Capturing the infinite

Located in the tranquil precincts of Model Colony, everything about the place exudes a sense of quietude and grace. Which is only to be e...

Located in the tranquil precincts of Model Colony, everything about the place exudes a sense of quietude and grace. Which is only to be expected from an institute considered the temple of good health by thousands of disciples of Iyengar Yoga from all over the world.

Established in 1975, the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute is dedicated to Ramamani Iyengar, who inspired her husband, Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, to propagate yoga throughout the world.

What strikes you first about the place is its unique architectural design 8211; it is shaped like a pyramid. Consisting of a basement and three floors, with a shrine for Lord Hanuman situated at the top of the building, everything about the structure is symbolic. The height of the building is 71 ft, to be seen as seven plus one equalling eight, which represents the vertical growth of the eight limbs of yoga. It is also the symbol of the Beeja Mantra Om Namo Narayanaya. Further, there are 88 steps leading right upto the shrine. Here, each digit represents Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali and the eight steps of Samadhi.

The building rests on a main column, from which eight beams radiate towards eight external columns symbolic of the eight-fold path of yoga as enunciated in the yoga sutras of Patanjali: Yama moral principles, Niyama individual principles, Asanas postures, Pranayama regulation of breath, Pratyahara withdrawal of senses from objects of desire, Dharana concentration, Dhyana meditation and Samadhi trance. The main column is also representative of the spinal column, with the spaces between the outer columns akin to the seven stages of consciousness.

If at the apex it is the idol of Lord Hanuman, the embodiment of strength and stability, the entrance is adorned with the statue of sage Patanjali, author of Yoga Sutra, who seems to bless every entrant to the institute. 8220;Initially, I wanted to install the idol of Lord Balaji but was advised by everyone that it may crack in time due to Pune8217;s climate and this would not be a good omen. So I got a two-and-a-half-tonne idol of Lord Hanuman made out of solid concrete,8221; elaborates Iyengar.

Finally, the roof8217;s buttress represents the various paths to the highest goal of merging with the infinite, while the building8217;s three floors represent Bahiranga Sadhana, Antaranga Sadhana and Antaratma Sadhana, the external, internal and innermost quests of yoga, respectively.

A product of love and dedication to yoga, the institute also emphasises the virtues of cleanliness, punctuality, regularity and faith in the teacher. All of which has combined to make the place almost a revered spot for the disciples of Iyengar yoga.