Akshara Yoga Peetham

19/04/2024

Join us at Sivananda Bahamas…

08/03/2024

Sunrise at Akshara Yoga Peetham

17/11/2023

08/09/2023

Swami Sivananda Saraswati was one of the most influential Yogi in modern times. In recent history, he is the one who truly brought Yoga to the common man.
✨ Established ‘Divine Life Society’ to propagate Yoga - not just Asanas (yoga poses) - in all its aspects
✨ Authored close to 300 works on Yoga and allied topics
✨ Trained many well-known disciples such as Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Venkatesananda and Swami Sivananda Radha

06/09/2023

The eighth day in the waning moon of the Lunar month Sravana is the day Krishna manifested on the earth, around six thousand years ago. He is the Jagadguru - Teacher of the World. While many know Krishna as the teacher of Bhagavad-Gita, He also taught many other sacred texts such as Uttara Gita and Uddhava Gita.
✨ Krishna’s wonderful and awe-inspiring life story is described in many sacred texts, most prominently in Bhagavatam.
✨ Please chant the Mantra - Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya - as many times as possible today. This is known as ‘Dwadasakshari Mantra’ - the twelve syllabled Mantra. The 12 syllables of the Mantra stand for the 12 Zodiac signs and help mitigate the negative karmic impulses stored within us.

23/08/2023

…with my Kung Fu student…😂

11/08/2023

Popularly known as Masrer EK, he was one of the rare Ascended Masters of our times
✨Great poet, Healer and Visionary
✨ Established many spiritual centers in India as well as Western Europe
✨ Founded the World Teacher Trust
✨ Authored several books offering deep insights into Vedic Philosophy, Astrology, Ayurveda as well as Homeopathy

24/06/2023

25/04/2023

The fifth day in the waxing Moon of the Lunar month of Vaisakha (Apr 25) is celebrated as the birthday of a great Yogi Adi Shankara, who lived around 800 BC. Happy Shankara Jayanti!

28/02/2023

Okra-tomato-onion curry on a bed of rice…yummy 😋

29/01/2023

My Ta**ra Guru Sri Yuganandanatha’s tremendous contribution to the sacred tradition of Sri Vidya!

02/01/2023

Learning from my Ta**ra Guru Sri Yugānandanātha of Srividya Ta**ra Peetham has been a privilege. As a tribute to him, wanted to share this short video about his organization. If you are interested in learning Kerala Ta**ra, I will highly recommend him.

13/07/2022

Today is an auspicious day known as ‘Guru Purnima’ or ‘Vyasa Purnima’. This day is dedicated to honouring our Gurus.
✨The syllable ‘Gu’ represents darkness (ignorance), ‘Ru’ stands for Light (Knowledge). The Light that destroys the darkness of ignorance is called ‘Guru’, according to the sacred text ‘GuruGita’.
✨’Guru’ is not a person or personality, as commonly misunderstood. Guru is Light as taught in Guru Gita. It is the Light of Eternity that shines within every heart.
✨The truth is, the same Eternal Light shines through different persons/personalities in different times. As Guru is not a person or a personality, it is wise not to engage in things like getting attached to a person or personality. Better to focus on the Light shining through the Guru.
✨As long as we are in physical body, Vishnu is our Guru. When we transition to subtle body, Shiva is our Guru.
✨In ancient times, knowledge used to be passed on through blood lineages only. Yogi Dattatreya was the first one to establish the system of ‘Guru Shishya Parampara’. This enabled seekers of knowledge to approach anyone with knowledge and learn from them - even if they are not blood-related. Hence, in the human plane, Dattatreya - a combined incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - is considered as the ‘Adi Guru’.
✨The best way to offer gratitude to the Guru is by enlightening ourselves and allowing that Eternal Light to shine within ourselves.
✨Please offer your gratitude to your Gurus today by chanting the Mantra they initiated you into at least 108 times. Send thoughts of respect and gratitude to your Guru or whoever got you started on the path of Yoga. When you honour your Guru, you honour yourself.
✨Happy Guru Purnima to all my friends.

27/06/2022

One of my all time favourite Indian breakfast item - Idli - served with a chutney - a spicy sauce. Idli is an ideal mix of protein and carbs and can be had for dinner too. Yum 😋

01/06/2022

Dear friends, I haven’t posted anything in a long while. Happy to be back and share again…

01/03/2022

Today is the 14th day in the waning moon 🌒 of the Lunar month known as Magha. We are celebrating Mahā Śivarātri today. This is the day when Shiva manifested as Jyotirlinga (an endless pillar of Light). The midnight is considered generally as the time when Shiva manifested as the Jyotirlinga. However, Vedic Astrologers do calculate the exact time of manifestation and for this it is said to be on the night of Tue Mar 1 (technically, your electronic gadgets will say Mar 2) 12:29:04am till 12:31:58am (IST) according to some Vedic Astrologers.

✨The three most important observances of the Maha Shivaratri celebration are:

Puja to Shiva: Puja is popularly considered as a sacred ritual rooted in Bhakti Yoga. It includes chanting Shiva’s mantra - Om Namah Shivaya, Kirtan, various offerings to Shiva.

Upavasam: Simplistically described as fasting, it involves mastery of senses at a deeper level.

Jagaranam: Staying awake all night (until the Sunrise on Mar 2), chanting, praying, listening to Siva’s stories and similar activities.

✨Please do these things as much as you can on this most auspicious day of Maha Shivaratri.

✨Happy Maha Shivaratri!

18/02/2022

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was born during the highly tumultuous times when the British were colonizing India, doing their best to eradicate her ancient history, great culture, spirituality and traditions. Many lost souls of those times were brought back to the path of Sanatana Dharma, thanks to Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Vivekananda, who is generally credited with bringing Yoga to the West, was one of Sri Ramakrishna’s foremost disciples.

08/02/2022

Mitra Ravi Sūrya Bhānu Khaga Pūṣa Hiraṇyagarbha
Marīcyāditya Savitrarka Bhāskarebhyo Namo Namaḥ

Today is Ratha Saptami, aka Surya Jayanti, the birthday of Sun!

✨In Indian Astrology, time is measured based on multiple cosmic phenomena and not on the basis of birth or death of personalities. According to Indian Astrology, this is the day on which Sun manifested from what can be considered neither light nor darkness. After Sun’s arrival, light and darkness got separated.

✨Sun is poetically described as traveling in the space on a chariot with only one wheel (stands for one year). The wheel has 12 spokes (12 zodiac signs). The chariot is pulled by seven horses (the seven colours in Sun rays).

✨Sun is the source of all life energy and health. Please chant the 12 names of Sun at least once today for good health.

27/01/2022

I humbly request all my Ayurveda friends to consider including these teachings - mostly from Vedic Astrology - in their dietary recommendations. 🙏🕉