PARAMAHAMSA MADHAVADAS MAHARAJ (1798 - 1921) born in Bengal, was initiated as a Sadhu (monk) and entered the order of Vaishnavism. His thirst for knowledge of Yoga practice pushed him to travel all over India on foot in search of different yogic experts for nearly 35 years. He achieved a very great success. Attaining a great mastery over practical Yoga. He then retired in solitude in the caves of the Himalayas for further spiritual progress. He spent a full 12 years there in solitude. In 1869, he joined up with a large Sadhu community (hermits) who elected him as their leader at Vrindavan in 1881. Thereby representing the four major schools of philosophy Bhakti, Advaïta, Vishishtha Advaïta Vedanta and Dvaïta Vedanta. At the age of 80 he finally settled down on the banks of the sacred Narmada river in the state of Gujarat. It is here that he began to teach the secrets of practical yoga to a few selected and deserving disciples. He held extensive knowledge of sacred and secret practices yet the objective closest to his heart was the spiritual uplifting of the masses. In 1909 he organized an All India Sadhu meeting to modernize the order of hermits.
Towards the end of his life crowds of people sought contact with him. It was he who, thanks to his open-minded attitude, lay the foundation for further study and investigation of Yoga culture. The modern revival of practical Yoga truly owes its inspiration to him.
Swami Kuvalayananda (1883-1966)
Famous Indian pioneer of the scientific study of hatha yoga. He was born Jagannath Ganesh Gune on August 30, 1883, at Dabhoi, Baroda. His first language was Marathi, but all of his publications on yoga in English. He was a noted scholar, educationist, and national freedom fighter. He organized the Khandesh Education Society in 1916 and was principal of the society's college (1921-23). He chaired the Physical Education Committee, appointed by the Bombay Board of Physical Education, and was a member of the Central Advisory Board of Physical Education.
Gune was one of Paramahamsa Shree Madhavadasji Maharaj's two major students at Malsar, on the banks of the river Narmada in Gujarat State. Paramahamsa Madhavadasji trained Gune and Shri Yogendra in yoga, which had died out in most of India; Paramahansa Madhavadasji was the major advocate of its revival. Yogendra founded a yoga center in Bombay, and Gune worked at it until 1932. He then left to found the Yogic Health Center at Santa Cruz, Bombay; new premises were secured in 1935 and the center was renamed Ishwardas Chunilal Yoga Health Centre, Kaivalyadhama. Later a spiritual center was added at Kanakesvara Hill in the Kolaba district of Bombay. An additional center, the Kaivalyadhama Saurashtra Mandal, was established in Rajkot in 1943.
By the end of 1943 it was decided to divide the main organization into two wings: Kaivalyadhama Ashrama with emphasis on spiritual development, and Kaivalyadhama Sreeman Madhava Yoga Mandira (SMYM) Samhiti at Lonavla, Poona, specializing in the medical and scientific investigation of yoga. The latter wing was officially recognized as a research institute by the government of Bombay and by Bombay State.
Since 1935 the Kaivalyadhama SMYM Samhiti has published the Yoga-Mimamsa journal, edited by Swami Kuvalayananda, with both popular and scientific sections devoted to the serious study of yoga.
Sri O.P. Tiwari (Tiwariji) is one of today's most recognised and accomplished masters of yoga. He comes to us humbly, not trying to prove anything, but to sincerely pass on the thought and practice as it has been done by adepts over the centuries, and done so with integrity where the practice bears fruit. He is a part of this living tradition and carries this energy with him as he lives and practises it.
Tiwariji has dedicated his life to the practice and teaching of yoga. For the past 40 years he has been head of The Kaivalyadham, a yogic research institute near Mumbai, India. Established in 1924 by his master, Swami Kuvalayananda, the institute has been a pioneer in scientific research related to yoga, directly affecting many of the teachings coming from the popular yoga styles today.
Tiwariji was taught in depth by his master, and he accomplished all the practices. This puts him in the rare position of having practical experience as well as deep philosophical and scientific understanding. He is one of the few remaining masters of Pranayama in the world today.
He wears no badge, waves no flag, and is not interested in propagating his name. He joins us here to pass on the teachings to those sincerely interested. He primarily remains in private practice in India, quietly and humbly, and does limited travel for teaching.
1 comment:
when was Mr Gune in Malsar, please provide dates with evidence, thanks
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