knowledge in India was most frequently commu-
nicated from memory. Because of the extreme con-
ciseness of the lines of text, most verses are not
comprehensible without reference to some sort
of commentary. Buddhist and Jain traditions (see
JAINISM) also frequently used this method in their
texts (e.g., Acharanga Sutra of the Jains). Among
the many such texts are the Dharma Sutra, YOGA
SUTRA, and Vedanta Sutra.
Further reading: M. Winternitz, History of Sanskrit Lit-
erature, 3 vols. (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1963).
suttee See SATI.
svadhishthana chakra
The svadhishthana CHAKRA is the second chakra
(energy center) in KUNDALINI YOGA systems. It is situ-
ated on the spine in the genital region. It governs
sexuality, excitement, and more refined physical
sensation. It is associated with the element water. Its
deity is VISHNU. Its SHAKTI is Rakini. All chakras are
considered lotuses; svadhisthana has six red petals.
Further reading: Harish Johari, Chakras: Energy Cen-
ters of Transformation (Rochester, Vt.: Destiny Books,
2000).
svapna See STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
swami
A swami (one who has his own) is anyone who
has proprietary rights, an owner, a lord, or a
master. By extension, a person who is master
of himself or herself, who has developed per-
fect yogic self-control, is a spiritual swami. Any
religious or spiritual being of the highest order
is called a swami. The word is usually added to
proper names, for example, Swami MUKTANANDA
or Swami SACCIDANANDA.
Further reading: Pagal Baba, Temple of the Phallic Kin:
The Mind of India, Yogis, Swamis, and Avataras (New
York: Simon & Schuster, 1973); Swami Agehananda
Bharat, The Ochre Robe (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday,
1970); Marvin H. Harper, Gurus, Swamis and Avataras:
Spiritual Masters and Their American Disciples (Philadel-
phia: Westminster Press, 1972).Swami Kuvalayananda Yoga Foundation
(est. 1972)
The Swami Kuvalayananda Foundation (SKY) of
Philadelphia is devoted to the study and practice
of HATHA YOGA. It was founded in 1972 as a nonre-
ligious organization by Dr. Vijayendra Pratap, who
received a Ph.D. in applied psychology from Bom-
bay University. Dr. Pratap studied YOGA as a stu-
dent of Swami Kuvalayananda (1883–1966), who
founded the noted yoga center Kaival yadhama
in Bombay, where Pratap was assistant director
before moving to America.
The SKY Foundation holds HATHA YOGA
classes, from basic to the most advanced levels;
trains teachers; and focuses on teachings from
the ASHTANGA YOGA system of PATANJALI. One of
the significant objectives of the foundation is to
investigate the ancient as well as the more recent
developments of yoga as they interface with
contemporary times. Dr. Pratap’s foundation has
sponsored academic conferences to review what
is known about science and yoga. At this point,
he and his supporters consider the foundation an
academic and research organization seeking ways
that science and yogic practice can work together
for the good of all humanity. The headquarters are
in Philadelphia over the Garland of Letters book-
store, which is sponsored by the foundation.Further reading: Vijayendra Pratap, Beginning Yoga
(Rutland, Vt.: Chares E. Tuttle, 1997).Swaminarayan movement
The Swaminarayan movement is a major world-
wide Hindu movement. It is the contemporarySwaminarayan movement 429 J