From the Museum: The Personal Effects of Shri Yogendra ji
Diving into the personal realm of Shri Yogendra ji, the founder of The Yoga Institute, through the artefacts displayed in The Yogendra Museum of Classical Yoga
Shri Yogendra Museum of Classical Yoga
World's first Yoga Museum, Shri Yogendra Museum of Classical Yoga, was inaugurated in 1987 at The Yoga Institute, by the then President of India, Shri Giani Zail Singh. Conceptualized to show Yoga as a way of life, it provides guidelines for all those who are interested in studying classical Yoga. The museum presents a historical and balanced view of Yoga, which is a necessity amidst the confusion that has spawned in Yoga activities in India and abroad.
Books & SpectaclesThe Yoga Institute
With an array of indoor and outdoor displays, and amongst the various sections on the history and concepts of Yoga, the museum also has a collection of articles belonging to Shri Yogendraji, in honour of his memory.
Let's take a look at some of these items that he used to use!
Spectacles FramesThe Yoga Institute
These spectacles belong to the man with bright vision, phenomenal passion, and distinguished purpose.
Reading Magnifier GlassesThe Yoga Institute
Shri Yogendraji's quest for detailed study and thorough examination is seen through his magnifying glass.
"The greatest magnifying glasses in the world are a man's own eyes when they look upon his own person."
- Alexander Pope
Fountain PenThe Yoga Institute
Shri Yogendraji early in his life displayed a remarkable penchant for writing. By the time he was nineteen years old he had already written eight books.
PenThe Yoga Institute
Shri Yogendraji early in his life displayed a remarkable penchant for writing. By the time he was nineteen years old he had already written eight books.
GlassThe Yoga Institute
"Knowledge poured in my hands like a waterfall. My hands were outstretched and my cupped hands were overflowing, could not hold the water, I cried and wished the knowledge be spread to all." - Shri Yogendraji
Hari CombThe Yoga Institute
Hair brush belonging to Founder Shri Yogendraji
Smt. Hansaji narrated a typical morning routine of Shri Yogendraji at the age of 86 years - “ His is a deep sleep. He gets up in the morning at about 6-00 a.m., depending on the climate. I come to know from my room when he drives away the crows on a summer morning, that he is up early. On the other days I would hear him attend to certain routine duties a little late, like opening the iron shutters o f the drawing room, and winding our four watches and clocks. He would then switch on the radio to ascertain the correct time. He has a very simple yet a very complete mouthwash, and then he carries on a few more duties in his own bedroom, such as arranging things for the day."
Like a rigorous old mariner, Shri Yogendraji policed the waves of spiritual debates with razor sharp understanding and wit to match.
Shri Yogendraji used this cloth for Vastra Dhauti which is one of the six purification techniques of Hatha Yoga called the Shatkarma. Vastra Dhauti is specifically aimed at cleaning the stomach and esophageal tract.
Sutra neti is an advanced form of yogic nasal cleansing. Traditionally, waxed cotton string was used by Shri Yogendraji for this kriya.
Gradually, he taught sutra neti with the use of a rubber catheter instead of the string as it is easily available in any medical store.
For Yogendraji, Yoga was never a religion. He always went about it in a very scientific way demystifying de-linking it from religion, salvaging it from the forests and the withdrawn ascetics to bring it home within the radial warmth of domestic existence.
Yogendraji's footwear known as MojariThe Yoga Institute
A journey begins with a single step......and continues for hundreds of years, encouraging millions of people to follow this path and continue the journey.
This pair of footwear belonged to Yogendraji. Typically Indian, the jutti, also known as mojari is traditional footwear worn mostly in North India.
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