Today, 23/11/2020, is the 122 birth anniversary (janma nakshatram), of world renowned Yogacharya Shri. Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, 18-11-1888 to 28-02-1989. Krishnamacharya, the strict, intimidating yoga teacher, ayurvedic healer and scholar , known as the “ Father of Modern Yoga “ , born in Muchukandapura, in Chitradurga dist of Mysore Smasthanam , in orthodox Brahmin family. He has authored several books on Yoga, to mention a few, Yoga Makaranda, Yogaasanagadu, Yoga Rahasya, Yogavalli etc. He spent much of his youth travelling through India studying six “ Darsana” (Hindu Philosophy), ie Vaisesika, Nyaya , Samkya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vednata. At 18 he left for Banares, known as “Varanasi” the centre for traditional learning.
During his travel of the country , to propagate Yoga, he held several demonstrations including suspending pulse( heart beat) , stopping the moving car with bare hands, lifting heavy objects by teeth etc. In 1926, while in Varanasi, the then Maharaja of Mysore Shri. Krishna Raja Wadiyar heard about his skills as yoga therapist and engaged him to teach yoga in Musore palace. He was recognized as “ Aasthana Vidwan”. The Maharaja patronized him and sent all over the country to lecture on yoga. He helped Krishnamacharya to start a school “ Yogashala “ in Mysore. Krishnamacharya is the architect of “ Viniyaasana” , combining breathing with movement. The style created by him is called “ Viniyoga “ or Viniyaasna Karma Yoga meaning “ teach what is appropriate for an individual.
After the death of Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar , in 1940, the new Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar has stopped all the help/aids. The Yogacharya has faced severe sever financial crunch , in spite of his best efforts. Had to close the school and relocated to Madras. A well known lawyer from Madras , who a=sought the help to heal the “ stroke” , extended a;; help to relocate in Madras.
At the age of 96, he fractured his hip, reused surgery , designed a course to treat himself in bed, continued teaching. Slipped into coma and died in 1989 at the age of one hundred years. Many of the contemporary yoga teachers were his students, Indira Devi ( 1899-2002), K.Pattabi Jois ( 1915-2009), BKS Iyengar ( 1918-2014), TKV Desikacharya (1938-2016), Srivatsa Ramaswmay (1939) and AG Mohan ( 1945)
His son and student TKV, Desikacharya , started “ Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram” to carry forth the invaluable teachings of his illustrious father.
