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. 
 

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Daily Readings

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

May 4, 2026
Song of God (Bhagavad Gita) - Chapter VI: 3-4

Indeed,  there  are  stages  in  the  seeker’s  life  when  he  should  be  involved  in  certain external practices and there are stages when he becomes engaged in internal practices. In the highest stages ...

May 4, 2026
Venkatesa Daily Readings Volume I — May 4

What is the most essential pastime of humanity! We are all familiar with the phrase "defender of the faith". In The Bible, "Thou must not kill," is redefined as ...

May 4, 2026
The Supreme Yoga: The Yoga Vāsiṣṭha VI, Part II Chapters 12, Verse 37

... half the ignorance ceases in his company. Another one-fourth is dispelled by the study of scripture and the last part by self-effort.