Swami Kuvalayananda: A Pioneer of Scientific Yoga and Indian Physical Eduction

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This is the first book on the life and Contributions of Swami Kuvalayananda. His Contributions in the fields of Yogic Research - Scientific, Literary and Therapeutic-Yogic Education and Yoga Therapy are elaborately and exhaustively described in the book. Few persons know about his pioneering efforts to give Yoga a scientific status and creating interest among people to adopt Yoga in their day-to-day life as early as in 1920. Swamiji's Contributions in the field of Physical Education is certainly monumental. He succeeded in convincing State and Central educationists about Physical Education being an integral part of general education. This showed his high level of leadership, sound educational policy and the scientific basis he provided for such a programme. His unique contributions made him a pioneer in the fields of scientific Yoga and Indian Physical Education.

DR MANOHAR L. GHAROTE: (b..21-5-1931) M.A.,M.Ed.(Phy.) Ph.D.(Anthrop), Ph.D.(Alt.Med.) D.Y.P., D.S.M., D.B.P. Associated with Swami Kuvalayananda for about 12 years as a student, subject for his experimentation and co-worker. After Swamiji's demise he worked in his Kaivalyadhama as Astt. Dir. of Scientific Research, Dy. Dir. of Literary Research and Principal G.S.College of Yoga and Cultural Synthesis, in Lonavla. He has published several scientific and literary papers on Yoga & written ten books on Yoga, some of which are award-winning. Presently working as the Director, Lonavla Yoga Institute (India).

DR. MANMATH M. GHARCITE : (b.21-9-1966) M.Ed., (Phy), Ph.D., N.D., D.S.M., D.P.Th. (Sport), D.Y.Ed.,D.Y.Th.,D.S.J. Born and brought up in the Kaivalyadhama, Lonavla. Inspired by the personality and work of Swami Kuvalayananda, he selected "Contributions of Swami Kuvalaynanda to the field of Yoga and Physical Education" as a topic of research for his Ph.D. work and obtained the first Ph.D. degree in Physical Education from the Mumbai University. Presently working in the field of Yoga and Physical Education.

It gives me a great pleasure to write this Foreward to the book "Swami Kuvalayananda - A Pioneer of Scientific Yoga and Indian Physical Education" written by Dr. M.L. Gharote and Dr. M.M. Gharote. I am happy because memories of some of the incidents which I knew were rejuvenated and others which had gone almost into oblivion were revived. When I went through the type-script of the book it gave me a great pleasure because mentally and sentimentally I re-lived in those lost moments I had enjoyed in association with the late Revered and Beloved Great Man - Swami Kuvalayanandaji.

In fact, there was a great need of this book, because the greatness and achievements of this illustrious son of India were never brought before the public in their totality and in proper perspective. This lacuna is being made up by this book. But it is not the only importance of it. It brings to light for the first time very significant information together about - i)The start and spread of Yoga movement for the masses, wedded to modern sciences and for the first time based on and supported by Researches with designed and controlled experiments on Yoga techniques carried out rigorously by the modern scientific methods. ii)The Rejuvenation of the Physical Culture movement and its development into a modernised system of Physical Education introduced into the general Educational Institutions and through gymnasia and Vyayam Mandals for the general public. iii)Socio-cultural history of the country, since it not only forms a part of it, but very markedly influences almost all other aspects of the Socio-cultural life of the society, as could be clearly seen from the deliberations spread over the book.

Since the material presented in the book is based on the Thesis presented by the Junior author to the Mumbai University for a Ph.D. degree, the matter is systematically arranged and well presented.

Every person who loves and esteems Yoga and Physical Education would enjoy reading the book. It may also serve as a good source of reference in the fields of Yoga and Physical Education. Others who would read the book will also be benefitted since Swamiji's life-work in the field of Yoga was not limited to the people of this country but for the whole of Humanity without any exceptions such as nation, race, caste, creed, religion, sex or age. Such sentiments were expressed by him in his conversations with me on several occasions and will be found in his writings. I congratulate and pay my sincere personal thanks to the two authors for bringing this very valuable volume to light. For accomplishing this task they, no doubt, had to put great labour and undertake a lot of research, yet in spite of it they have done very well.

Today Yoga has become popular all over the world. But if we consider the situation some eight decades back, we find that Yoga was shrouded in mystery and there were lot of misunderstandings about Yoga which precluded people from taking advantage of this discipline. It was Swami Kuvalayananda who by his scientific approach to Yoga removed the existing misunderstandings and literally brought Yoga to the doors of common man.

He put Yoga 'on the scientific basis at a time when prejudice about Yoga was prevalent among the scientific circles and the aspect of science completely absent in Yogic circle. His contributions in Yoga have been recorded in the areas of Scientific Research, Literary Research, Therapeutical Research, Education in general and Physical Education in particular, as well as in the field of Yogic Therapy.

The fundamental scientific aspects of Yogic methods were first brought to the notice of the public by Swami Kuvalayananda through the Yoga-Mimarnsa Journal started by him in 1924.

He initiated the projects of Textual Research in Yoga. He was the first person to conduct therapeutical research in the Yogic treatment for Asthma in 1963. In the field of Education he prepared Teacher Training Courses in Yoga as early as in 1932. He was the one who organised practice of Yoga on a mass level. He established G.S. College of Yoga and Cultural Synthesis at Lonavla to fulfil the needs of preparing Teachers of Yoga on a greater scale.

His Yogic Therapeutical work became conspicuously successful and its utility was freely acknowledged. His major contributions to the Physical Education may be mentioned as follows:

1. He advocated and incorporated Physical Education as an integral part of general education and was made a curricular subject as a result of which facilities were provided by way of staff, play-ground, equipment for the organisation of Physical Education and Sports in schools.

2. He was mainly responsible for the establishment of the Govt. Training Institute for Physical Education at Kandivli because he firmly believed that Physical Education should be in the hands of teachers with higher educational qualifications.

3. Gymnasia and other voluntary institutions promoting traditional sports and activities were for the first time recognised by the Govt. on the recommendations of the Board of which Swamiji was the Chairman.

4. Special Inspectorate of Physical Education was established during the period of his Chairmanship.

5. Introduction of Yogic exercises in the programme of Physical Education was his great contribution to education in India. Swami Kuvalayananda laid down the foundation on sound Indian cultural background as a result of which Physical Education and Sports have seen expansion from year to year. Thus, he was a Pioneer of both, Scientific Yoga and Indian Physical Education.

The senior author was the direct student and a subject for the scientific experiments of Swami Kuvalayananda and he spent valuable 12 years in Swamiji's company. He resided in his Kaivalyadhama for 37 years and served there in different capacities such as Assistant Director of Scientific Research, Deputy Director of Philosophico-Literary Research and Principal, G.S. College of Yoga and Cultural Synthesis until his retirement in 1991.

The junior author was born and brought up in the Kaivalyadhama in an atmosphere and conditions devoted to Yoga. As he gained understanding he developed tremendous respect and attraction for Swamiji's towering personality and appreciation for his contributions in the field of Yoga as well as for Physical Education. This inspired him for his undertaking "Swami Kuvalayananda's Contributions to Yoga and Physical Education" as a subject for his Ph.D. research. This was the first attempt to highlight and evaluate the contributions of Swami Kuvalayananda. This book is based mainly on the information collected for the Ph.D. research of the junior author.

**Contents and Sample Pages**