Yogacharini Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani
CURRICULAM VITAE
Name : Smt. MEENAKSHI DEVI BHAVANANI
HUSBAND NAME : Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri @ Dr. Ananda Bhavanani
Date of Birth : 13th September 1943
PLACE OF BIRTH : Minneapolis, Minn, USA
NATIONALITY : Born as American Citizen. Received Naturalization as an Indian
Citizen on November 30th, 1992.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
1) B.A (English, Journalism, and Foreign Relations – Diplomatic Service) from the University of, Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. (1964)
2) M.A (English and Journalism) from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA. (Incomplete). (1966)
3) Honorary Doctorate of Creative Journalism from Vishwa Unnayan Samsad, Kolkota. (1989)
4) Imbibed the art and science of Classical Rishiculture Ashtanga (Gitananda) Yoga under the guidance of the world-renowned Guru Yogamaharishi Yogashiromani Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj from 1968 to 1993. Since Guru’s Samadhi in 1993, Acharya In-Charge of Propagating and Preserving his lineage
5) Bharatanatyam training under the world-renowned Guru Padma Shri Adyar K. Lakshmanan (Chennai, Tamil Nadu) from 1975 till date, in the traditional Kalakshetra style as formulated by Smt Rukhmani Devi Arundale, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Performed Arangetram in 1981
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
1. YOGAMANI, from President of India Sri Giani Zail Singh at World Yoga Conference, Asian Village, New Delhi (1986).
2. BHASKAR AWARD awarded to 50 eminent Public Figures in social work, political life, spiritual, artistic and cultural activities nationwide as part of the 50th Year Celebrations of Indian Independence. From Bharat Nirman, New Delhi in 1997.
3. PUDUVAI KALAIMAMANI, from the Lt Governor of Pondicherry Smt Dr Rajani Rai Ji on behalf of Govt of Pondicherry in 1998. The State’s highest award for Masters of the Carnatic Arts of Vocal, Instrumental Music and Classical Dance. As an exponent and Guru of Bharat Natyam, the Classical Dance of India.
4. Received GOLD MEDAL (Bharat Natyam) from Chief Minister Sri N Rangasamy on behalf of Govt of Pondicherry in 2001.
5. Elected FELLOW of the Indian Academy of Yoga, Benaras Hindu University (2003) in recognition and appreciation for her outstanding intellectual, scholastic, & professional contribution towards Academic Acceptance of Yoga on 27.4.2003
6. Received OUTSTANDING SENIOR CITIZEN Award from Chief Secretary Sri Dr R Padmanaban on behalf of Pondicherry Eves Junior Chamber (JAYCEES) on 15/8/2003.
7. Received the ACHIEVER’S AWARD 2003 for her significant contribution to the cultural and spiritual life of Indian Society from the Vinayagar Chathurthi Festival committee.
8. Yogacharya BANGALORE SUNDARAM GOLD MEDAL for Excellence in Yoga from Asana Andiappan College of Yoga and Research Centre, Chennai at Anna University, Chennai on 7/12/03 awarded by Governor of Tamil Nadu for her noble contribution, distinguished service and outstanding merits in propagating Yoga in India and world wide.
9. Best Educationist Award from National Assessment and Accreditation Council, Bangalore and All India Educational and Psychologists Association January 7th, 2005.
10. Received Marutha Ramalinganar BEST SENIOR CITIZEN Award on 16th June 2005 by Youth Peace Club of Pondicherry.
11. Received PUDUVAI SHAKTI Award from Women Task Force Y2K of Pondicherry. This meritorious title was given in appreciation of her 38 years of Yogic life in teaching Yoga and Bharat Natyam on 4th March 2006 by the hands of Chief Minister of Puducherry.
12. Received the Title Award Palkalai Poombozhil from Pullavar I. Patabhiraman, President of Valluvar Villeasi Kuzhu, Pondicherry on 22nd September 2006 for her excellence as a Guru of Bharat Natyam and Yoga. (The Award literally means; she whose life and work is like a garden where spiritual and cultural arts are nurtured amongst all who come under her influence).
13. Received Pathanjali Award on 4th February 2007 from Lions Clubs International during the South India Regional Meeting (4th Tamil Nadu Lions Meet 2007) held at Pondicherry Engineering College, Puducherry. Event was attended by International and National Presidents of Lion’s Club International and several thousand delegates.
14. United Poets Laureate International with headquarters in California, USA. presented Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani with Certificate of Excellence and Gold Medal in recognition and appreciation of Excellence in Poetry for World Brotherhood and Peace. Presented at the city of Hercules, California, U.S.A. on 17th June 2007. The Award was presented during the Annual Convention of United Poets Laureate International by President Bejamin Duzon.
15. Awarded Saiva Neeri Chemmal (One Who Lives Exemplary Life According to Saivite Ideals) on February 2008 by the “Panniru Thirumurai World Conference 2008”.
16. Founding Member and Director, Elected Chairman Publicity and Public Relations Committee of INDIAN YOGA ASSOCIATION in Pune, May 2008. The Executive Board of Directors of the IYA is composed of the Heads of twelve major Yoga Schools, Yoga Ashrams and Yoga Institutes of India. The IYA is under the Sponsorship of Ministry of Health, Department of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi.
17. Received the Title Award Shiva Yoga Jyothi from Pullavar I. Pattabiramane, President of Valluvar Villiasi Kuzhu, Pondicherry in August 2008 for her dedicated service to the cause of Shaivite culture through the dance dramas such as Sambandar, Nandanar and Kannappar.
18. Awarded SRI AUROBINDO AWARD (Mahan Arvindar Virudu) on November 14th 2009 by the Pondicherry State Artists Association.
PUBLICATIONs
a. EDITOR: YOGA LIFE (International monthly journal on Yoga and Indian Culture) since 1968 till date.
b. EDITOR and PUBLISHER: SATYA PRESS. International book-house publishing works on Yoga and Indian Culture from 1975 to date.
c. Author of :
1. Yoga: One Woman’s View
2. Yoga for Expectant Mothers and Others
3. Yoga and Sports (Co Author)
4. A Heart that is Distant (Poetry Book)
5. Frankly Speaking (Editor)
6. Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali (Editor)
7. History of Yoga From Ancient to Modern Times (Literary Research) 3000 Printed Pages Three Volumes - In Press
8. Rishi and Rakshashas 2000 Printed Pages (Fiction In Press)
9. For Whom The Bell Tolls: A Book of Poetry
10. Efforts To Comprehend The Infinite:
A Collection of Meditative Essays.
PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL WORK
1) Professional Journalist, Writer, Editor, Administrator, Novelist, Poet, Feature Writer, Researcher, Teacher, Lecturer and Conference Speaker and Organizer.
2) Professional Teacher of Bharat Natyam and Ashtanga Yoga.
3) Administrator and Director of three International Institutes (Yoganjali Natyalayam; International Centre for Yoga Education and Research (ICYER) and Sri Kambliswamy Madam) with working and teaching staff of more than fifty employees.
4) Choreographer, Producer, Director and Presenter of twelve full length Bharat Natyam Dance Dramas and more than thirty mini-dance drama.
5) Director of well-known Bharat Natyam and Carnatic Music Troupe Yoganjali Natyalayam for thirty-five years with hundreds of prestigious programmes presented all over India and some foreign countries.
6) Performer of Bharat Natyam since 1975. (A non-performing Guru since 1993)
7) Well known Lecturer and Seminar and Conference Presentor.
8) Director of Studies and Main Acharya for Annual Six Month Residential International Yoga Teachers Training Course at International Center for Yoga Education and Research. ICYER (Courses have been held annually without fail since 1968, from October 2nd to March 25th annually). The Course admits a maximum of twenty candidates each year who must undergo a strict selection process including a previous one year study of a 52 lesson Correspondence Course in Yoga. Students come from all countries of the world including India. The course is the equivalent of an M.A in Yoga in content and intensity.
9) Organising Secretary of Five International Yoga Conferences, Advisor and Consultant to scores of other International Conference.
9) PRESIDENT
a) YOGA JIVANA SATSANGHA (International), Thattanchavady, Pondicherry – 605 009.
b) PONDICHERRY YOGASANA ASSOCIATION, 25, IInd Cross, Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry – 605 013.
10) DIRECTOR
a) International Centre for Yoga Education and Research (ICYER) Kottakuppam, Tamil Nadu – 605 104, India.
b) Yoganjali Natyalayam, 25, IInd Cross, Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry – 605 013.
c) Publicity and Public Relations. Indian Yoga Association (Sponsored by Ministry of Health, Depart of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi)
a) Sri Kambliswamy Madam (Samadhi) Thattanchavady, Pondicherry – 9
b) Indian Academy of Yoga, Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P, India.
12) MANAGING EDITOR
a) YOGA LIFE, International Monthly Journal, Pondicherry, India. (Since 1970)
b) SATYA PRESS, Pondicherry (Since 1970)
13) HON ADVISOR
a) INDIAN YOGA FEDERATION, Kolkota, India.
b) INTERNATIONAL YOGA COUNCIL, International Yoga Federation, Brazil, South America.
c) INTERNATIONAL YOGA FESTIVAL, Tourism Department, Govt of Pondicherry since 1993.
14) PATRON and ACHARYA
a) Sanathana Dharma Sangha, Italy
b) 130 Centres of Rishiculture Ashtanga (Gitananda) Yoga in twenty-three countries all over the world
c) Gitananda Yoga Associations of Australia, Italy, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, UK and USA.
15) CORRESPONDENT
a) HINDUISM TODAY, International Monthly Journal, U.S.A.
b) Various Yoga and other secular magazines and newspapers world wide and throughout India.
16) YOGA CONSULTANT
a) NCERT: Value Based Education Consultation Meetings, Government of India, New Delhi and Mysore (2003 and 2004)
b) Indian Council for Philosophical Research, (Government of India) New Delhi (2003)
17) MEMBER
a) Governing Council, CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH IN YOGA AND NATUROPATHY (CCRYN), Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi. (2000-2004)
b) National Yoga Education, Academic Committee, Government of India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi.
c) Academic Council, Pondicherry Central University.(2003-2007)
d) Governing Board, Indian Academy of Yoga, Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P, India.
e) General Body, Moraji Desai National Institute for Yoga (MDNIY) (Government of India), New Delhi. 2009
f) Finance Committee, Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi. (2000-2004)
g) Scientific Advisory Committee, Moraji Desai National Institute for Yoga (MDNIY) (Government of India), New Delhi. (2009)
Address : RESIDENCE:
ANANDA ASHRAM at Sri Kambaliswamy Madam, Thattanchavady, Pondicherry – 9 .
Address for corresspondence:
icyer, 16-A Mettu Street, Chinnamudaliarchavady, Kottakuppam, (Via Pondicherry), Tamil Nadu - 605 104. India.
TELEPHONE : 0413-2622902, 0413-2241561
E MAIL : amma@icyer.com
YOGACHARINI
MEENAKSHI DEVI BHAVANANI
Yogamani Kalaimamani Yogacharini MEENAKSHI DEVI BHAVANANI is the Director and Resident Acharya of the world famous International Centre for Yoga Education and Research (ICYER / Ananda Ashram) at Pondicherry. She is the Dharmapatni and senior most disciple of the internationally acclaimed Yoga master, Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj and has devoted her life to his teachings and to institutions founded by him. A trained journalist by profession, her articles, essays and features appear regularly in National and International press. She is Editor / Managing Director of Satya Press, a publishing house based in Pondicherry.
Under the tutorledge of her Bharat Natyam master Padma Shri Adyar K. Lakshman of Kalakshetra, Chennai. She is an accomplished Bharat Natyam performer with hundreds of performances all over India and the world. She has trained many thousands of students in Yoga and Bharatanatyam in the past 40 years. She was the Director along with her Guru Swami Gitananda Giri of Sri Kambliswamy Yoga and Cultural Arts Youth Programme since 1975 which trained more than 20,000 rural youth in the Carnatic Arts and Yoga free of cost. They are considered pioneers in bringing Carnatic Arts and Yoga to the common people in Pondicherry. She is Editor of the International Yoga journal YOGA LIFE since 1970. She has organised five major International Yoga Conferences in Pondicherry and is adviser to Department of Tourism, Government of Pondicherry for its Annual International Yoga Festival now entering its 17th year. She is a prolific author with 10 books, including two books of poetry to her credit. She is Director of Yoganjali Natyalayam, a popular City Centre for the propagation of Classical Yoga, Bharat Natyam and Carnatic Music in Pondicherry and has developed a famous Bharat Natyam troupe that appears regularly in prestigious festivals and also stages spectacular Bharat Natyam and Yoga programmes yearly all over India. The troupe is well known for its inclusion of the acrobatic Natya Karanas (poses) into its repertoire. She has also choreographed 15 Major Dance Dramas of three-hours length on various spiritual themes in the past 16 years.
She has been recipient of many National and State Awards. She was awarded the title "Yogamani" in 1986 by the President of India Shri Zail Singh Ji at Asian Village, New Delhi. In 1997 she was awarded the National Award, Bhaskar Award by Bharat Nirman and Indian Trade Promotion Organisation, New Delhi, one of fifty eminent Indians so honoured during the 50th year of Indian Independence for their contribution to Indian culture and spirituality. In January 1999 she was given the highest award by the Pondicherry Government for an artist, the Puduvai Kalaimamani Award for her work in Bharata Natyam. She was the second artist so honoured. In December 1999 she was named as an eminent Yoga expert to the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy, under the Health Ministry, Government of India, New Delhi and she was named to the Finance Committee of this Council in March 2000. She was named to the Academic Council, Pondicherry University, in March 2000. She has served on several inspection teams and several committees in her capacity as a member of this Academic Council. She was awarded a Gold Medal by Government of Pondicherry for her work in Bharata Natyam on February 26, 2001. She is advisor to the only Central Government Yoga Training Institute in India, the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, New Delhi.
Smt Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani was honoured with the award of OUTSTANDING SENIOR CITIZEN by the Pondicherry Junior Chamber (Jaycees) on the 15th August 2003. The honorable Chief Secretary, Govt of Pondicherry presented the award at a glittering function on the 15th August 2003. She was awarded the Outstanding Achiever’s Award 2003 by the Vinayagar Chathurthi Committee in recognition for her services in promoting Yoga and Indian Cultural Arts in Pondicherry. She was awarded the Bangalore Sundaram Gold Medal for her “Noble Contribution, Distinguished Service and Outstanding Merits in Yoga” by Asana Andiappan College of Yoga and Research Centre, Chennai, at Anna University, Chennai, December 7th, 2003. She is recognized as a leading intellectual expert in the deeper aspects of Yoga. In recognition of this aspect of her work, she was elected as Fellow of Indian Academy of Yoga, Banaras Hindu University, Banaras on April 27th, 2003. The Indian Academy of Yoga is a prestigious body of nominated members from the medical, legal, judicial, professional and academic levels of Indian Society. It is an Academy, constructed on similar lines to the Indian Academy of Science, and membership is “by invitation only”. Prominent professional men such as world-famous brain surgeon Brigadier Padma Shri Dr Sri B. Ramamurthy of Chennai are founding members. Its membership rolls read like a “Who’s Who of Yoga and Science” and include such Yogic luminaries as B.K.S. Iyengar of Pune and Yogacharya Shri TKV Desikachar of Chennai. She has been awarded the PUDUVAI SHAKTI AWARD from the WOMEN TASK FORCE Y2K in March 2006 in recognition of her yeomen service for the cause of Yoga and Indian cultural fine arts in Pondicherry. She was awarded the title PALKALAI POOMPOZHIL by Pulavar I. Pattabhiraman, the Director of Valluvar Villisai Group on 22nd September 2006. She has also received the Patanjali Award from the Lion’s Club and is member of Expert panel of the Task Force For Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) for Dept of AYUSH, Ministry of Health. Govt of India, New Delhi. She is advisor of the World Yoga Council of the International Yoga Federation and is Advisor, Gitananda Yoga Associations of Italy, Spain, USA, Germany, UK, Czech Republic, South Africa and Australia.
Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani is considered one of the major International and National leaders of the modern Yoga movement. She is regularly called to New Delhi and elsewhere to offer her advice in Seminars, Conference and Official Government meetings. Though born in the USA in 1943, she came to India in 1967 and has lived here ever since. She was awarded Indian Citizenship on November 30th, 1992, in her own words “the proudest day of my life.”