“Who will forget his grand laughter?”
It’s been almost one year since the passing of B.K.S. Iyengar, a man who has no doubt left a legacy that will far outlast his earthly years. Remembered through his teachings, his books, and the Iyengar Yoga practice, many of us did not get to meet him, but it is also through photos that we get a glimpse of who Guruji was, and how the stamp he left was not only on modern yoga, but on many people’s hearts who were his students, friends, family and loved ones.
Photographer Ram Godar was one of these people. In tribute to the late guru, Godar ecently shared a series of photos he took from 2012 and 2013 capturing Mr. Iyengar during his 94th and 95th birthday celebrations.
“These images are also special because they are his last memories for most of us,” Godar writes.
What also makes photos of Guruji so special is that they hold so much emotion and storytelling through his facial expressions that seem to change almost from moment to moment. As Godar put it:
It was a great challenge to capture them because as you know Guruji is so vibrant that he changes so many expressions in no time. If you blink then you miss some action. You got to be on your toes sharp and alert to capture his wonderful expressions. Secondly, he was surrounded by his family members, villagers and his students and followers all over the world. I had to stand on a plastic chair to capture them through the gaps in between people standing around him. Somehow, I managed to catch hold of these snaps. Look at the emotions Guruji has expressed in a very short span of time; may be 2 minutes or less.
Here are some of the images/moments he caught.
“I love his smile and laughter. By the way, who doesn’t love it? He has such an innocent laughter of baby child.”
“The bathing ceremony has begun and Guruji is finally seen chilled.”
“This is my personal favorite moment and this picture is close to my heart. I really adore the peace I see in his face.”
“These are my last pictures of Guruji. They were shot during his 94th birthday celebrations held in Pune. Thousands of Iyengar yogis across the World have gathered to wish Guruji.”
!["Revering back to [his students] with humble Namaskar."](http://yogadork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/bks-iyengar-guruji-2014-3-500x333.jpg)
“Revering back to [his students] with humble Namaskar.”
“Who will forget his grand laughter?”
“This is my personal favorite moment and this picture is close to my heart. I really adore the peace I see in his face.”
See all of Ram Godar’s photos here.
MORE: BKS Iyengar’s Last Practice In Photos
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Earlier…
- Here’s BKS Iyengar On The Relationship Between Yoga And Religion From A 2005 Interview
- Jake Clennell on Filming BKS Iyengar: ‘I have never in my life seen such an expression of love and devotion.’
- My Journey with Guruji: Lessons and Reflections From 40 Years of Practice with B.K.S. Iyengar – by Bobby Clennell
- What is Iyengar’s Legacy, and What is Ours?
Thanks for posting these. His light still shines brightly on Yoga almost a year after he left this planet. I still get insights every day from his teachings and will for years to come.