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- About Sannidhi
- What is Sannidhi
- Sannidhi Yoga
- Lineage & Tradition
- Founders
- Guruji - The Living Sannidhi
SANNIDHI – The Sacred Seeds of Yoga
Sannidhi is not just another yoga platform — it is a sacred space for authentic learning, transformation, and inner awakening. Rooted in the eternal wisdom of the Indian rishis and enriched with contemporary scientific insights, Sannidhi brings together the depth of tradition and the dynamism of modern exploration. Whether you are beginning your journey or deepening an existing practice, SANNIDHI welcomes sincere seekers from across the world into a living tradition that is intimate, intelligent, and transformative. We are not here to produce instructors — we are here to nurture instruments of consciousness. Our programs are immersive, refined, and deeply personal. Every course, retreat, and satsanga is a pilgrimage — a yoga yatra — through the inner landscapes of the Self. This is your space to remember who you are, beyond roles and routines. Here, yoga is not merely what we teach — it is what we live. SANNIDHI is your home in yoga. Sacred, rooted, and real.
Sannidhi (सन्निधि) — a Sanskrit word that blossoms with layers of meaning — speaks of presence, proximity, and sacred nearness.
At its heart, Sannidhi means to be close — to wisdom, to stillness, to the Divine. It suggests the quiet grace of presence— the felt sense of being in the vicinity of something sacred, whether it be a revered Guru, a consecrated space, or the deep silence within.
In temple architecture, Sannidhi is the sanctum that holds the Divine — the inner chamber where the deity resides, radiating presence and power. Similarly, in life, Sannidhi is the inner space we return to — where the sacred is not merely seen, but experienced.
At Sannidhi: Sacred Seeds of Yoga, we honour this deeper meaning — creating a space where the timeless teachings of the Rishis come alive, where tradition meets transformation, and where each practitioner is gently guided back to their own sacred centre.
Here, learning is not just intellectual, but embodied — a movement from proximity to presence, from knowledge to knowing, from being near to being One.
Welcome to Sannidhi —
A space of grace, presence, and awakening.
The sacred Samadhi shrine of the great Siddha Guru, Srila Sri Kambaliswamigal centers the memorial site for the Gurus of the Rishiculture Parampara at Sri Kambaliswamy Madam, Pondicherry, India.
Sannidhi Yoga is a sacred space — not just of learning, but of being.
Here, stillness and movement, discipline and grace, tradition and transformation meet in harmonious unity.
Rooted deeply in Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga, Sannidhi carries forward the living legacy of Pujya Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj — one of the foremost revivalists of traditional Indian Yoga in the 20th century. A medical doctor turned spiritual visionary, Swamiji spent decades codifying the ancient practices of the Rishis into a clear, systematic eight-fold path (Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga), integrating ethics, asana, kriya, pranayama,
mudra, samyama, and Yogic philosophy into a holistic science of human evolution.
His powerful teachings continue through the dynamic leadership of his son and spiritual successor, Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani — a renowned physician, scholar, classical musician, and Yoga Master in his own right. Dr. Ananda has tirelessly dedicated his life to making traditional Yoga accessible and relevant in the modern world through scientific research, academic work, and global outreach. As the Director of ICYER at Ananda Ashram, Pondicherry, he has trained and inspired thousands of students worldwide to live a
Yogic life grounded in Indian wisdom and cultural authenticity.
Sannidhi is the space of Presence —
- The presence of lineage.
- The presence of the sacred.
- The presence of Yoga as it was meant to be lived.
The sacred Samadhi of Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj in the iconic culturally significant heritage Siddha Yoga memorial site of Sri Kambaliswamy Madam at Pondicherry, India.
An Integrative Practice Rooted in Tradition
Sannidhi Yoga is an integrative and transformative path that opens the mind and heart to the radiance of life. Inspired by the structured and spiritually potent system of Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga, our approach honours the layered complexity of the human being — physical, mental, emotional, intellectual, pranic, and spiritual.
At Sannidhi, practitioners are empowered with time-tested techniques and tools drawn from the sacred Yogic sciences — including Asana, Kriya, Pranayama, Mudra, Pratyahara, Dharana, Mantra, and deep Yogic self-reflection. These are not fragments, but part of a coherent, holistic tradition that brings about integration across all aspects of being.
Drawing from the authentic lineage of Swami Gitananda Giri and carried forward globally through Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Sannidhi Yoga offers a vision of leadership that is not based on titles or roles, but on embodied wisdom and sacred service. Every Sannidhi- trained practitioner becomes a living vessel of the teachings — not by external validation, but through self-mastery and inner transformation.
We honour the readiness of the student and place deep value on their intention, sincerity, and steadiness of mind (sthira buddhi). Sannidhi is committed to nurturing authentic Yogic leadership — conscious guides who carry the tradition forward with humility and grace.
Through Sannidhi, the sacred fire of the Rishis is kept alive — burning steadily in hearts across the world, awakening us to our highest potential:
To live in Truth (Sat), Consciousness (Chit), and Bliss (Ananda).
Sannidhi is the space of Presence —
– Yogacharya Dr. Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani
– Yogacharini Anandhi Mary Cecil
Samskruta and English Translation by Prof. Jayaraman Mahadevan of the Original Tamil Poem on Guruji composed by Kalaimamani Pulavar Seenu Venugopalan, Pondicherry.
Our Vision
To uphold, preserve and share the living legacy of Indian yogic wisdom in its most authentic, transformative, and integrated form — empowering individuals across the globe to live in truth, clarity, and compassion.
Our Mission
- To offer authentic yoga education rooted in the Guru Parampara, experiential practices, and scientific insight.
- To cultivate a community of practitioners who embody the spirit of yoga as a way of being — not just doing.
- To integrate the sacred teachings of Yoga, Vedanta, Tantra, Ayurveda, and other Indian Knowledge Systems into everyday life.
- To create a vibrant online as well as offline platform that bridges tradition with relevance, depth with accessibility, and inner silence with outer transformation.
