Eknath Ranade, Gurus, and Jīvanvratīs: the Vivekananda Kendra’s Promotion of the “Yoga Way of Life”
Eknath Ranade, Gurus, and Jīvanvratīs: the Vivekananda Kendra’s Promotion of the “Yoga Way of Life”
Vivekananda Kendra characterizes itself as a lay, service-oriented spiritual movement and acknowledges as its “two mothers” the Ramakrishna Math and Mission and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The Kendra’s founder, Eknath Ranade (1914–1982), determined that yoga should be at the core of the Kendra’s activities. This policy is reflected in the status given by the Kendra since it foundation in 1972 to the promotion of the “yoga way of life” as a branch of its sevā (service activities) and its consequent centrality to the movement’s outreach activities. This chapter explores the transmission of yoga within the Kendra in relation to its categorization as a sevā activity; Ranade’s role, who was in many respects highly critical of guru culture; and the movement’s reliance on its cadre of life workers in promoting its vision of the yoga way of life.
Keywords: yoga way of life, Vivekananda Kendra, Eknath Ranade, Vivekananda, Kāryapaddhati
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