The Paths of Pravritti and Nivritti

The Yogadrishti (Yogavision) series of satsangs consists of discourses given by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati in Munger as part of the new phase of Sannyasa life that he has embarked upon since 2009.

The paths of pravritti (intense attachment to the world) and nivritti (disassociation from the material world) were the theme of the satsangs Swamiji gave in June 2010 at Ganga Darshan after returning from a period of meditation and contemplation in the high Himalayas.

Swamji Introduces the theme with a metaphorical tale of Atmaram and his journey to the City of light. Fundamental questions are answered the basis and method of living harmoniously while following a material life the point at which an aspirant moves on to the spiritual path and the role of a guide on the journey.

Swami Niranjanananda was born in Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh) in 1 960. Guided from birth by his guru, Swami Satyananda Saraswati, he came at the age of four to live with him at the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger where he received training in yogic and spiritual sciences through yoga nidra. in 1971 he was initiated into Dashnami sannyasa, and thereafter for eleven years he lived overseas, mastering skills in varied areas, acquiring an understanding of different cultures and helping establish Satyananda Yoga ashrams and centers in Europe, Australia, North and South America.

At the behest of his guru, he returned to India in 1983 to guide the activities of Bihar School of Yoga, Sivananda Math and the Yoga Research Foundation at Ganga Darshan. In 1990 he was initiated as a paramahamsa sannyasin and in 1995 anointed spiritual preceptor in succession to Swami Satyananda Saraswati. He established Bihar Yoga Bharati, the first university of yoga, in 1994 and the Yoga Publications Trust in 2000 in Munger. He also initiated a children’s yoga movement, Bat Yoga Mitra Mandal, in 1995. In addition to steering the activities at Munger, he travelled extensively to guide seekers around the world till 2009, when he received the command to embark on a new phase of sannyasa life.

Author of many classic books on yoga, tantra and the Upanishads, Swami Niranjan is a magnetic source of wisdom on all aspects of yogic philosophy, practice and lifestyle. He ably combines tradition with modernity as he continues to nurture and spread his guru’s mission from his base at Munger.