Our Legenders in Yoga

Adi Shankaracharya, one of India’s greatest philosophers, is renowned for establishing Advaita Vedanta, a prominent school of Vedantic thought. While he ardently upheld the authority of the Vedas, he also critiqued the excessive emphasis on rituals and religious practices that had become exaggerated over time. Upon examining the life of Sri Shankaracharya, it becomes evident that he not only revitalized the core philosophical teachings of the Vedas but also founded the monastic tradition known as the Dashanami Sampradaya and introduced the Shanmata system of worship. This biography provides valuable insights into the profound contributions of this remarkable philosopher and spiritual leader.

Swami Kuvalayananda, born Jagannatha Ganesa Gune into a traditional Brahmin family in the village of Dhaboi, Gujarat, India, was shaped by his strong cultural and educational background. His father, Sri Ganesa Gune, was an educator, and his mother, Srimati Saraswati, was a homemaker. Kuvalayananda's initial spiritual and physical education came from Rajaratna Manikrao, a distinguished professor at the Jummadada Vyayamshala in Baroda, who mentored him from 1907 to 1910 in the Indian System of Physical Education—an approach Kuvalayananda passionately promoted throughout his life. In the 1930s, he began training large numbers of yoga instructors to spread physical education across India. In 1919, he encountered the Bengali yogi, Paramahamsa Madhavdasji, who had settled near Baroda along the banks of the Narmada River. Under Madhavdasji’s tutelage, Kuvalayananda gained profound insights into Yogic discipline, which deeply influenced his future work. In 1924, he established the Kaivalyadhama Health and Yoga Research Center in Lonavla, a pioneering institution dedicated to the scientific study and advancement of Yoga.

Swami Kuvalayananda, born Jagannatha Ganesa Gune into a traditional Brahmin family in the village of Dhaboi, Gujarat, India, was deeply influenced by his upbringing. His father, Sri Ganesa Gune, was an educator, while his mother, Srimati Saraswati, was a homemaker. Kuvalayananda’s first guru was Rajaratna Manikrao, a professor at the Jummadada Vyayamshala in Baroda. Between 1907 and 1910, Manikrao trained Kuvalayananda in the Indian System of Physical Education, a discipline Kuvalayananda advocated throughout his life. By the 1930s, Kuvalayananda had begun training large groups of yoga instructors to promote physical education across India. In 1919, he met the Bengali yogi, Paramahamsa Madhavdasji, who had settled in Malsar, near Baroda, along the banks of the Narmada River. Under Madhavdasji’s guidance, Kuvalayananda gained profound insights into Yogic discipline, which significantly impacted his career. In 1924, Kuvalayananda founded the Kaivalyadhama Health and Yoga Research Center in Lonavla, establishing a pioneering institution dedicated to the scientific study of Yoga.