Originating from the Golden Womb (of light, the guru-spirit), and (flowing) down through the medium of gurus like Sesa (Patañjali), Vyasa and the rest, ending at the feet of Śrī Swāmī Veda, that (unbroken stream of) succession, I worship.

Mahamandaleshwar Shri Swami Veda Bharati (1933 – July 14, 2015) was revered as a Rishi of Rigveda and Yoga Sutras, an esteemed Meditation Master, a distinguished Sanskrit scholar, and a poet of his era. He belonged to a venerable Sanskrit-speaking family deeply steeped in the timeless Vedic tradition. Displaying prodigious intellect from a tender age, he effortlessly memorized all 4,000 sutras of Panini’s Sanskrit grammar by the age of four. He initiated the teaching of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras at the age of nine. Later, he embarked on extensive tours, imparting profound discourses on the Vedas across India.

Despite never having formal schooling, Swami Veda Bharati obtained his M.A. from the University of London and a D.Litt. from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Between 1952 and 1967, he spread Yogic and Vedic teachings across many parts of the world, including Africa and the West Indies. Additionally, he served as a professor of South Asian Studies at the University of Minnesota from 1966 to 1973.

In 1969, he attained the highest initiations into the mysteries of Meditation from his Guru, Swami Rama of the Himalayas. Swami Rama linked him to the sacred lineage of the Himalayan Yogis. Subsequently, he established and led Meditation groups and centers worldwide. Proficient in 17 languages, he imparted Meditation teachings in major languages and to practitioners of various faiths, in alignment with the oral tradition of the living lineage of the Himalayan Sages. He has meticulously documented over 3,500 hours of courses covering all facets of meditation, its scriptures, and philosophical systems. Additionally, he taught ancient texts such as the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita within a meditative framework for experiential learning.

Swami Veda’s mission is characterized by his own words: “I have no ambition. I just have a very loving duty given to me in my spiritual heritage of the Himalayan masters who have passed down this duty from generation to generation, perhaps for thousands of generations: The world has misery, the world has suffering. Do what you can to reduce the pain. Do what you can to soothe people’s minds. Do not just counsel, Mr. Therapist, … console.” Alternatively, it is encapsulated by the phrase: “Let everyone feel loved.”

H. H. Swami Veda Bharati will continue to provide guidance to seekers through the extensive collection of his lectures, audio and video recordings, and his extensive library of books and essays, and through the many teachers within the Himalayan tradition whom he trained to carry on his teachings.

Swami Ji’s Contribution on Yoga Sutra:

Swami Ji is recognized by Vedic scholars such as David Frawley and others as a Rishi of Rigveda and Yoga Sutras. It’s possible that Sage Patanjali himself was indeed a revered Muni within the Rigvedic tradition, considering that it was Rigvedic masters who first referred to Om as Pranava, a concept that Sage Patanjali also embraced.

Swami Veda taught: “योगः समाधि। | Yogah Samadhih | Yoga = Samadhi | Yoga [is] Samadhi.”

He proposed that the entire yoga science must be studied and practiced on the basis of this definition of yoga. All other definitions are subservient to it. He revealed the authentic teachings of Classical Yoga through his 1500-page commentaries on the (first two chapters) Yoga-Sutras. This commentary has been hailed among scholars and practitioners both as the most authentic and authoritative.

Swami ji’s contributions to the understanding and practice of Yoga Sutra have helped countless practitioners deepen their understanding of yoga philosophy and enhance their spiritual journey.

He demonstrated a remarkable ability to synthesize and integrate diverse perspectives from ancient commentaries on the Yoga Sutras into his work, thereby enriching the understanding of this classical text. His approach involved a meticulous examination of traditional commentaries, coupled with his own insights and experiential wisdom, to offer a comprehensive interpretation accessible to contemporary practitioners.

Swami Ji’s ability to bring together ancient commentaries on the Yoga Sutras in his work exemplifies his profound scholarship, spiritual insight, and commitment to preserving and transmitting the timeless wisdom of yoga for the benefit of humanity.

Note: The English translation of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali being offered here is authored by Gurudev (my master) H.H. Swami Veda Bharati Ji.

–Tasmai Shree Gurave Namah

Homage to my Gurus –
The first Guru, my mother. The second Guru, my father. The third Gurus, all my teachers. From a fly to all writers whose books I have read. Homage to the Gurus of My Lineage through H.H.Swami Rama & H.H. Swami Veda Bharati.
Homage to the Supreme Absolute Guru.

Vimal Sharma is a Certified Yoga Teacher offering more than fourteen years of extensive experience. His Yoga journey began in 2006 when he met his Master H.H. Swami Veda Bharati (A direct disciple of H.H. Swami Rama of the Himalayas), who initiated him into the path of Yoga & Meditation as taught by the Masters in the Himalayan tradition.

Vimal holds, A Bachelor’s degree in Sanskrit, A Master’s degree in Philosophy, A Master’s degree in Yogic science, the certification of four years of residency in Ashram programme (with the 2006 class of “Swami Rama Institute of Meditation and Interfaith Studies” at “Swami Rama Sadhaka Grama”- Ashram in Rishikesh), ERYT Yoga Alliance US.

Vimal has been continuously sharing and teaching Yoga Philosophy, Meditation, Pranayama, and Yoga Nidra practices, to the aspirants taking part in the YTTC in Rishikesh from across the globe for the last several years.

Vimal has studied ‘Yoga Sutras of Sage Patanjali’ first from his own Master H.H. Swami Veda Bharati (In 2006), then from Swami Nitya Muktananda Ji (In 2009), then from Shri Siddhartha Krishna ji (In 2012), and then from Mahamandleshwara Swami Abhisheka Chaitanya Ji (with Vedantic perspective) (In 2016).

Note: The Hindi Translation and Chanting of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali being offered on ‘Yogasutra196’ is authored by Vimal Sharma.

Martial arts gave me the preparation to destroy the idea of personal limitation by handing me the austere voice of discipline. I would later see this thought being surpassed only by a future understanding of the yogi concept of ardour. It created in me the understanding that peace can only come from peace; and that the daily repetition of a movement based in the concept of attack and defence does nothing else than creating a belligerent mind-set in our consciousness.

Entertaining adults and children and organizing evenings of various events cultivated a cheerful character in me, even in moments of constant activity. Managing a small business really strengthened my understanding of relationships and leadership methods.

All of these experiences came together when I discovered Yoga Darshana. A discipline that describes a specific organized system capable of widening both our vision and what we can conceive as something greater and beyond our understanding.

For years I’ve focused all my studies and interests into the fundamentals of Yoga, which is represented in “Yoga Sutra” by Patanjali. This became possible thanks to my master Vimal Sharma, who is a direct student of Swami Veda Barathi, the greatest Sanskritist yogi of the last centuries. Yoga Sutra is a text that should be the basis for every practitioner, teacher, master, and trainer.

My mission is to be able to awaken awareness so that yoga can once again be conceived on a theoretical level, while with the correct techniques and methodology we can realign with the directions that this millennial and perennial practice suggests to us.

Yoga is all about Samadhi and it is necessary to understand what these words truly represent, beyond mere personal conceptions that normally lead to confusion about the true meaning and purpose of this discipline.

Author of the commentary “Samadhi Pada – Commentario agliYoga Sutra di Patanjali” and of the poetry book “Yoga in Prosa”.

It is not really possible to teach things, but it is possible to share them with those who qualify for focused listening. A teacher is basically just this: a practitioner who tries to share knowledge with compassion, while, through teaching, he selfishly makes himself more capable and welcoming.

As a greeting I would like to use a phrase from Swami Ji:

“Lasciate che i fiori fioriscano”

“Let the flowers blossom”

Note: The Italian translation of the ‘Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’ being offered here on ‘Yogasutra196’ is authored by Simone CarbonardI.

Eager to explore the possibilities of the body-mind link, she dedicated her life to exploring a vast range of movement practices to understand her own consciousness. Amongst these practices, she found the world of yoga by the age of 12 and has held a daily practice and investigation ever since. It became her laboratory and the place to try and embody all her hipotesis around human nature. She started teaching movement practices to children when she was 16 and found her vocation to share the power of embodiment as a tool for self discovery and self empowerment especially to young audiences.

The journey led her to study a career in professional theater at the National Autonomous University of Mexico to study deeply both the expressive and non expressive energy the body was capable of developing and the ways physical awareness was a means to enter deeper states of consciousness and access highly creative states. She studied to be a Somatic Educator and developed a methodology that connected theater, yoga and forest therapy to reduce the symptoms of nature deficiency syndrome in kids.

Her work is a blend of western and eastern approaches, yogic science, expressive practices, art, psychobiology, deep ecology, somatic therapy, sports and grounding. She shares a vision of Yoga which is integral, accessible to all bodies, playful, grounded in the philosophical and scientific principles of yoga, sustainable and with a gender and socioambiental perspective. She has a place called Sangha Yogashala where she shares practice with children and adults based in Tijuana Mexico as well as online and as an itinerant teacher for AireLibre Run. She also tailors workshops for corporates, athletes and groups with specific needs in order to make everybody feel comfortable and belonging in the world of yoga. She sees herself as a somatic explorer and activist.

She has trained as a Somatic Educator in Body Mind Movement, did her 500hr YTT in Ashtanga Vinyasa at Rishikesh with teacher Kamal Singh as well as a 100ht YTT in Pranayama with Sunil Sharma and Upendra Ji, and is currently studying Patanjali Yoga Sutras with Vimal Sharma and Simone Carbonardi at Turiya Yoga Academy. Her main Guru is Tonantzin, mother nature, and to her she dedicates all her efforts.

I started practicing yoga at the age of 17 to heal from a shoulder injury. Quite quickly I began to practice on a daily basis when I came home from school. I realized that practice was nurturing and stabilizing and that I was more relaxed and focused. I decided that when I finished my army duty I would go to India to study yoga.

In the 1980’s I studied with B.K.S Iyengar in Pune and Pattabhi Jois in Mysore. After 12 years of study and practice I realised that I understood next to nothing.

In 1988 I met Dona Holleman and under her guidance I devoted myself to the intense practice she had received from B.K.S Iyengar. I practiced by her side for 12 years whenever I went to Italy or she came to Israel, taught with her three Teacher Trainings and wrote with her a comprehensive text on yoga, ‘Dancing the Body of Light‘.

Having recieved so much from my teachers I felt that it was important to share this knowledge. For this purpose I trained Vijnana Yoga Teachers in Israel, in Europe and North America from 1995-2019.

Nowadays I teach classes in Jeruslem, and lead retreats in Israel, Europe and North America. I also work with a small group of dedicated teachers to continue Vijnana Yoga Teacher Trainings.

During all these years I have continued studying ancient yogic texts. This too is a practice. I studied  Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and in 1994  translated Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra from Sanskrit into Hebrew.

Through the study of ancient texts on pranayama, I delved deeply into texts which described tersely and enigmaticaly the 10 vayus and so uncovered the unique practice of the ten vayus. The book ‘Yoga’s Secret Breath‘ (2008) describes the process and the practice . Another book ‘Yoga Insights‘ (2012) focuses on practicing yoga in life and towards death.

My most recent book, ‘My Yoga Journey’ (2021) describes my search for the wisdom of yoga in India during the eighties. In the book I tell of the special time in Shri Aurobindo’s Ashram, my meetings with teachers  all over India and their teachings. The book also delves into the development of modern yoga in India during the last 120 years.

I traveled and taught ‘practicing from inside’ and ‘the 7 vital principles’  to people who expressed their desire to learn. This is how an international community of Vijnana Yoga developed organically over the years.  Today there are teachers of Vijnana Yoga in Israel, Germany, Holland, England, Denmark, Switzerland, Portugal, Finland, Canada, Mexico, the United States and Australia.

Vimal Sharma:

Namaste, when I shared the idea of this website with my close friend from Israel, Miri Urman Ji, she introduced me the very next day to Orit Ji, one of Israel’s most respected yoga teachers. I reached out to her, shared the vision behind this project, and requested her translation. This was her very first reply:

Dear Vimal,

I have the Yoga Sutra with commentary on Chapter 1 from your teacher, and it is a wonderful work. Your project is a fantastic idea. It will be like a digital online temple devoted to the Yoga Sutra. I would gladly offer you my translation for this site. However, I published the translation into Hebrew in 1993. It was the first translation of the Yoga Sutras into Hebrew (a big honor). But after so many years, I am refining the translation. I hope that by the summer it will be ready and that you will have the patience to wait it out. Let’s stay in contact. All the best, Namaste, Orit.”

I am deeply grateful for Orit Ji’s thoughtful insights, her encouragement, and her generosity in sharing her translation. Her support affirms the importance of this project and strengthens my resolve to make this digital space a true sanctuary for the Yoga Sutras.