Thus gods have stablished me in many places with many homes to enter and abide in. Books by indra devi author of forever young forever healthy. Reason for similar headlines was a visit of indra devi to soviet union. She was married to siegrid knauer and jan strakaty. Indra devi mataji as she is knownwas remarkably inventive in every class i had with her. Reportedly, she influenced affairs of state through her spouse, particularly in favor of buddhism. It is for the shakta what the bhagavata purana is for the vaishnava. As a functionary of indra, the devas thought of placing some one in his seat to smoothly carry on with the celestial order till the time indra would be located. She was the first western woman to teach yoga in its country of origin. Indra devi, or mataji, was often called the first lady of yoga. Questions left unanswered in current history books about king jayavarman vii, queen indradevi and queen jayarajadevi include. She died on april 25, 2002 in buenos aires, argentina.
Queen indradevi late twelfth centuryearly thirteenth century is celebrated as one of cambodias first known khmer women poets. Indra returned to india after the war and wrote her first book yoga, the art of reaching health and happiness, believed to be the first book on yoga written by a westerner to be published in india. The audacious life of indra devi, the woman who helped bring yoga to the west by michelle goldberg. The russian bollywood actress who brought yoga to america. I knowing this, as conqueror have won my husband for mine own.
She also read a book by the poetphilosopher rabindranath tagore. Join facebook to connect with indra devi and others you may know. Read more about the royal triadas seen by phalika ngin here. Indra devi, whose life touched three centuries and was dedicated to.
In the meantime, her husband returned to czechoslovakia where he died in 1946. After all, it would be at least another 10 years before richard hittleman would introduce yoga on television and two decades before b. Often called the first lady of yoga, indra devi was instrumental in the global diffusion of the practice. Swanson became a student, and even posed for photos with devi in various yoga positions for her first book, finally published under the name shed have for. In verse 159, book 10 of rigved shachi states that there was some competition for indras affections and she beat many rivals to become his queen and even indra was submissive to her after that.
Phalika ngin is a khmeramerican photographer and independent researcher living in siem reap, cambodia. Sep 05, 2010 in the bayon today, king jayavarman vii, queen jayarajadevi and queen indradevi still bless us with smiles recognizing the humanity in all of us. Devis fascination with india began at 15 when she read a book by poetphilosopher rabindranath tagore and a yoga instruction book by yogi ramacharaka. Although indrani got to share the swarga throne as principal queen. Mar 27, 2016 indra devis first book was called forever young, forever healthy. It is replete with references to and legends from an obviously prevedic religion of the goddess. I took a few desultory lessons from indra at a studio on the sunset strip. In her new book, michelle goldberg traces the western practice of yoga to a russian woman named indra devi. Apr 30, 2002 her fascination with india began at 15, when she read a book by the poet rabindranath tagore, then some books on yoga.
When the first yoga book was finally published in 1992, yoga for you translated into russian, few people knew that the author, indra devi, was of. May 12, 1899 april 25, 2002 1 was an early disciple of sri tirumalai krishnamacharya, and herself became a renowned yoga teacher. In my understanding, most eastern religious traditions would teach us to let go of such an impossible fixated hope. From the publisher the yoga of indra devi is gently, straightforward and effective. A portrait of the first lady of yoga russia beyond. The secrets of the royal triad decoded omnipresent. That success quickly elevated indra to the teacher of great stars of the day, such as greta garbo, gloria swanson one of her best friends, ramon novarro, linda christian and robert ryan. Indra devis legacy magazine web edition octobernovember.
I load with wealth the zealous sdcrificer who pours the juice and offers his oblation 3 i am the queen. Ancient queens indradevi and jayarajadevi guided the khmer. Once, an issue of ogonek magazine brought by actors of the bolshoi theatre touring in the usa came into her hands. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. I recall her selfconfidence, a quality which she valued and was willing to share, along with a lesson or two.
Although indrani got to share the swarga throne as principal queen, indra embarked an endless series of love affairs. Indra devi was born eugenia peterson in riga, latvia in 1899, the daughter of a russian aristocrat and a swedish banker. He called her because of yehudis yoga and they talked a biti presume she referred him to indra devi, who i didnt know was well on her way to becoming a major star in the yoga pantheon, known by the exalted name of mataji, or mother. The devi bhagavatam is said to have been composed in bengal in the sixth century ce, in twelve parvas and 18,000 slokas.
As she teaches it, yoga is a unique method for a harmonic and integral development of ones physical, mental, and spiritual sides, allowing for the employment of a healthy and happy life. The earliest visual evidence of yoga comes from about 2500 bc. Meet indra devi in this special report by mukunda stiles of boston. She first came across the word yoga in her early teens. Yoga for you by indra devi meet your next favorite book. She is the author of the sanskrit poem inscribed on the stele at the temple of phimeanakas in siem reap province, cambodia. Indra devi at 100 magazine web edition november 1999. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A petite whitehaired woman, doing the headstand wearing a traditional indian sari, thats how i remember her. The content covers the ancient and very complex and beneficial practice of ayurvedic science, philosophy, and way of life in simple easy to understand english words yoga is a part of this. Although the amazing indra devi wrote this book around 60 years ago it is as relevant as any book on the subject of health and vitality written today. Goldberg says that many of the poses in modern yoga cant be traced beyond 150 years ago. Indra devi has 25 books on goodreads with 680 ratings. Even if you dont care enough about yoga to hold a pigeon pose for the length of time it takes to say the title, indra devi.
After four years of investigative research, her riveting book the. In the bayon today, king jayavarman vii, queen jayarajadevi and queen indradevi still bless us with smiles recognizing the humanity in all of us. It is said that she taught marilyn monroe, though she has never confirmed this. Under the stage name indra devi, she became a rising star in indian films. Peek into the life of indra devi, an inspirational global. Puloman had discovered that indra had ravished indrani and was about to pronounce a curse. Buy yoga for americans by indra devi online at alibris.
May 12, 1899 april 25, 2002, known as indra devi, was a pioneering teacher of yoga as exercise and an early disciple of the father of modern yoga, tirumalai krishnamacharya. The shaktas worship shakti, the eternal feminine, in all her forms. Queen indradevi queen indradevi late twelfth centuryearly thirteenth century is celebrated as one of cambodias first known khmer women poets. Pieces of furniture, elaborate vases, books, clocks, object d art, painted. Indra devis most popular book is forever young forever healthy. The text is only available in bengali, with hindi commentaries. Indra devi, also once an actress, felt an immediate empathy and through asanas and meditation was able to help her young disciple attain better equilibrium. She was also the first westerner to teach yoga in india. Indra devi has traversed the entire twentieth century. When indra devi moved to california from china in 1947, friends urged her to call her teachings anything but yoga.
The audacious life of indra devi, the woman who helped bring yoga to the west by michelle. In 1947 indra devi moved to the us and opened a yoga studio in hollywood. Jun 01, 2015 in her new book, michelle goldberg traces the western practice of yoga to a russian woman named indra devi. Indras sudden disappearance caused a chaos among the devas as clouds stopped raining, wind stopped blowing and the lands became infertile. From the great stele of phimeanakas words without borders. Apr 26, 2017 often called the first lady of yoga, indra devi was instrumental in the global diffusion of the practice.
In 1937, krishnamacharya admitted her into his schoolmaking her the first woman chela pupil and the first western woman ever at an indian ashram and personally. Rig veda, the ancient text speaks highly about her great beauty. The queen of cosmetics included yoga elements in a programme of fashionable spasalons. Men were the teachers and practitioners of yoga from that point until the. She continued her great work with inexhaustible engery and deep loveuntil her death on april 26, 2002 thousands of people have been enlightened by her personal life experiences. Those yoga poses may not be ancient after all, and. In the 1920s, she toured europe as a star of a russian theatre group. Indra devis followers called her mataji, a rare and welldeserved honor for a woman who exemplified yogas principles with her love, light, and a liveliness that lasted nearly all of her 102 years.
Indra devi, or mataji, was often called the first lady of. In berlin, she worked as an actor in the blue bird, touring europe, and accepted a proposal of marriage from the banker herman bolm, on condition she could first go to india. Jun 01, 2015 the goddess pose npr coverage of the goddess pose. Indra, however, forestalled the ploy by slaying him. Indra devi was not only a female pioneer in the field of yoga. Her fascination with india began at 15, when she read a book by the poet rabindranath tagore, then some books on yoga. Indrani is also known by many other names, shachi being the. King jayavarman vii and his two queens jayarajadevi and indradevi.
Indra devi, the first lady of yoga the freelance history. Aug 15, 2012 indra returned to india after the war and wrote her first book yoga, the art of reaching health and happiness, believed to be the first book on yoga written by a westerner to be published in india. Oct 02, 2012 indra devi was not only a female pioneer in the field of yoga. This photograph by dorothy wilding is of indira devi, the maharani of cooch behar and. Indra devis first book was called forever young, forever healthy. Indra devi was born on may 12, 1899 in riga, russian empire as eugenie peterson. The wild life of indra devi, the woman responsible for your yoga. Indra devi books list of books by author indra devi. Indra devi, mother of western yoga amazing women in history. I recall her selfconfidence, a quality which she valued and was willing to share, along with a lesson or. In 1960 name of indra devi appeared on the front pages of newspapers worldwide.
Yon sun hath mounted up, and this my happy fate hate mounted high. She giggled like a starstruck little girl while talking to him on the phone. Jul 25, 2010 indra devi, the sariclad swedishrussian star of 1940s bombay cinema and the most intriguing of the colorful cast of eccentrics who brought yoga to america, seems barely to have bothered with. Indra devi, the first lady of yoga the freelance history writer. Indrani, as the name suggests, is the consort and queen of indra, the lord of the devas and the god of thunder and lightning. Devi lived in buenos aires, argentina, where she founded a nonprofit yoga institution that is named after her. Indra devi was not just a nice old lady 04172015 09. Goddess indrani wife of lord indra, goddess shachi.
Indra devi s most popular book is forever young forever healthy. Her book traces the modern western practice of yoga to a russian woman named indra devi, who was born in 1899 with the birth name eugenia peterson. The woman who would become indra devi was born eugenie peterson on may 12, 1899, in riga, russia. Indra devi s followers called her mataji, a rare and welldeserved honor for a woman who exemplified yogas principles with her love, light, and a liveliness that lasted nearly all of her 102 years. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world. The secret of the royal triad decoded films angkor database. After world war ii, she went back to india on retreat and wrote her first book, yoga. Indra devi, the sariclad swedishrussian star of 1940s bombay cinema and the most intriguing of the colorful cast of eccentrics who brought yoga. Queen indradevi, king jayavarman vii and queen jayarajadevi at the bayon.