YOGI S.A.A.RAMAIAH

Born into one of South India's wealthiest families, S.A.A. Ramaiah lead the life of a well brought-up young man in the days of the British Raj. He graduated from university at the top of his class, married and prepared to begin a career as a geologist, when his life seemed to come to a halt. Stricken with bone tuberculosis, he spent six years imprisoned in a full body cast. Most people would find this to be a fate worse than death, but to the future yogi it was a blessing. He spent his days in meditation, exploring the dimensions of consciousness. But ultimately, his quest could go no farther in his immobile state. He vowed to leave his body by holding his breath. At that moment he heard a voice. "Do not end your life. Live it for me!"

The next morning, Ramaiah awoke with the realization that he had been healed. From that very day, he devoted his life to serving the person of the mysterious voice, who he soon discovered was the immortal Babaji. Ramaiah's aim was, as he put it, to become "a dust on Babaji's lotus feet." Those who knew him can attest that he succeeded. Yogi Ramaiah's life shines as a rare example of absolute surrender to God!

Over the centuries, Babaji has inspired and directed many yogis. By the mid twentieth century, he felt the need for an organization that he himself would direct. Babaji called Ramaiah to go deep into the Himalayas where he trained him in the yogic techniques or kriyas of Babaji's yoga.

"Yogiar", as he was affectionately called by his students, has been called a "tough guru". He was more likely to yell at his followers than to praise them. His method, his students discovered, was the most effective way to "crush their egos" and mold them into more effective yoga sadhaks.

Yogiar left his body in 2006. His legacy includes an International Yoga organization with centers and temples on six continents, dozens of books on Kriya Yoga and the Eighteen Tamil Siddhas, and hundreds of hours of recorded lectures on many topics, some of which are available through this website. The task of spreading Babaji's philosophy and yogic methods is now left to Yogiar's students.