Mala Srivatsan

 

Mala Srivatsan was a student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya during the last eight years of his life; from 1980 to 1988. Much more than the actual textual learning, he took her under his care and gave direction and support to every aspect of her life. Beginning with the birth of her first child and followed by the birth of her second child, both of which were under the close supervision and care of T. Krishnamacharya, she was under his tutelage right to the end of his life. And her time with him largely consisted of study of portions from various texts and chants with an emphasis on Devotion.

 

This was the final phase of T. Krishnamacharya's life and he saw very few students during this period when he dedicated himself to prayer, meditation, and surrender. He found in Mala, a student aligned to this aspect of Yoga and she feels herself blessed with this association.

 

It was this close association with his father that inspired Sri Desikachar to appoint Mala as the Executive Trustee of the KYM - to have this spirit of devotion guiding all its activities. Sir would run every idea of his through with Mala to get this quality to inform and influence it.

 

Mala served as the Executive Trustee of KYM for 12 years. She was the Managing Editor of Darsanam, a quarterly publication from 1993 to 1996. She helped in bringing out the compositions of Sri T Krishnamacharya like the Dhyanamalika and Yoganjali Saram. The first compiled publication of the biography of Sri T Krishnamacharya was bought out by her in 1997 followed by Sri Nathamuni's Yoga Rahasya in 1998.

 

We look forward to hearing from her as to how she is carrying out the instructions of her Acharya and her experiences with Sir.