Reactions on Pattabhi Jois’ Death, 3 Days Later

May 20, 2009 at 2:12 pm · Filed under Guruji, In the Media

Sri K. Pattabhi Jois died on Monday May 18 2009.

guruji-sittingThe official site announced a public memorial for the end of the month:

Students may come and give respects to Guruji’s soul on Sunday, May 31, 2009 in Mysore.

Beliefnet states:

The outpouring of affection and emotion in response to the passing of beloved yogi Sri K. Pattabhi Jois is deeply moving. Ashtanga studios areound the world are holding tributes: Jivamukti in New York is devoting a week of chanting to him; the Shala in Los Angeles is having a ceremony tonight at 6pm; and many individuals and teachers are dedicating their next practice to him.

At my local studio (in Mountain View, California), we are holding a 30 minute meditation every day before class this week at 6 am.

News of his death was found almost immediately on blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. The conversation on Twitter has now increased in pace, with more than 10 tweets an hour.

It took 3 days for the news to percolate to the mass media, but has now reached major media outlets such as the New York Times, UK’s Guardian, the Times of India, BBC News and more.

Here is a round up of the latest commentary on Guruji’s death:

Pattabhi Jois' death announced on the Guardian's front page

Pattabhi Jois' death announced on the Guardian's front page

Thousands of devotees of ashtanga yoga will perform their primary series with a heavy heart today after learning of the death at 93 of the influential teacher in the movement, Krishna Pattabhi Jois. - The Guardian

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Comments (3)

3 Comments »

  1. gilli Harouvi said,

    May 23, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    another link to Ha’Aretz newspaper in Israel-
    about Sri Krishna Pattabhi-Jois passing.
    http://www.mouse.co.il/CM.articles_item,1046,209,36149,.aspx

  2. brian reilly said,

    May 24, 2009 at 1:30 am

    A sad day for Yoga around the world, but a celebration to a Great Soul and World teacher. He will go down in history along with all of India’s other wonderful Yoga Masters.

  3. Lucia Cockcroft said,

    May 28, 2009 at 10:34 am

    Yoga Abode also ran a piece on Guruji’s passing away
    (http://www.yoga-abode.com/blog/pattabhi_jois_passing).

    We are now seeking comments and memories from ashtanga students and teachers, for a longer tribute feature. Please use the site’s contact form for comments.

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Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009)

May 18, 2009 at 11:21 am · Filed under Guruji

Comments (26)

26 Comments »

  1. Laura said,

    May 18, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    My life is what it is today because of this man………….Thankyou Pattabhi jois

  2. nico108 said,

    May 18, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    He saved my life.

  3. happytoes said,

    May 18, 2009 at 11:14 pm

    i’ve never met you in person,but thank you so much,Guruji. Ashtanga changed the way I see my own life and other people’s lives.

  4. sylvie said,

    May 19, 2009 at 4:53 am

    I never had the chance to meet you but thank you for such a great practice that has changed my life. My sincere condolences to your family. Rest in peace.

  5. surya said,

    May 19, 2009 at 8:45 am

    I never had the chance to meet you but thank you for such a great practice that has changed my life. I promise you that I never leave to do Ashtanga. My sincere condolences to your family. Rest in peace. Always in my heart…Guruji

  6. Mindy said,

    May 19, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Guruji, thank you for your abundance of wealth in sharing your gift with the world. You are legendary and your presence is forever lasting. Much love to your family and may you rest in peace

  7. Sadhana Ali said,

    May 19, 2009 at 3:04 pm

    Peaceful passing in your next life

    Om Shanti

  8. Barbara said,

    May 19, 2009 at 4:28 pm

    Guruji, you are never dead, we’ll make you live forever

  9. maria karastergiou, owner of the yogaessence.gr Studio Yoga in Athens, Greece said,

    May 20, 2009 at 2:44 am

    Good bye Guruji, we’ll make you live forever through your Teaching, which was a gift for us, in the West. Thank you Pattabhi. Big Soul !!!!!

    You along with Iyengar have helped us in the West to change completely the way we think, perceive our physical bodies & connect with our hearts. You helped us to become more connected with our souls, to become more spiritual.

    Never met you in person, but thank you so much, Guruji. Ashtanga is spread all over the world now, & has changed the way we see our oursenves. Thank you for sharing with us such a great practice. You’ll become a legend.

    Your Spirit & your Teaching will continue to inspire our practice, our spirit, our life. Thank you dear Guruji for being such an inspiration to us!!!! We became more enlightened because of you. You shed more light on this planet. You helped us to become better souls…

    Sincere condolences to your family. Always in my heart…Guruji !!!! Peaceful passing in your next life

    Om Shanti

  10. Virginia said,

    May 20, 2009 at 4:41 am

    Kind sir, your influence went beyond your direct physical contact - your love and work has been and continues to be transmitted in so many ways. Your work has impacted me profoundly through your written and spoken words and through your loyal and dedicated senior teachers. Thank you.
    May your family be consoled by remembering the joy you brought to the world, the tradition you upheld and the obligation you fulfilled.
    Om shanti, shanti, shantih……

  11. Jeffery khoo said,

    May 20, 2009 at 6:48 am

    I have never met you but have study under your student (Paul Dallaghan)my teacher. I was sadden on the news of your passing but you have make a different in the world.You may not exist in the physical world but your spirit and legacy live on through the people whom life you have touch.

  12. Surya said,

    May 20, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    Is it that now that you are gone you are forever present? Is it that you are now closer than ever? Is each breath of our practice now your eternal breath? I, as thousands of others have been truly blessed and your absence is now your presence. You live in my heart forever, I LOVE YOU GURUJI!!!!!!! You are with God and God is with us. Long live.

  13. Surya said,

    May 20, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    It is said that the day you arrive to this world, you do crying while everyone around you is smiling… if the day you leave this world you are smiling and everyone around you is crying then, your job is done.
    This is the way it is for Guruji , this is his gift. His life and purpose is fulfill. Truth is, among millions of us, he is immortal.

  14. Melissa Wasserfall said,

    May 20, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    Sending endless love and gratitude to you on your next journey Guruji.Practicing with you has opened my heart and continues to feed into every aspect of my life.I think of you every day with love and respect.

  15. jutima said,

    May 21, 2009 at 8:11 am

    please post this article written by paul dallaghan on our life with Guruji

    http://www.centeredyoga.com/ashtanga-guru.html

    thank you.

  16. Lucy Dockwray said,

    May 21, 2009 at 7:09 pm

    Yoga has saved me in my life, given me a purpose and is making me a strong person inside as well as out. Without a great man like yourself the world would have been a darker place. Wishing you happiness and peace on your next journey.

  17. Aimee Acebedo said,

    May 22, 2009 at 11:57 am

    Dear Guruji,
    It is my deepest regret that I will never be able to fully express the ineffable impact your life’s work has had on my existence. Ashtanga Yoga has humbled my existence and connected me with something greater than myself. It facilitated a spiritual awakening that reconciled and healed wounds created by a childhood in the evangelical south. Because of this, I’m profoundly grateful. I thank you for this Self awakening.
    Thank you for your life’s devotion to transmitting this practice.
    With reverence for you, your family, and this practice…. VANDE GURUNAM

  18. laura said,

    May 28, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    I send deep feelings of gratitude, love and peace to Guruji.
    I met you through so many lives that you profoundly and directly touched while on this life dimension. I feel your presence stronger then ever since your passing and I know you are even closer and more supportive now with your eternal spirit finally freed from bodily limits and able to reach us all instantly. It is with growing love and devotion that I salute you and deeply thank you for showing us your universal, simple and effective method to the Light here on earth.

  19. annie said,

    May 28, 2009 at 4:42 pm

    guruji, i felt the energy and your presence when i attended your workshop so many years ago. just the smile on your face brings me positive light. thank you so much for everything. you will forever be within everyone you’ve touched whether they attended a workshop with you, read your book or simply just practiced ashtanga. you are now on a new journey and you will forever be in my thoughts.

  20. Michael Gannon said,

    June 1, 2009 at 3:53 pm

    Many students have asked me why I do NOT teach Shavasana, but only final relaxation.
    The first time I was with Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, I asked him is I should go upstairs for Shavasana. Guruji shouted at me, Shavasana No! You take rest now Micahael! Shavasana coming only one time each life. When life finished!

    Have a great Shavasana Guruji…

    - Michael Gannon, May 18, 2009

  21. Giuliano Vecchiè said,

    June 1, 2009 at 4:03 pm

    This is for us all, who practice this wonderful style created and spread around the world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, a day full of sadness and very painful for the missing of our wonderful and Great Yoga Master, who many of us have been so lucky to meet and work with, appreciating his strength, his smile, his kindness and his great helpfulness. To him our biggest respect. May this day be a great occasion to gather us all to consolidate and increase our sense of communion which will become surely bigger and bigger in the name and the remembrance of our beloved Guruji.
    Thank you Guruji and rest in peace!

  22. maria said,

    June 1, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    Im very sorry and send my heart felt condolance.I was my wish to meet him but it was not possible, but one thing I am sure of, He save my daughter and me
    and helped us to find hope and to follow the right path to live.
    we love you Pattabhi Jois.

  23. Michelle said,

    June 1, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    I am so glad that I have been touched by his gift of Ashtanga yoga.. it has brought me great peace

  24. Yogasurf said,

    June 2, 2009 at 1:16 am

    Many nice coments,

    sad to see so many “Old Students” doing self promotion on Gurujis death

    Thank You Guruji

  25. Chule said,

    June 2, 2009 at 7:06 am

    Jois, thanks for the Yoga.

    Om Shanti OM.

  26. carlos said,

    June 5, 2009 at 4:41 am

    I went to Mysore in appreciation for the ceremonies, and I want to thank you
    There was an inmense presence there and a great vibrant energy as the reqiem slokas sounded
    I didnt get to meet you Guruji, every time I am taught Asthanga yoga I know you are Guruji

    love and peace

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