Swami Satchidananda - Time in America

Time in America

After serving his guru for many years, in 1966 he visited New York City at the request of the artist Peter Max. Soon after his initial visit, Satchidananda formally moved to the United States and eventually became a citizen. From his new home he spread his teachings of yoga, selfless service, ecumenism and enlightenment.

Satchidananda came to public attention as the opening speaker at the Woodstock music and arts festival in 1969. Over the years he wrote numerous books and gave hundreds of lectures. He also ordained a number of western disciples into the order of sannyasa. He was the founder of the Integral Yoga Institute and Yogaville in America, and Spiritual Guru of major Hollywood actors and western musicians. He was also the spiritual guru for the popular Tamil actor Rajinikanth, and in 1986 opened the Light of Truth Universal Shrine (LOTUS) at Yogaville in Buckingham, Virginia.

On August 19, 2002, Satchidananda died from a ruptured thoracic aneurysm in his native Tamil Nadu, India. However, Integral Yoga and Yogaville continue.

Satchidananda's better-known western disciples include: Alice Coltrane, John Fahey, Allen Ginsberg, Dean Ornish, Jeff Goldblum, Carole King, Laura Nyro, and Scott Shaw. Liev Schrieber and Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo lived at the Satchidananda Ashram during the early part of their lives. Drummer Muruga Booker met Satchidananda at the Woodstock Festival while playing with Tim Hardin, and was given the name Muruga at that time.