guru Sri Swami Satyananda.
When asked what does Bihar School of Yoga teach and what are the teachings of Swami Satyananda, Swamiji narrated the history of Bihar School of Yoga, how it was formed, its vision and its first chapter and the second chapter and the purpose of the Bharath Yoga Yatra.
Panchanga Yoga
Swamiji asked participants to consider yoga as a simple involvement of minimum time to bring positive changes in their health, energy levels, state of mind and learn to bring happiness to the forefront in their lives.
1.) Mantra: The role of three mantras, their efficacy in bringing positive changes and ease of doing it were explained. Only ten minutes in the morning was the commitment.
2.) Asana: The five types of asanas that they will have to practice for about fifteen minutes were explained. During the satsang on Asanas, Swamiji asked for one person to demonstrate the five types of asanas. With instructions by Swamiji M.P.Rangarajan demonstrated the practices and Swamiji explained about the importance of these five asanas. Swamiji made it absolutely simple and easy yet they were most efficacious.
3.) Pranayama: Swamiji introduced only two pranayama practices and informed participants that they will have to invest only five to seven minutes for pranayama.
4.) Relaxation: (Yoga Nidra): Swamiji explained about how stress can affect life and progress and emphasized the need for practicing yoga nidra.
5.) Mantra Meditation: Swamiji asked participants who were taking mantra diksha to find just about ten to fifteen minutes in the night before going to sleep.
The way Swamiji appealed to the participants in Trichy was to reassure to the common man, the businessman, the student, that they need not do hours and hours of practice. Swamiji’s satsang made it appear to them that the panchanga yoga the capsule yoga with five components are absolutely simple and requires an investment of only thirty to forty minutes to benefit from the wonderful effects of yoga.
This tone resonated with the temperament of the people of Trichy. They received the most appropriate message from Swamiji.
Swamiji also insisted that the entire satsang will have to be translated in Tamil. I suddenly found myself in the role of translation. It was a dynamic experience, of translating the satsang of Swamiji in Tamil and that too, it had to be done extempore!
Translation of Swamiji’s talk, had to happen with Swamiji on stage and whenever Swamiji paused, I was expected to translate the portion in Tamil. There was no awareness of anything else other than Swamiji. My senses, mind, heart, intellect and the whole being had become one with Swamiji. I had lost sense of time space and environment. The words of Swamiji were received and I was writing down just one or two words for reference of an entire topic that Swamiji was speaking on and when Swamiji stopped and signaled me to speak, words just poured out and there wasn’t even an awareness of me.
It was when participants and some of the sevaks came up to me and said that the translation was capturing the entirety of Swamiji’s satsang. Some of them observed that it was as if Swamiji himself was speaking in Tamil through the mouth of another person.
Many participants who did not know English fluently, acknowledged that the translation in their mother tongue was absolutely useful to them and they felt completely connected with Swamiji’s thoughts. The students of Andavar college and locals who came along with the yoginis of Thiru Eengoi Malai thanked Swamiji for providing them with a translation of the Satsang.
Lalitha Mahila Samajam from Thiru Eengoi Malai took keen interest in the disciples who are connected with their ashram and invited people from Musiri and other neighbouring places. Over fifty participants attended the program on the first day through the efforts of the Yoginis. The translation of Swamiji’s satsang in Tamil was very well appreciated by all of them.
Mantra Diksha:
About thirty persons requested for mantra diksha. Swamiji guided all the aspirants in a systematic manner of how to draw the full benefit of Mantra Dhyanam. Swamiji explained about the process of Diksha, the way to approach Mantra Dhyanam.
Swamiji prescribed Japa as the first Niyama and Manah Prasadam (Happiness) as the first Yama of yoga! The two day Experiential Satyananda Yoga Program completed with the kirtan of happiness and everyone’s heart was filled with a sense of Manah Prasada.
Bharath Yoga Yatra – Madurai
The jubilant program in Madurai was a small but a completely satisfying one. Dr.Aravindan was given the responsibility to coordinate the seva for the Madurai Program. To his advantage Sannyasi Karma Dhyan was also particularly involved in Madurai program.
Initially the registrations were lukewarm. Dr.Aravindan, being an expert pediatric surgeon did not have experience in organizing a public program and had no experience of requesting people to consider an invitation for setting aside two days and participate in a yoga program. Team of SYC volunteers plunged into seva over a period of six months and extended support. Dr.Aravindan had set aside almost two months of time fully to organize the program in Madurai. By 1st April, we had over 350 registrations for Madurai.
In my first trip to Madurai, we visited over ten different venues in the city and outside the city in neighborhood. Though many of them were having great facilties and looks, I was not feeling satisfied with any of them. We booked a hall belonging to Indian Medical Association in the center of Madurai. But the capacity of the hall was only 175 to 200 people. A business man from Madurai came to know about Swamiji’s Yatra! He did not know Swamiji or had not come across our tradition earlier. On hearing the name of Swamiji and about Swamiji, he felt an urge to host the program in the newly constructed sports facility. Duraiswamy Sports Academy called as DUSA, a sports facility that has four shuttle courts, a small swimming pool and gym wasn’t fully ready in December 2024. I was unsure if this could get ready for the program in April 2025.
Thus we had the IMA hall booked and waited to see how the new venue would get ready. Meenakshi Sundaram is the name of the person who owns DUSA, the name rhymes with Lord Meenakshi Sundareshwara, and it appeared that he was firm and resolute to get Swamiji’s program happen at DUSA. Work happened at war footing to get the venue ready. But for the resolve of Shri.Meenakshi Sundaram, the venue would have taken another six months to get ready. By the grace of Swamiji, a miracle unfolded and on 21st April 7.30pm construction work completed and the venue got ready by midnight for Swamiji’s program.
I visited Madurai thrice and conducted few sessions for friends of Dr.Aravindan. Several sessions were conducted by Dr.Aravindan himself for the National Medicos Organization, Sn Karma Dhyan also mobilized his contacts. On 10th April, we had about 350 plus registrations. After followup from our sevaks, the final number of registered participants came to 210 persons. We had 68 sevaks. On the actual day of the event there were about 250 people in the venue and we coudn’t believe that the program is actually happening at the DUSA, in Madurai.
I have to make a special mention about the thirty local volunteers of Madurai, who were members of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak, Madurai, Swamiji was so impressed by them that he gave time for them to get introduced personally on the second day as Swamiji was making his exit from the venue after the successful completion of the event. This group of sevaks played a major role in program preparation, in organizing the program and also in post program wind up.
Swamiji’s Delight
There was a sense of belonging for Swamiji with regard to Madurai. Swamiji is making his fifth visit to Madurai, though this was Swamiji’s first visit for an official program. Also Sri Swamiji has visited Madurai and has addressed gatherings in Madurai in 1982. Sri Swamiji was invited by Divine Life Society, Madurai branch to address the devotees in Madurai in 1982. Swamiji mentioned that Sri Swamiji had told the people of Madurai that, if they were keen to receive the teachings of the tradition, Bihar School of Yoga would come back to guide them.
Bihar School of Yoga comes back to Madurai after forty three years with a sublime message of the Guru Parampara. Swamiji was delighted to be in Madurai and meet all the participants and all the sevaks of Madurai. The program was so eagerly received with intensity, commitment and so much happiness by the participants, Swamiji pronounced that, when His Excellency The President of India, Dr.APJ.Abdul Kalam visited Bihar School of Yoga twice, had named the city of Munger as the City of Yoga! Swamiji pronounced that he would call Madurai the Second City of Yoga.
Swamiji prophesied that in the forthcoming years Madurai will uphold the teachings of yoga and will carry the beacon to future generations. The Bharath Yoga Yatra has kicked in a powerful and potent seed of spiritual culture. Swamiji asked the participants not to expect the Sannyasins of Bihar School of Yoga to be the ambassadors of yoga! He asked the citizens of Madurai to become the ambassadors of Yoga.
The satsangs of Swamiji ignited the spiritual earnestness! A practical and lifestyle aspect of spiritual life was enumerated in the satsangs of Swamiji! Application of the Panchanga yoga components to improve the nature and quality of life, was the emphasis. During the Satsangs Swamiji pointed out that through the practice of pratyahara, one will have to develop awareness and recognize the pettiness, weaknesses, self limiting tendencies, entrenched debilitating habits and through the uplifting practices of Satyananda Yoga, one can bring out and develop the uplifting, positive, creative potentials.
Satyananda Yoga in Coimbatore
Dr.Swatantra Devi, Swami Dharmakeerthi and Swami Sivaroopananda were instrumental in inviting Sri Swamiji in 1982 to Tamilnadu, Andhra, Kerala and Karnataka. After forthy three years all of them are octogenarians and all are active. Swami Dharma Keerthi has been conducting programs and inspiring thousands over the last forty years. Dr Swatantradevi has been involved in designing programs for several yoga initiatives in Coimbatore over the last forty years and has been reaching out to young women through charitable trusts and through Government programs in angavadis and balvadis in Tamilnadu.
It was sheer joy to listen to Swami Shivaroopananda share his experiences with yoga nidra, encounters with Sri Swamiji. Swamiji asked Shivaroopanandaji to share his experiences during Coimbatore program. On 25th April, before Swamiji’s satsang, Sivaroopanandaji shared his experiences and it was a treat to all of our ears to hear the entire narration. All the participants had the good fortune of being in the presence of Swamiji along with the three octogenarians who were the foremost connect for Tamilnadu with Sri Swamiji and with the tradition of Bihar School of Yoga.
Swamiji recollected the talks of Sri Swamiji in Tamilnadu and in Coimbatore, Swamiji appreciated and blessed all the three of them for their relentless seva and expressed his delight to have all of them when Swamji was undertaking Bharath Yoga Yatra to Tamilnadu. Swamiji spoke about Swaroop Darshan Yogashram that was started in 1982, which could not continue. Swamiji said that the time had come for reviving Swaroop Darshan Yogashram and asked the people of Coimbatore and Tamilnadu to work in this direction.
Swamiji’s satsangs were filled with a sense of total satisfaction about the grand South Indian Yatra. Swamiji felt delighted and the last satsangs were jubilant. Swamiji’s happiness was visible and abundantly blessing the people of Tamilnadu, Swamiji announced that this was the first round of visit to Tamilnadu and indicated that Swamiji would be delighted to make more trips in the coming years.
Conclusion
In conclusion I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the sevaks who utilized the whole year of May 2024 – April 2025 for the purpose of involving themselves in Seva. Gratitude to all those who made contributions in every which way to make Bharath Yoga Yatra such a memorable offering to our beloved Guru Parampara.