As we welcome this new moon, I reflect on the beauty of darkness. Too often, we have been taught to fear it, to shun it, or to see it as the opposite of light. Yet in truth, darkness is not our enemy. It is the quiet ground from which light is born; without it, illumination would have no meaning. The task before us is not to reject our shadows but to embrace them, to make peace with what we fear or resist, and to allow these experiences to become teachers. When we hold our darkness and light together, we discover wholeness.

It is always easier to turn away from our shadows, to stand at a distance and point to them as the cause of our troubles. Blaming darkness for our pain may feel comforting for a moment, but in truth, it leaves us powerless. What transforms us is the courage to draw near, to sit humbly before the challenges we face, and to be devoted students of their lessons. When we stop being victims of circumstance and instead learn from what life places before us, even our hardest experiences become powerful allies on the path of growth.

I must also confess that I would not be who I am today without the many storms of darkness I have carried within me. I have stumbled, fallen, and been broken open more times than I can count. There were seasons when pain clouded everything, when I could not see even a glimmer of light. Yet looking back, I can only feel gratitude. Each shadow I faced became a sacred initiation, shaping me not through conquest, but through surrender. I did not defeat my darkness—I bowed to it, listened to it, and let it carve me into a humbler, kinder being. I do not regret anything that happened, for each challenge defined me just as a diamond is formed through pressure. For this, I am grateful.

I have also been reflecting on my journey in Yoga. When my father taught in the 1970s and 80s, many who came sought health, vitality, and physical strength. These were noble aspirations, but few were ready to receive the deeper truths of Yoga. My father, wise as he was, shared only what they could absorb. Now, however, I feel the tide is shifting. More and more students arrive seeking not just outer wellbeing but inner transformation. They are ready to hear the deeper call: that Yoga is the alchemy by which our darkness is transfigured into light. Many diamonds are waiting to be formed!

This brings me relief and joy, for it means that the spirit of Yoga—timeless, sacred, and transformative—is once again being received as it was meant to be. Thank God for that!

And so I remind you, dear reader: it is never too late to begin. The path is always here. At any moment, we can set down the heavy burden of ego and surrender to the luminous light of the divine that has always lived within our hearts.

And of course, enjoy all the juicy stuff in our newsletter as usual! We are grateful to have you part of our sanga!

Especially scroll all the way down to read about our next Viniyoga Unplugged Live Stream on the topic of Pratyāhāra!

Namaste!

Dr Kausthub Desikachar, M.Sc, M.M.S, PhD

The Viniyoga Tradition

23 August 2025. New Moon

Luminary | Śrī Vasiṣṭha 

Among the ancient sages of India, Śrī Vasiṣṭha shines as one of the most revered. Known as one of the seven great ṛṣis (saptarishis) and the royal guru of many kings, Vasiṣṭha is not only celebrated for his wisdom but also for his ability to weave spirituality into the fabric of daily life. His teachings, especially preserved in the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha, carry a deep message: liberation is not about running away from the world but about seeing through it with clarity.

What is truly remarkable is that Śrī Vasiṣṭha was also the spritual preceptor of Lord Rāma and the entire Ikṣvāku dynasty. As Rāma’s guide and mentor, he shaped the young prince’s understanding of dharma, wisdom, and self-mastery. Through the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha, presented as a dialogue between them, Vasiṣṭha patiently instructed Rāma on the nature of the mind, the illusion of the world, and the path to liberation. His teachings helped Rāma transform doubt into clarity and strength. From Vasiṣṭha, we learn that a true teacher awakens inner wisdom, guiding us toward peace, self-knowledge, and liberation.

Śrī Vasiṣṭha’s teachings to remember: true freedom is inner, not outside of ourselves or out in our desires, but within. Don’t distract yourself for momentary pleasure, tune in for limitless abundance, authenticity and calmness.

Divya-deśa | Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Hidden in the desert valley of Saudi Arabia, Mecca is often described as the spiritual epicentre of the Muslim world. At the city's heart stands the Kaaba, a black cube-shaped sanctuary that millions of people circle yearly during their pilgrimage. It’s not only about religion but devotion; it’s also a deeply symbolic moment where individuality melts into community. Pilgrims wear the same simple white clothes, erasing all signs of wealth, status, or nationality. In that vast crowd, everyone looks the same, and the message behind it can be: beneath all our differences, we share the same humanity.

Here are two main types of pilgrimages connected to Mecca, and they don’t happen in the same way: Hajj – the big one and Umrah – the “little pilgrimage.” Umrah can be performed any time of the year, Unlike Hajj.

Wherever they are, Muslims turn their bodies toward Mecca when they pray. More specifically, they face the Kaaba - the cube-shaped sanctuary at the city’s centre. This practice is called Qibla, which means “direction.” The idea isn’t that God is “in” the Kaaba, but that having one shared focal point creates unity

Deva | Śrī Pāñcajanya

Śrī Pañcajanya is the sacred conch shell of Lord Vishnu, one of his four principal attributes.

What’s the story? It begins in the Mahābhārata: the conch was originally in the possession of a demon named Pāñcajana, who lived in the ocean's depths. Lord Viṣṇu defeated this being and claimed the conch, becoming his eternal companion. It is also considered among the five sacred weapons of Lord Viṣṇu!

Spiritually, Pāñcajana represents the primordial sound: nāda, from which creation itself unfolds. Its sound is said to carry across all realms, announcing the presence of truth and the victory of dharma over adharma (chaos or unrighteousness).

In the Bhagavad Gītā: Lord Kṛṣṇa (an incarnation of Viṣṇu) famously blows thePāñcajana at the start of the Kurukṣetra war, its resonance awakening not only warriors on the battlefield but also deeper layers of consciousness.

Its spiral shape mirrors life, death, and rebirth cycles, while its vibration symbolises purification and awakening. Hearing it is said to dispel fear and apparent ignorance and realign us with higher truth.

Listen to this chant titled to Śrī Pañcāyudhastotram, which worships the five weapons of Viṣṇu, of which Pāñcajanya is one of them. It is chanted here by Dr Kausthub Desikachar.

Mantra | Śrī Sūrya-namaskāra-mantrāṇi

The Sun is an essential natural element in Vedic tradition. Sūrya's iconography is often depicted riding a chariot harnessed by horses, often seven in number, representing the seven colours of visible light, and seven days a week. He is also the most important house in Hindu Astrology. Sūrya is often reverentially addressed as the "eye of the universe, soul of all existence, origin of all life, goal of the Yogis, and symbolism for freedom and spiritual emancipation.

This is the second version of the alternate twelve mantra-s, that are together called as the Sūrya-namaskāra-mantrāṇi, and honour the Sun, with different names. In fact these Mantra-s were recited as part of a sequence of Āsana-s done to prostrate to the early morning sun. That is why this sequence of Āsana-s were called Sūrya-namaskāra. When the sequence is done without these Mantra-s, they are not considered Sūrya-namaskāra.

Listening to or reciting these mantras daily can help us restore vitality, heal from illnesses, and bring light back into our hearts.

Listen to this mantra 3 times each day, at sunrise, midday and sunset time.

VINIYOGA UNPLUGGED! | A Monthly Online Sanga

20 | Pratyāhāra | Sensory Regulation

25 August 2025 | 13:00 Singapore Time | 10:30 IST | 07:00 EU | 17:00 NZ | 15:00 AU

Viniyoga Unplugged is a monthly online sanga uniting Yogis worldwide to share and discuss relevant themes. It is a heart-to-heart conversation with Dr Kausthub Desikachar on topics related to Yoga in the teachings of the classical Viniyoga Tradition of T Krishnamacharya and Śrī TKV Desikachar.

SAVE THE DATE….Join us and enjoy the session! Feel free to invite your students and friends to this livestream—it’s totally free!

Zoom Meeting - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81772063370?pwd=dSs4SzIydGVWdmJZOElwZkZBN3Y5QT09

Meeting ID: 817 7206 3370 Passcode: namaste888

The Yoga Psychology Training (Hybrid: Online + In-Person)

This isn’t just another course. It’s a doorway into understanding the human mind and heart through the lens of Yoga — and it’s the first time this training is offered this way!

Here’s what you’ll explore: ✨ How Yoga Psychology looks at the patterns of the mind differently from modern psychology. It is spiritual Psychology, dear ones!

✨ Tools from the Viniyoga tradition — like breath, mantra, meditation, and movement — to shift old habits and bring balance

✨ Practices that nurture resilience, compassion, and clarity — in your own life and when supporting others

✨ Guidance from Dr Kausthub Desikachar, who carries forward the rich legacy of his grandfather, Sri T. Krishnamacharya and his father, Sri TKV Desikachar

It’s a blend of deep study and practical tools that you can actually use — whether you’re a yoga teacher, therapist, or simply someone curious about inner transformation.

👉 Find out more and register here

Mahāmudrā International Retreat 2026

12–18 January 2026 • Chiang Mai, Thailand

Our community gathers in a beautiful setting for an international Viniyoga Retreat every two years. In 2026, it will be the Mahāmudrā retreat — a time to step away from the noise of daily life and immerse in practice, philosophy, and connection.

Picture this: mornings filled with breath and meditation, afternoons of learning and laughter, evenings of chanting and stillness… all while surrounded by nature and like-minded friends.

This retreat is for anyone ready to:

🌺 Go beyond “doing yoga” and taste its essence

🌺 Be nourished by daily practice, good food, and good company

🌺 Receive teachings that are rarely shared outside the Viniyoga tradition

👉 Learn more about the retreat here

Special Community Offer

Here’s something we’re pleased about: If you join the Yoga Psychology Training, you’ll get to attend the Mahāmudrā Retreat at a reduced fee.

Why? Because these two experiences go hand-in-hand. The training gives you a foundation in understanding the mind, and the retreat helps you take that understanding deeper into the heart.

Think of it as one continuous journey — from study, to practice, to transformation.

🌿 Why You’ll Love

• This is not just theory. Everything you learn in the Yoga Psychology Training and practice in the Mahāmudrā Retreat is designed to be practical, usable, and woven into your daily life. You’ll walk away with tools you can rely on whenever life gets overwhelming.

• It’s a community thing. You’ll learn and practise alongside a warm, international group of seekers. Expect deep conversations, shared laughter, and friendships that often outlast the program.

• It’s the real deal. These teachings come directly from the Viniyoga tradition, guided by Dr Kausthub Desikachar. That means you’re not just picking up random techniques from here and there — you’re learning from a living lineage with authenticity and depth.

• It’s nurturing. The training and the retreat are designed to meet you where you are. Whether you’re brand-new to Yoga Psychology or already a seasoned teacher, you’ll find space, support, and inspiration to grow at your own pace.

• It’s joyful. Yes, there will be profound teachings and practices. But there will also be chanting, good food, stories, and plenty of smiles. Transformation doesn’t have to be heavy — it can also be light and life-affirming.

We can’t wait to welcome you. 💜