Sri Swami Rama
"Light thy own lamp. No one can give you salvation." Swami Rama

Born in 1925, in a learned family of Uttar Pradesh in India. He was ordained a monk in early childhood by a renowned spiritual master of West Bengal. His entire youth and early manhood embarked him on a learning journey from monasteries to caves, studying and living with more than 92 sages hidden away in the Himalayan mountains. From 1938 to 1944, he taught Hindu and Buddhist scriptures to several monasteries. He studied Tibetan culture, mysticism and religion in Tibet from 1945 to 1947.
Finally, the arduous year of scriptural study, the endless hours of refining his mediation practices, the tutoring and solitary investigation of higher states of consciousness, culminating in his receiving the highest spiritual post in India: in 1949 Swami Rama became the Samkaracharya of Karvirpaitham.

His continual research brought him to European universities and medical clinics. The study of Western psychology, philosophy and medicine occupied these years. Invitations from professional people took him to 56 countries.
Returning to India, Swami Rama's master ordered him to return to the West to bring the ancient wisdom to the people and professional communities, thereby aiding them in their scientific quest for trust.
He is the founder of the world known organization, the Himalayan International Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy. Among many institutes he founded, his disciples Swami Jaidev and Ma Devi began the Institute of the Himalayan Tradition in St. Paul, Minnesota. Himalayan Yoga was started by Dena Jackson and  Vaishalee Patel with the blessing of Swami Jaidev to continue to offer our teachings to our students.