Swami Sivananda Saraswati

Swami Sivananda Saraswati (Sep 8, 1887—Jul 14, 1963), was an Indian spiritual leader and a well known proponent of Yoga and Vedanta. He is one of the greatest Yoga masters of the 20th century, is the inspiration behind the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers.

Sivananda was born Kuppuswamy in South India. He studied medicine and served in Malaya as a physician for several years before taking up monasticism. He lived most of the later part of his life in Rishikesh. He is the founder Divine Life Society and author of over 200 books on yoga, vedanta and a variety of other subjects.

Sivananda founded the Divine Life Society in 1936 on the banks of the holy Ganges River.