Interview with Krishnamacharyas Daughter and Ramaswami's Mid-March 'Special' Newsletter.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mid March 2012 Newsletter from Srivatsa Ramaswami—Message from Sri Krishnamacharya's Daughter
Last week when I was in Mexico, I received a message on my Facebook
account from Ms Srishubha, daughter of Sri Krishnamacharya, my Guru
and his last child. When I first met her she was about 5 or 6 years
old and the last time I met her was more than 30 years back at my
Guru's residence, she had just then got married. Since there is a
general interest in Sri Krishnamacharya's life and his family I
requested SriShubha for permission to circulate her letter among
friends and she kindly agreed. Here is the correspondence. I did not
want to delay it and club it in with the regular Newsletter due by April 1st
and hence this out of turn letter. Thank you and with best wishes
Sincerely
Srivatsa Ramaswami
   **********
On 3/11/12, Srishubha Mohankumar wrote: 


Respected Ramaswami,

Sorry for the delay in responding, we had a couple of families with
us over the last few days and we were extremely busy.

I am delighted to see your mail and to see that everything is going
well with you. If you decide to publish my letter, I sincerely request you to
publish this slightly modified version below. Since, it is going to be for
public consumption, I just wanted to highlight the impact that my parents
teachings has had on me and my special needs child. Feel free to publish my
email address as well, I am more than happy to answer any questions about
by father that people may have. I would really appreciate it if you would
also send me a copy of the newsletter.

Also, it looks like I might not be in town when you are in Dallas. However, my son would be more than happy to briefly visit you, if you have the time.

Thank you once again for your response. Hopefully, we can meet on my next visit to my son.
Best wishes,
Srishubha
 *******
March 2, 2012

Respected Ramaswami,

I am Srishubha, daughter of T.Krishnamacharya (Appa for me). I happened to read one of your articles and was deeply touched by it. Your article took me back to good old days in the Gopalapuram house and to the time when Appa used to take me along with him to teach a few of his students. Those were some of the very precious moments with father. We used to refer to your house as Chitra Subramaniyam Mama's house. I very fondly remember your mother, Mami, as we called her, who was always smiling like my own mother did. Every day, when I practice or teach, I imagine Appa sitting in his
chair and teaching me. The way you described Appa's inhalation and exhalation technique in your article brought a smile to my face because that's the way he used to teach me. I told my son that this is the exact
way Appa used to take my class; keeping an eye out for any mistakes that I might make.

I am also touched by your mention of the names of my siblings in your article. It was a very nice gesture on your part. This shows the respect you have for Appa.

After coming back from Indonesia, due to my husband's job we traveled a lot. I have lived in Shimla district, Kullu district, and now shuttling between Bangalore and Karnataka's Hassan district. We have a small coffee plantation there. I feel a special connection with Appa when I think of how he too lived in the Himalayas and also managed a coffee estate in Chikmagalur district in his youth. I feel that his blessings made all this possible for me.

I am now in Dallas, Texas with my son Deepak. I will be here till 6th April and then head back to India. I came to Dallas to be with my newly born granddaughter, born on 26th of January this year. I don't know if you remember, I also have a daughter, Harsha, who needs special attention. Her physical and cognitive skills have significantly improved over the years, thanks to teachings of my father and also my mother (her own depth of knowledge in yoga and philosophy is vastly unknown to the world).

*If you happen to be in Dallas during this time we can surely meet. Me, my son and his family would like it very much. Thanks once again for taking me back to those very precious days. I never realised how great Appa was, I am also learning more and more about him from articles such as yours. I am amazed by the impact he has even after so many years of his death.*

Like Appa would recite his very favourite prayer-

Om Namo Narayanaya Namaha
Sri Gurbhyo Namaha.

Kind regards to you and your family,
Srishubha

Translation of Yogasanagalu : Krishnamacharya's Introduction to his 1st, 2nd and 3rd editions.

Many many thanks to Satya Murthy for the continuing translation.

This, along with Krishnamacharya's other book Yoga Makaranda (downloadable HERE), was originally written in Mysore while Krishnamacharya was teaching at the Mysore Palace and while Sri K Pattabhi Jois was his student.

See THIS post for a little background to the text and a video of a flick thorough the book and pictures

Forward to the Yogasanagalu can be found HERE

Download the text in In the original Kanada for Free HERE

Introduction

I did not attempt a detailed review of all ancient yoga treatises since it will make this book very long and perhaps cause boredom to the readers.  Please forgive.  This writing is mainly based on the following texts:

1. Patanjalayogasutra
2. Hathayogapradipika
3. Rajayogaratnakara
4. Yogakuranti
5. Upanishads related to yoga
6. Learning’s from my Guru and self-experience

About the Second Edition

This is the second edition.  Added additional text to one section.  I trust that by reading this, readers and practitioners will be able to overcome their doubts.  With a strong conviction, I suggest and request that teachers will be able to teach the essence of yoga to their students.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            T. Krishnamacharya

Third Edition

There may be many forms of Yoga, but the most important yoga is the one that serves not to lose one’s Dharma of self or Dharma of the nation.

This was said by Bhagavatpatanjai (in Patanjali yogasutras).

Only these two will show the way for people’s life.  Patanjali has explained that the benefits of yoga are mainly these two and can extend from this world into the brighter world.   He also suggested that they are under the control of god, prana and mind.

In addition, those who eat satwik food and practice yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi under the guidance of a guru may be rewarded.  It has been said that in addition to the four objectives of man – dharma, artha, kama and moksha, four additional objectives – god, mind, prana and food are equally important.

The  Maharaja of our Karnataka state, his highness Sri Krishna Rajendra, an enthusiastic yoga advocate having practiced this Patanjala ashtanga yoga for many years under his guru and now wishing that his subjects also benefit from this practice has generously started 1) Maharaja Sanksrit Patha Shala 2) Jaganmohana Palace Sriyogashala 3) Bangalore Sanskrit Patha Shala 4) Mysore Univerisity 4) Chitradurga Sriyogashala and to help with the practice yoga ordered the publication and propagation of “Yogamakaranda”, “Yogasanagalu” and “Yoganjali” volumes in Kannada.

These volumes have been printed in 1) Bangalore Government Press 2) University Publications, Mysore and 3) Private Press.

According to the command of his highness, the first book “Yogamakaranda” has been translated to Tamil and published from Madurai, Tamilnadu.

The author of all these books is also the yoga teacher for his highness.  In order to publish the 3^rd edition of the book “Yogasanagalu” and to help men, women, youth, old and patients practice appropriately, I used a new set of photos and expanded and altered many the topics regarding the practice.

About 38 years ago, our Maharaja took interest in propagating yoga and as a consequence of that action, a healthy lifestyle is growing in many countries.  Before this, it was not available in foreign countries.  Even if some books were available, it was not in this practical format.

I want to express deep gratitude and thanks to the officials of the Mysore University which is renowned in all of Karnataka.

Madras.                                                                                                            Author   

5-10-1972