Welcome to the growing global mission of Sri Sri Sri Shivabalayogi Maharaj.

Sri Shivabalayogi is one of the foremost saints of India. He was born in 1935 in a small village in south India and entered the spiritual path under the guidance of his guru, Lord Shiva, at the age of 14. After 12 years of tapas, or meditation in samadhi, he attained God-realization. The word "bala" has a dual meaning. On the one hand, it means "boy," so that he was known as the "boy yogi." But it also refers to Parvati, the consort of Shiva. So "Shivabalayogi" also means "the yogi sacred to Shiva and Parvati."

Utilizing the yogic power known in India as tapas shakti, Sri Shivabalayogi began to travel and initiate devotees within a couple of years of completing tapas in 1961. He founded many ashrams and centers in India and made several trips to Europe and the U.S. His chief ashram was in Bangalore, where he founded the International Center for Indian Culture. In 1994 he attained mahasamadhi, when a yogi consciously sheds his earthly body.

Using power and knowledge known only to genuine yogis, Sri Shivabalayogi has remained on earth to guide and serve his old and new devotees. After mahasamadhi, he merged his atman with that of a close devotee and continues as a leader of his mission in that form. He also continues to guide other devotees who wish to attain the status of becoming yogis through tapas. And he appears to devotees around the world to teach and encourage them through visions, dreams, or the special state of bhava samadhi. He is called the Living Yogi.

The core of Sri Shivabalayogi's teaching is dhyan, a powerful type of yogic meditation which is practiced in complete inner and outer silence. Sri Shivabalayogi is known in India as the greatest modern-day practitioner of the art of meditation, which has caused other gurus to send devotees to him for specialized training. The core discipline of his sadhana, or spiritual practice, is for devotees to practice dhyan for at least one hour at the same time each day. Early morning is often recommended for this.

Today, initiation in dhyan is conveyed by specially trained devotees and is offered free-of-charge in the attitude of a friend. Sri Shivabalayogi points out that dhyan is not a religion in the sense of being a sectarian body of belief. Rather it serves to strengthen and enhance whatever spiritual path a person may be on. After initiation, as a person continues with sadhana, the love and guidance which the master showers upon each person is perceived in many ways and on many levels. Daily life itself becomes a spiritual journey.

At the same time, Sri Shivabalayogi will act as a guru for those who are seeking such a special relationship. He does this in the full meaning of the guru/devotee relationship in the ancient Indian yogic tradition.

May the friendship of the Living Yogi bring you blessings throughout your life!