Welcome

 Swami Venkatesananda has often been described as a modern Yogi, a Sanskrit scholar, the author of numerous books and the translator of some of India's most renowned scriptures. 

While his writings and public talks offer boundless knowledge to scholars and students of Yoga, he made it clear to all who spent time with him, that wisdom can best be appreciated and assimilated by its presence in action. He was tempered in the kiln of his Master, Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh, himself an exemplar of wisdom in action. Thus, his life offered a vibrant textbook in practical wisdom, as every word, every action demonstrated a life free from conflict and rooted in harmony. This equanimity diffused into the very atmosphere surrounding him much as a tuning fork transmits its perfect pitch into surrounding space. 

As you explore this website, be alert to the living energy embedded in them. It can be likened to a benevolent virus (his words) ready to be caught by those who are primed and vigilant. In this regard, it will also be useful to remember something he said in his final days with us:

             "All this is description, and no description is ever the same is that which
              is described. Truth is indescribable. It is so indescribably simple
              that every description complicates it." 
               
                    - from The Kingfly Secret, the last talks of Swami Venkatesananda  

                                                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note:   Although a new version of this website has been delayed, we hope to have it functional before the end of 2026.  Thank you for your patience.
 


Daily Readings

The next three daily readings are shown below. You may also view a complete listing on our Calendar of Daily Readings.

August 20, 2026
The Yoga Vāsiṣṭha Volume II — VI.II (On Liberation) Chapter 113-114,115, Verse 115/6

... here on this ocean, lord Nārāyaṇa rests. Here in the other ocean his enemies the demons lie hidden. In that other ocean, mountains lie hidden. Beneath this ocean there is the cosmic fire of unimaginable heat, along with the clouds of cosmic dissolution. How wonderful it is that this ocean is so vast, so firmly established and able to support so much of burden. 

August 20, 2026
Song of God (Bhagavad Gita) — Chapter 11: 36-37

 In verse 23, Arjuna said that all the worlds are terrified. Now he says that the world delights and rejoices in God’s praise. This is not a contradiction, but a ...

August 20, 2026
Venkatesa Daily Readings Volume I

On the first day of life, all babies look alike, but as they grow, each child begins to look like his parents. At the moment of conception, in that fertilized egg, there is already ...