understand that a great GURU can teach disciples
even after the guru is no longer in a physical
body. Communication between the visible and
invisible is taken for granted and is an essential
factor in many types of Hindu devotion. Chai-
tanya is assumed to be in charge of his lineage
even today.
Devotees of the society believe Krishna to be
the ultimate and highest God. Krishna is written
about in the Mahabharata and, especially, in the
BHAGAVAD GITA. According to the Gita, Krishna
has the divine ability to disguise himself and
give teaching and counsel while appearing to be
someone else. His teaching to ARJUNA in the Gita
has become one of the sacred texts of the path of
BHAKTI YOGA, which emphasizes his loving activ-
ity; dedication to Krishna is considered a devo-
tional pathway to enlightenment. This devotional
approach is expressed in Prakashanand’s writings
based on the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavata
Purana. Among the significant practices of this
approach is chanting the name of God while
offering oneself to Krishna as a devotee.
The society has members in India, England,
Ireland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia.
During the 1990s the Society of Divine Love
constructed its main Western temple and ashram
complex in Austin, Texas, which was dedicated on
October 8, 1995.
Further reading: The Deity Establishment of Shree Rase-
hwari Radha Rani of Barsana Dham, October 7–8 (Aus-
tin Tex.: International Society of Divine Love, 1995);
H. D. Prakashanand Saraswati, The Path to God (Austin
Tex.: International Society of Divine Love, 1995);
———, The Philosophy of Divine Love (Auckland, New
Zealand: International Society of Divine Love, 1982);
———, The Shikchashtek (Philadelphia: International
Society of Divine Love, 1986).
International Yoga Federation (est. 1965)
The International Yoga Federation is a loose con-
federation of YOGIS and YOGA associations; it is
administered by the World Yoga Council, founded
in 1965 by Mahavatar Kirsha Kisore Das at Ben-
gal, India. The council is composed of grand yoga
masters for each continent: Asia, America, Africa,
Europe, and Oceania. The presidency rotates
across continental representatives. In 2005, the
executive office was located in Buenos Aires,
Argentina. After 2006, the executive work rotates
to Europe.International Yoga Fellowship (est. 1980s)
The International Yoga Fellowship has grown out
of the work of Swami Satyananda Saraswati (b.
1923), a former disciple of Swami Shivananda
Saraswati (1887–1963).
Satyananda took the vows of the renounced
life (sannyas) in 1943 and subsequently spent 12
years at Shivananda’s Divine Life Society based
in Rishikish, India. He then spent nine years
wandering India in pursuit of divinity. In 1964,
the year after Shivananda’s death, Satyanananda
founded the Bihar School of Yoga, and to honor
his guru and his teachings, established the Shiva-
nanda Ashram on the shores of the GANGES. Here,
Satyananda continued to pursue his guru’s ideas
that everyone should have access to YOGA and
spirituality, despite caste, marital status, or other
challenges. He also explored the possibilities of a
tantric path to God (see TANTRISM).
As did his guru, Satyanananda believed in
outreach programs to share their teachings. His
missionary focus took him far and wide, first
throughout India, then to other destinations.
During the 1970s, he founded 10 ashrams in
India. However, his more significant missionary
activity occurred outside India. The develop-
ment of the ashrams abroad had begun after his
1968 world tour to disseminate his teachings.
Leaving India he encouraged missionary activ-
ity in Ireland, England, Greece, France, Sweden,
Colombia, Australia, and Indonesia. Encouraged
by the response, he founded the International
Yoga Fellowship.International Yoga Fellowship 201 J