Death of a Guru: Pattabhi Jois, July 1915- May 2009

Ashtanga master Pattabhi Jois dedicated his life to ashtanga vinyasa yoga, and is widely credited with bringing the practice to a mass western audience.

Now, ashtanga - whose celebrity followers include Sting and Madonna - is one of the most popular yoga styles, known for its athleticism and discipline.

To the sadness of the ashtanga world,  and widely reported in national newspapers  (read Robert Wilkins' Guardian obituary) Gurji died in May this year.

He passed away just short of his 94th birthday, and almost 80 years after he first met his teacher, Krishnamacharya. 

Here, leading teachers and practitioners, all of whom have studied under Jois, pay personal tributes to their Guru and leader.

John Scott (also on behalf of wife Lucy and children India and Fynn)

John Scott was introduced to ashtanga by Derek Ireland and first visited Pattabhi Jois in Mysore in 1989. Scott is one of the world's leading authorities in ashtanga vinyasa, and the author of Astanga Yoga. 

Before I met Shri K Pattabhi Jois I had many questions about life; what to do and were to go? My design profession gave me many skills, to think laterally, to see things from more than one perspective.

But as a designer, I was fixed in form and aesthetics, getting it right for the world ‘out there', I was awake but only partially awake.

Guruji greeted me with a big smile and an open heart. 'Come! Where are you from? Who is your teacher? How long are you staying?' were the first words Guruji said to me. He was immediately in the 'now', checking in with my past and my future (my Karma).

Derek Island, my first AVY teacher in 1987, had instructed me to tell Guruji that I was a complete beginner, which I was. 'Good', was Guruji's reply.

I reflect back now and see how on that day, way back in March 1989, I met a true Satguru, a guide who has shone the light for the last 20 years of my life. Guruji, through his simple but direct transmission, has awakened me to a Universe of infinite possibilities inside, right at the core of my being.

On a more personal level Guruji has been many things for me, The obvious, the guru mirror and teacher, but more importantly, my eastern father. Guruji not only welcomed me into his yoga shala, but also welcomed me into his family, his personal life - for example making me an Honoree Brahmin for the day to attend his granddaughter's wedding.

Guruji taught by example and always referred to himself as a student of yoga and a householder. He asked me was I married, and then told me that after the Advanced Series I would marry. True enough, in 1993 Lucy Crawford blossomed into my life.

Guruji has embraced our marriage and children and always included India and Fynn, inviting them to attend his great grand children's birthday parties.

Lucy and I have hosted Guruji and family twice in London, where we have come together, one Brahmin family with one western family living together in harmony, in one house together, eating together, talking together, all culture and labels dropping away - just people together in relationship.

Guruji has taught me that yes, we have a cultural identity but if you focus deeper than the physical, journeying into the subtle, we are just one, one light.

In a theory class, Guruji looked Directly at me, and asked ,'John Scott, who is God / Brahman? What is God / Brahman? Where is God / Brahman?', and then looking directly into me, answered for me, the guru mirror, 'This is God / Brahman touching the wall, touching the floor, pointing to the class. I am God / Brahman, you are God / Brahman, you are ALL BRAHMAN!'

I feel blessed to have met Guruji, Sri K Pattabhi Jois; such a teacher, who has, in a very quiet and humble way, accepted me as me, giving me simple and clear directions, answering every question I asked, and showing me that to have questions is to wake up and to live.

Aum Shanti, Shanti, Shantih

Lara Baumann, ashtanga teacher and founder of quantum yoga

I once asked Patthabi Jois: ‘If you had to translate yoga into one word only, which one would you chose?'

Guruji says, 'Not possible! Yoga has many meanings.' He thinks. 'There are five main meanings' He hesitates and then only gives one.

He raises one hand. 'If this is separate and this is separate,' he raises the other, on which he wears his chunky gold rings. 'Like this is yoga.' And then his wonderful hands are brought together in prayer position.

Bev Sowerby, Ashtanga Yoga in Bath, England

Bev has practised ashtanga vinyasa yoga since 1999 with her teachers Lino Miele and Sri K Pattabhi Jois. In February 2004 Bev was authorised by Sri K Pattabhi Jois to teach the primary series of ashtanga vinyasa yoga and today is one of the few practitioners skilled in the art of chanting the precise count of the ashtanga vinyasa system in Sanskrit.

I felt a deep sadness from my heart on hearing that Guruji had passed away.

When I first met and studied with him in April 2000 his incredible compassion towards me were evident from the first moment I stood on my mat.

For many years he worked closely with my difficult practise, sharing with me the healing essence of the ashtanga practise.

I'll always remember his fond words to me...'bad structure lady, spine straightening, backbending slowing coming".

His innate faith and devotion together with his ability to inspire and create such a worldwide community of practitioners and teachers is beyond words. To me, he will remain an everlasting pure inspiration from God.

Sarah Schadegg, on behalf of the Alchemy Centre, London
London-based Sara Schadegg studied with Manju Pattabhi Jois, Guruji's son, and practised Mysore-style for three years. She has also studied under David Swenson and Shiva Rea.

Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois was born in the Indian State of Karnataka in 1915. At the age of 12 while attending a demonstration, he met his teacher, Guru

Krishnamacharya who is credited for reviving the ancient practice of yoga in the early 20th century.

Young Sri K Pattabhi Jois poured over the ancient ashtanga yoga texts, translating, refining and reviving the technique. He then established the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Lakshmipuram, Mysore (www.kpjayi.org).

The practice of ashtanga yoga is a moving meditation linking the ujiya breath with a set series of asanas. A rigorous practice meant to produce intense internal heat and a purifying sweat in order to detoxify muscles and organs providing benefits at every level.

Guruji had a vision to keep ashtanga alive so people everywhere may benefit from the transformational and ancient practice which has the capacity to bring practitioners into their very being and see that we are all one with the universe.

He has left this life providing us a great gift.

Emma Hicks, ashtanga teacher and practitioner.

Hicks, who runs her own ashtanga studio in South-west London, had been teaching for ten years before she met Pattabhi Jois. Until then, she had always felt there was something missing from her yoga practice.

I felt there was no real lineage to what I was doing and no structure - some discipline was missing. I felt like I was scratching a surface.

I had heard of Patthabhi Jois but was never that into ashtanga - until he came to London on tour. It was in 2005 that I first met Gurugii - in a large hall in Brick Lane absolutely stuffed full of bodies.

I had tried a bit of ashtanga and had learnt the sequence but couldnt really do all of it well. But there was someting so right about it being so damn hard that was enticing.

After that week of 5am starts I realised what I had been missing. Ashtanga for me was the missing link; it was yoga as it should be.

I had found what I feel was a 'backbone' to a very limp torso. For me Gurugi right then and there did not  just represent a Guru but a 'Master' that was presenting to me a masterpiece in what is ashtanga vinyasa yoga.

That month I enrolled onto an ashtanga teacher training in Edinburgh and went to see John Scott in Penzance. Within a year was on my way to Mysore. The rest is history!

And it really is history now, because when a Guru dies his energy is dispersed so thoroughly amongst those who are open enough to recieve it that it becomes 'historic' in itself. You really do 'breathe it in'.

Yes - he really has joined God now, and is in peace, resting and watching his legacy thrive amongst those true believers.

But Id like to finish with a note to all advanced certified practitioners. Because they must know that the weight is now fully distributed onto those schoulders who have trained with Guruji for all those years.

As well as grandson Sharath, there are many other gifted teachers that, with Guruji's blessing, must continue to teach; it is in their hands.

We must remember to keep it pure; respect the lineage and practice the authentic way. Breathe it in and breathe Him in; teach the genuine raw way that was taught by Patthabhi Jois.

May Gurugii live on in our practice. May we continue to practice and continue to study.

Om Shanti.

Home page image, and above, courtesy of film maker and ashtanga practitioner, Robert Wilkins. (Wilkins spent six months in Mysore recording a film about Pattabhi Jois. Read our exclusive interview here).

Top page image courtesy of www.kpjtrust.org