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, contemplating his stirring words, 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.

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Note:  We are reworking the biographical material that has previously been linked to here and plan to add an updated version on our new and forthcoming website, hopefully before the end of this year.  We appreciate your patience.     

Although our new version of this website has been delayed, we are happy to announce that progress is being made, and while we work on that effort, we'll continue to add some features to this current site.  By way of example, we will occasionally be posting readings from Swami Venkatesananda's translation of The Yoga Vasistha in our daily readngs section. For these postings, we will be using portions of Swami Venkatesananda's 1971 two-volume edition, entitled The Supreme Yoga.  Look for these occasional postings during the months of August and September of 2025. 
 


Daily Readings

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

July 11, 2026
Bhagavad Gita - Song of God - Chapter 9: 26-27

Whatever may be our approach to the supreme being, in accordance with our inner equipment, predisposition, temperament and taste, we ought to make it a point to feel that in and through the chosen symbol, we are contacting the supreme being himself, as he is the indwelling presence. (cf. verse 24

July 11, 2026
Venkatesa Daily Readings Volume 1 — July 11

In 1953 the Parliament of Religions was convened in the ashram. For three days the whole ashram was humming with activity. hundreds of visitors had come. The last day's program was ...

July 11, 2026
The Yoga Vāsiṣṭha Pt II (On Liberation) Chapter 76, Verse 39

The waters of this extraordinary and supernatural rain mixed with the fires that were still burning. The two could not defeat or conquer each other and hence they were ill-matched enemies (because their equal prowess made the conflict interminable and inconclusive). They were of great strength and power. Therefore, their collision was extremely fearsome to witness.