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Chennai, India
On the 14th and 15th of January 2017, students from all around the world gathered at the Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation in order to honor Sir TKV Desikachar’s life and work.
It was a profound, heartful and beautiful ceremony in which students and teachers of the Yoga community remembered a great man and his expansive teachings. Everyone who came had the great pleasure to hear stories and examples from those who had been touched by his example.
We want to especially thank the speakers of both days, Sri D R Karthikeeyan, Smt Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani, Sri A V Balu, Mrs Sonia Nelson, Ishwar Basarvaraddi, Dr. Arjun Rajagopal, Dri S Sridharan, Sri Subodh Tiwari, Dr. Usha Raghavan, Mrs Kate Holcombe for sharing their experiences and impressions of one of the great legends of Yoga with the community and for bringing his spirit alive through the stories and feelings shared on both days.
Ishwar Basarvaraddi, director of the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, reminded the audience that a true Yogi like T.K.V. Desikachar doesnt strive for fame, yet becomes famous because of his good deeds. Smt. Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani, head of the Gitananda Ashram and Director of the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research, remembered Desikachar’s great dedication to the teachings of his guru and father T. Krishnamacharya and his lifelong efforts and dedication to spread them. D R Kaarthikeyan, former CBI Director and former Director General of the National Human Rights Commission, stressed that Sir was a great yet simple yogi, an example we should all follow. A V Balu, Director of the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems, worked with Desikachar for years, not just as a student but also as the editor of the magazine “Darsanam”. He told stories about the generosity of Desikachar, that he would always give even his own watches away to his students and that he never had an ego when his articles were edited. Sonia Nelson, Director of the Vedic Chant Centre in the USA, explained how Sir always treated each student differently according to their needs and potentials and how much he cared for his students.
Dr. Arjun Rajagopal, trustee of the Sundaram Medical Foundation and physician, remembered that Desikachar was incredibly pragmatic, always open for finding the best solution in any case that required healing. He wasnt rejecting medicine but always sought out to find the best solution for each of his students and each case. Sri S Sridharan, trustee of the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, stressed how much Sir guided him on his spiritual path. It became clear to the audience what an immense spectrum Sir provided to his students, some he taught yoga therapy, others sutras, some more pragmatic knowledge how to deal with life and others the path of the Yogi as a spiritual connection. Dr. Usha Raghavan, a medical doctor of the Cancer institute and long term student, narrated how Desikachar was able to detect the potentials in students and taught them to bring these strengths and potentials forward. And Kate Holcombe, executive director of the Healing Yoga Foundation, shared that he was not just a teacher, but like a father for her and how much she learnt from him not just through his teachings, but also by spending time with him and by being in his presence. She told how detached he was from other people’s mistakes or negative actions and how he knew that it is not important to judge others but to instead only focus on what we do ourself.
All people who gathered for the event celebrated two beautiful, emotional, humbling and very touching days. Thanks to all people that came to pay their respects and to our team who organized an amazing honoring for our teacher. May we never forget the teachings in our life, and may we never forget the teachers before us who humbly walked the path before us and guid us eternally. Namaste.
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