Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati life history and his teachings
Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati (1927-1993) was an Indian yoga teacher who founded the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers and authored the book, “The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga”. He was a disciple of Swami Sivananda and played a key role in spreading the teachings of yoga throughout the Western world.
Vishnudevananda was born in Tamil Nadu, India, and was trained in yoga from a young age by his guru, Swami Sivananda. In 1957, he was sent by Sivananda to the West to spread the teachings of yoga. He established the first Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center in Montreal, Canada, and went on to open centers in New York, California, and other locations around the world.
Vishnudevananda’s teachings emphasized the importance of developing a strong physical and mental foundation through the practice of yoga. He taught that the physical postures (asanas) were just one aspect of yoga, and that a complete practice also included breathing exercises (pranayama), meditation, and the study of yoga philosophy.
In addition to his work as a yoga teacher, Vishnudevananda was a strong advocate for world peace and environmental sustainability. He believed that yoga could be a powerful tool for promoting social justice and personal transformation, and worked to integrate the principles of yoga with contemporary social and political issues.
Vishnudevananda’s legacy continues to be felt through the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers, which offer yoga and meditation classes, workshops, and teacher training programs around the world. His teachings have inspired countless individuals to deepen their practice of yoga and to work towards creating a more peaceful and harmonious world.