Remembering Modern Rishi of Yoga this World Yoga Day
By Team Asianet Newsable | First Published Jun 21, 2017, 6:28 PM IST- Karnataka born BKS Iyengar is regarded as the foremost teacher for taking yoga on a global map
- He introduced various props included blocks and ropes for scientific alignment of the body
- China is the latest to have the Iyengar Yoga school besides 72 other countries in the world.
As the whole world is soaked in the yoga as part of World Yoga Day on June 21, it is befitting to remember Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar or popularly known as BKS Iyengar, who took the yoga on a global map, much before the yoga was termed "international".
Here is a quick glimpse of his life who always told people "Live happily and die majestically.
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1. Born in Bellur of Kolar in 1918, Iyengar was introduced to yoga by his guru and brother-in-law Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya to help him overcome typhoid, malaria and malnutrition. Although, he learnt yoga to better his health, he had famously said "Yoga saved my life. I took it up for my health, and then I took it up as a mission".
2. It was in Pune, he first began to teach yoga in 1937 at the age of 18 and today, the Iyengar Yoga schools are located in 72 countries, the latest on the list is China. However, it is the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (Rimyi) in Pune - the first institute - is the heart and soul of all the institutes. Today, it is run by Iyengar's daughter Abhijatha and son Prashant. Although he was religious, his school was open to anyone interested in learning.
3. Until his famous 'cure' of violin maestro Yehudi Menhuin from the sleeplessness, Iyengar - the Yogacharya - also came to be known as the healer. It is famously known that Menhuin was snoring in five minutes with the Sivasana and he was there to present his first concert in India just when the curtains were rising! He had also helped Belgium Queen to do 'Sirasana' when she was 80! His other prominent followers include Madonna, writer Aldous Huxley, former prime minister AB Vajpayee and Sachin Tendulkar.
4. His 'Light on Yoga' book - published in 1966 -is considered the Bible of Yoga. The book, an international bestseller has been translated into more than 17 languages. Recognising his influence, the Oxford Dictionary describes Iyengar: noun "A type of Ashtanga yoga focussing on the correct alignment of the body, making use of straps, wooden blocks and other objects as aids to achieving the correct postures".
5. Although Iyengar quit from active teaching of the yoga (after nearly 75 years), he continued to do for three hours every day, till he was 93. He passed away on August 20, 2014 in Pune.
6. He has been presented with Padma Vibhushan, Padmashri. In 2011, the Beijing branch of China Post had released a commemorative stamp in his honour.
7. A big supporter of animal welfare, he had adopted a tiger and cub by donating Rs 20 lakh from the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens in Mysuru.
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