Monday, October 16, 2017

Sutras over Skype

People from across world visit the Narasimhan house in Mysuru. The main purpose is to have peace of mind, and learnt the philosophy. The duo have toured seven nations in Europe and visited at least ten states in United States apart from several countries in South East Asia, spreading the knowledge of ancient culture.  


At M A Narasimhan’s house near Jaganmohan Palace in Mysuru, a sense of tranquility prevails with the chanting of yoga sutras. For yoga practitioners and instructors from across the world, Narasimhan and his sister Dr M A Jayashree are the go-to people to get a deeper understanding of the ancient discipline. The duo’s popularity has grown so wide that they even conduct classes on yoga sutras and the Bhagavad Gita over Skype.

Narasimhan (74) and Jayashree have been teaching yoga sutras and the Bhagavad Gita to foreigners for the past two decades. Narasimhan, a Science graduate​,​ is specialised in Research Methodology and Advanced Psychology in education. Jayashree is a retired Sanskrit professor. Jay​a​shree also received a doctorate on the thesis ‘Concept of Mind in Indian Philosophy and Vidwat in Carnatic Music (vocal)’.

Mysuru, a city well known for its yoga schools, has had a steady inflow of foreigners who fly down to learn yoga. For such students, Narasimhan and Jayashree provide training in yoga sutras for a few weeks or sometimes even months. There are a few who have returned to Mysuru for more than six times to complete their learning of the yoga sutras. “Our lifestyles have changed. Most of us have stopped eating non vegetarian food, consuming alcohol and are settling down in stable marriages. We feel like Indians and are more relaxed,” s​ays a foreign student who is undergoing training with the duo.   

“Those who are committed to learning yoga visit Mysuru and it’s a great privilege to be with them,” says 66-year-old Jay​a​shree.  “Once they begin practising yogasana and pranayama they slowly realise there is something that ‘exists’ separate from the body. We teach them transcendental meditation. Since they are already doing asanas and pranayama they go through an extraordinary experience in meditation, leaving them more interested in the Indian system of knowledge,” she adds.   

“A very small number of people come to Mysuru to learn yoga. Some of them have become good teachers. They teach yoga exercises, but don’t practi​se the philosophy behind yoga. Those who learn from us are in turn training others. In fact, foreigners seem to be more interested in learning the philosophy more than Indians,” adds Jayashree. 

Narasimhan says, “It was our love for India that encouraged us to teach Vedic traditions to foreigners. Many modern scholars do not know Sanskrit and they can’t grasp the essence of ancient knowledge. It was then that we began research in philosophy and yoga.”

“There are both admirers and critics of India in the western world. If one visits prestigious universities and meet scholars of Indology, they say how foolish India is. This hurt me so much that I decided to teach the rich heritage of India to foreigners, emphasising on the universal value of Indian thoughts.

“According to a section of thinkers, philosophy should be based on logic. Whereas, in India it’s completely based on text. As there is no one God, one religion and one language, Indian system is diverse. At the academic level there ​are ​a lot of admirers and non admirers too. Our own people who hold respectable positions don’t respect ​our culture.” The duo ha​s toured Europe​,​ U​S​​ and Asia, spreading the knowledge of ancient culture.

Adan from Mexico who is coming to Mysuru for third time to learn chanting Bhagavadgita says, “I love the Indian culture. Chanting yoga sutra and Bhagavadgita is more spiritual. I like the conversations between Krishna and Arjuna very much. Though its not easy to learn and understand the subjects and laguages, we feel great when we read out a paragraph. Am impressed with the Sanskrit language and the subject kindles curious. I have plans to come next year for longer period and gain deeper knowledge about bhagavadgita.”

Patricia Veronica from Argentina said: “India is rich in culture. I feel more confidence and calm and having a peace of mind chanting Yoga Sutra, Bhagavadgita. The concentration has increased in my work, and I feel more graceful. The message of Bhavadgita are much needed to lead a peaceful life. There is still a long way to gain a deep wisdom.”

How the sutras are taught
 
The fore​igners are made to read yoga sutras of Maharshi Pat​anjali (about 150) and other sutras from a 140-page booklet. The booklet is a transc​ript of the CD ‘Yogasutrani of Maharasi Patanjali’ chanted by Jayashree. The sutras are printed both in Sanskrit and English, one below the other. Students are also given an English translation of the Bhag​a​vad Gita. Students learn 18 chapters from the scripture. The CDs are available for purchase online as well. The booklet has also been translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese and other widely spoken languages in Europe.  For yoga practitioners​,​ who find it difficult to make a visit to Mysuru, the duo also conduct​s​classes over Skype. Students living in the same time zone are brought together and taught the yoga sutras and Bhagavad Gita.

Penned texts

With the help of Ananth Research Foundation, Mysuru and Itihasa Bharathi, Narasimhan and Jayashree have written books on the history of River Saraswathi, which has been translated ​in all the Indian languages​. They have even translated many texts from palm leaves and penned a book on the journey of science through the ages, and the contributions of India to science. They are also instrumental in recording the history of Melukote. Their library has a collection of books dating back to 150 years.

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