Swami Vishnudevananda talks with Sant Harcharan Singh Longowal and Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhinderwale

This recording is split into two. The first half is between Swami Vishnudevananda and Sant Harcharan Singh Longowal. The second half is between Swami Vishnudevananda and Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhinderwale. The interview takes place in February 1984, just a few months before the terror of Operation Bluestar. Well who is Swami Vishnudevananda? He was was born in Kerala on December 31st, 1927, spent a short time in the army and entered the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh in 1947. There are two different narratives as to why Swami Vishnu left for the West Cost of America in 1957. On one hand it is suggested Swami Vishnu left for his own personal travels and it was during this trip that Swami Vishnu saw the opportunity to create retreats or vacations for Westerners from their busy and hectic lives. On the other hand, it is suggested Swami Vishnu was instructed by his teacher to spread the message of yoga. Swami Vishnu would tell the story of how one day in 1957 his teacher, Sivananda placed a symbolic 10 rupees in Vishnudevananda's palm and instructed him to take the ancient teachings of yoga to the West. Most likely being the result of a number of factors, including a personal desire to see the world, it took just two years before Swami Vishnu established the first Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Montreal, Canada, in 1959. Shortly, thereafter, in 1961, he launched the first yoga vacation in Val Morin, Quebec. Throughout the 60s and 70s Swami Vishnu went on to establish numerous Sivananda Ashram Yoga establishments in locations such as the Bahamas in 1967, California in 1971, New York in 1974 and Kerala in 1978. During the 60s and 70s and the ensuing Cold War, Swami Vishnu had earnt himself the title of “the flying swami”. This was a result of his pursuit of world peace, at a time where there was a genuine threat of mutual assured destruction, something which Swami Vishnu alludes to during the first five minutes of talks with Sant Harchand Singh Longowal. Swami and his students had arrived in 1984 to conduct programs to awake the Indian people to their ancient tradition of yoga. In pursuit of his goal of peace, it was during this trip that in February 1984 Swami wished to mediate between the Sikh leaders and the Central government. Swami Ji wished to record his discussion with Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Bhinderwale, and others, as he wished to discuss Sikh grievances with Indira Gandhi. It's unknown if Swami spoke to Indira Gandhi. Swami died in 1993 from liver failure and recently an ex-disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda revealed a decade of abuse, sparking a crisis in Sivananda yoga that is still unfolding -   / how-a-metoo-facebook-post-toppled-a-yoga-icon   However, what is important is what this conversation exposes - a clear lack of emnity by any of the Sikhs even when faced with questions that attempt to remove their unique identity and tradition. 🔔: MAKE SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE & TURN NOTIFICATIONS ON 💙: BECOME A MEMBER (unlock early access & more) - https://www.youtube.com/RamblingsofaS... 🕹 Twitch -   / ramblingsofasikh   🔶 INSTAGRAM -   / ramblingsofasikh   🔷 TWITTER -   / ramblingsingh   🔶 FACEBOOK -   / ramblingsofasikh   🔷 PATREON -   / ramblingsofasikh   🔊 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/1yZLpK9... 🔊 APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast... 🔊 GOOGLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0... 📚 SHOP - https://ramblingsofasikh.shop/