Yoga Taravali with Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao
Mysore Yoga Traditions Online Studies Program Presents
About the Yoga Taravali
The Yoga Tārāvalī is a compact but astonishingly rich text attributed to Ādi Śaṅkara, one of India’s greatest philosophers and the foremost exponent of Advaita Vedānta. The exact date of this text is a subject of debate, but it was most probably written in the 8th century CE. Unlike many longer and more abstract treatises, this work speaks directly to practitioners. It shows how a living yoga practice can lead toward self-knowledge, weaving together meditation, discernment, inner discipline, and devotion in a way that is both accessible and profound. Every verse is like a drop of concentrated essence, distilling centuries of contemplative insight into guidance that you can actually apply on your mat and in your daily life.
For anyone who has ever wondered, “What exactly is samādhi?” this text is a treasure. The Yoga Tārāvalī goes deeply into the nature of samādhi—what it is, what it is not, and how the mind is prepared for it. In this course we will unpack Śaṅkara’s teachings so that the idea of samādhi becomes clear, grounded, and relatable for sincere practitioners rather than remaining a vague mystical concept.
Ashtanga practitioners will immediately recognize the opening verse: this is the source of the famous “Vande gurūṇāṁ” chant that is recited in Ashtanga shalas all over the world. In our study, we will explore this verse in detail—its literal meaning, its devotional mood, and how it frames the entire journey of practice from the very first breath to the highest realization.
The Yoga Tārāvalī is also, most probably, the textual source behind the integration of mūla, uḍḍiyāna, and jālandhara bandhas into āsana practice. Śaṅkara does not treat bandhas as a footnote; he deals in detail with tri-bandha, describing the use of these three bandhas together and what they actually do to our prāṇa, our mind, and our inner experience when we apply them correctly. For modern practitioners who use bandhas every day but have never really studied their original context, this is eye-opening.
In this course, the Yoga Tārāvalī becomes more than a historic text. It becomes a living guide: helping you calm and sharpen the mind, understand the difference between the transient and the eternal, clarify the goal of practice, and connect your āsana, bandha, breath, and meditation to the deeper current of Advaita Vedānta. Whether you come as a devoted practitioner, a curious teacher, or a serious student of philosophy, you will find here a rare blend of textual depth and practical, embodied yoga.
Price of the Course $54 (you get permanent access to all content)
A brief Bio of Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao
Vidwan H.V. Nagaraja Rao is a great scholar of Sanskrit grammar who has been trained in both traditional and modern methods of education. His specialty is Sanskrit grammar and poetics. In his early years, he was a researcher at the Oriental Research Institute in Mysore and has published many original Sanskrit works with English and Kannada translations. Dr. Rao has also lectured in many countries around the world, including Thailand, Hong Kong, the United States, Israel, and England. He has taught Sanskrit at the University of Chicago as a visiting professor and was invited as a fellow to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Rao guided the World Sanskrit Conference in Edinburgh, England, in 2006, where he delivered a speech in chaste Sanskrit. Dr. Rao was awarded honors for his translations by the Sahitya Academy, the highest literary body in India, in 2006. Recently, he was chosen for honor by the President of India as a noted Sanskrit scholar. He is the honorary editor of Sudharma, the only Sanskrit daily newspaper in the world. With his razor-sharp wit, at the age of 80, Dr. Rao continues his lifelong passion for teaching and sharing ancient Indian knowledge systems with people from around the world.
Professor Rao has an uncanny ability to shed new light on texts such as theYoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads with his infectious passion for logic and philosophy and his excellent ability to communicate in English. Students leave his presentations with a feeling of liberation from the mundane and inspiration to strive for higher goals in life.
We specialize in high-quality, immersive education in yoga, offering a range of opportunities to study āsana, prāṇāyāma, philosophy, and more. Our courses are the result of over 30 years of practice and research and designed to bring you face to face with the yoga culture of Mysore. Our programs highlight the broader tradition of yoga and in particular the lineage of Sri Krishnamacharya which has flourished in Mysore for centuries.