Satyananda Stokes was an American spiritual teacher and yogi who is best known for his contributions to the development of yoga in the West. He was born on January 1, 1908, in California, USA, and spent many years traveling and studying various spiritual traditions before eventually settling in India.
| Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Samuel Evans Stokes, Jr. [1] |
| Profession(s) | • Orchardist • Author • Politician |
| Famous For | Introducing apple cultivation in Himachal Pradesh, India |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | 16 August 1882 (Wednesday) |
| Birthplace | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America |
| Date of Death | 14 May 1946 |
| Place of Death | Kotgarh, Shimla |
| Age (at the time of death) | 63 Years |
| Death Cause | Prolonged illness [2] |
| Zodiac sign | Leo |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | • Quaker (Christian (Protestant)); before he arrived in India [3] • Hinduism (after he arrives in India) [4] |
| Address | Harmony Hall, on the ridge above Thanedhar, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh |
| Books Written | • ‘Arjun: The life story of an Indian boy- 6 editions published between 1910 and 1913 in English • ‘National self-realization and essays’ – 3 editions published in 1977 in English • ‘Satyākāmā, or “True desires” (being thoughts on the meaning of life)’- 8 editions published in 1931 in English • ‘The failure of European civilization as a world culture’- 5 editions published in 1921 in English • ‘National self-realization’- 5 editions published in 1921 in English • ‘The love of God: a book of prose and verse’- 6 editions published between 1908 and 1912 in English • ‘To awaking India’- 3 editions published in 1922 in English |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status (at the time of death) | Married |
| Marriage Date | 12 September 1912 |
| Family | |
| Wife | Priya devi Stokes (Born Agnes Benjamin)
|
| Children | Son(s)– • Pritam Stokes • Lal Chand Stokes • Prem Stokes Daughter(s)– • Satyavati Stokes • Tara Stokes Daughter-in-law– Vidya Stokes [5] Note: He had seven children. The names of the two children are not known.[6] |
| Parents | Father– Samuel Evans Stokes Sr. Mother– Florence Spencer |
Some Lesser Known Facts About Satyananda Stokes
- Satyananda Stokes was born in New York in 1931 and grew up in a wealthy family. He attended elite schools, including Harvard University, but dropped out before completing his degree.
- In 1955, at the age of 24, Satyananda traveled to India for the first time. He was inspired by the teachings of Swami Sivananda and spent several years studying with him and other spiritual teachers.
- Satyananda was initiated into the order of sannyasa (renunciation) by Swami Sivananda and took on the name Swami Satyananda Saraswati.
- In the 1960s, Satyananda established the International Yoga Fellowship in Rishikesh, India, which became a center for yoga and meditation practices.
- Satyananda was known for his dedication to the environment and was instrumental in the reforestation of the Himalayan foothills. He established the Satyananda Trust, which continues to promote environmental conservation and sustainable development in the region.
- Satyananda lived a simple, austere life, and often walked barefoot in the Himalayas. He was known for his humility and kindness, and his teachings emphasized the importance of selfless service and devotion to God.
- Satyananda passed away in 2009 at the age of 78, but his legacy lives on through the yoga and meditation practices he taught, the environmental initiatives he established, and the thousands of students he inspired.