Namaskar - Oct 09
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My Story<br />
A Journey to my Guru<br />
Yogaraj CP<br />
Gurur Brahma<br />
Gurur Vishnu<br />
Gurur Devo<br />
Maheshwaraha<br />
Gurur Saakshaat<br />
Para Brahma<br />
Tashmai Shree<br />
Gurave Namaha<br />
Guru Mantra<br />
Yogaraj with B.K.S. Iyengar<br />
36<br />
Pune, India: A city of green, a city of<br />
riches. The journey to Pune from the<br />
airport was through dense green<br />
forest and lovely mountains. A two-hour<br />
flight from Chennai took me to Pune and<br />
the cool breeze welcomed me with fond<br />
memories. I was on my way to Pune to<br />
meet my yoga Guru Mr. B.K.S. Iyengar.<br />
Yogacharya K.S.Iyengar (Guruji) is a living<br />
legend who has taught yoga in a unique way<br />
to each of his students. He finds the<br />
meaning of the yoga sutras through his<br />
practical search and regular practice of yoga.<br />
He has helped all his students experience the<br />
wisdom of the yoga sutras. His style of<br />
teaching yoga is called “Iyengar Yoga” and it<br />
is followed by certified teachers across the<br />
world. The bus was heading towards central<br />
Sivaji Nagar in Pune. My memories traveled<br />
back in time to when I first met my Guru.<br />
I first met him in Calcutta in 1998. The<br />
World Yoga Society was conducting an All<br />
India Yoga Competition. The previous year<br />
I had won the competition and was<br />
awarded the prize by the then Chief<br />
Minister of Bengal Mr. Joyti Basu. This<br />
year, the main goal of my trip was to meet<br />
Mr. Iyengar, I had read a lot about him<br />
in books, magazines and newspapers. Since<br />
then it had been a burning desire to meet<br />
him in person or at least get a glimpse of<br />
him from a distance. I met him on the stage<br />
with the dignitaries. He looked like an<br />
emperor sitting on his throne in casual<br />
wear. His face was lit with a divine glow. I<br />
was introduced to him and he blessed<br />
me. Although it must have been a<br />
very casual act for him, I felt as though my<br />
inner self was transformed from the<br />
moment he touched my forehead, a change<br />
which cannot be explained in words. From<br />
then on I started to believe Mr. Iyengar was<br />
my Guru and I seated him in the highest<br />
throne of my heart. The very same day I also<br />
pledged in my mind that before I met my<br />
Guru again I must accomplish some<br />
achievement in Yoga. What other joy could<br />
I give to my great Guru?<br />
Ten years later, I got an opportunity in<br />
Hong Kong to perform a Guinness world<br />
record of 28 hours non-stop<br />
Yoga with 1019 asanas. Upon receipt of the<br />
award for the successful completion of the<br />
Guinness feat, my mind was flying to Pune<br />
to salute my Guru. He was the inspiration<br />
for this achievement. To get an appointment<br />
to meet Guruji I approached Ramamani<br />
Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI)<br />
in Pune and expressed my long term desire<br />
to meet Guruji. I told them about the<br />
Guinness world record and his secretary<br />
gave me permission to visit Pune.<br />
The bus stopped. It had arrived at the<br />
Institute. The Institute had a serene<br />
atmosphere, a perfect platform for<br />
practicing Yoga. I was told Guruji usually<br />
spends more time in the library. He has<br />
stopped teaching yoga over the past couple<br />
of years, but even at the age of 91 he<br />
continues to practice yoga and never<br />
misses even a day of practice. Mr.<br />
Elavalagan, who teaches yoga in the<br />
Institute, was kind enough to share his<br />
experience with me. He explained during<br />
practice Guruji is an artist at work. He is<br />
always at ease in any posture he performs.<br />
Precision and beauty mark the asana. The<br />
regular practice he advocates integrates the<br />
body, mind and emotions. I met my Guru<br />
in the library. I saw him sitting there and<br />
noticed time had done nothing to him. He<br />
looked exactly the same and still had the