The great Indian yoga master B. K. S. Iyengar has died at the age of 95.
The Yoga legend bid farewell to the world at 3:15 am on Wednesday at a private hospital in Pune, Maharashtra.
The founder of 'Iyengar Yoga' had a poor health condition for the past couple of weeks, but due to his unwillingness to get hospitalised, he was undergoing treatment at home. However, he was rushed to the intensive care unit last Tuesday, 12 August, as his health condition was getting worse.
Tests and medical examinations showed that Iyengar had a weak heart and his kidneys were functioning poorly. He was fed through a nasogastric tube and was put on dialysis following a kidney failure on Sunday, the Times of India reported.
"He did not want to be admitted to hospital even though he was unwell at home for almost three weeks. Iyengar had a cardiac (ailment) history. His condition subsequently worsened leading to renal failure after which he was put on dialysis," Dr Deepali Mande, who treated Iyengar, told PTI, according to The Hindu.
Tributes to the yoga guru have been pouring in from different parts of the world from Wednesday morning.
"I am deeply saddened to know about Yogacharya BKS Iyengar's demise & offer my condolences to his followers all over the world," Prime Minister Narendra Modi, tweeted.
"I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of Shri B. K. S Iyengar," President of India Pranab Mukherjee, wrote to Prashant Iyengar, the yoga legend's son. "I convey my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and Shri Iyengar's countless disciples and admirers. I pray to the Almighty to give you and your family the strength and courage to bear this irreparable loss. I also pray for peace of the departed soul".
"One of the most admired and respected Yoga teachers in the world. Yogacharya RIP B.K.S. Iyengar," Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor, wrote.
"R.I.P BK Iyengar. Had the good fortune of learning yoga from him," Indian cricketer VVS Laxman, wrote.
"The world loses a titan with the passing away of Yogacharya B K S Iyengar. But the light he shed on yoga will never dim. RIP," Indian journalist Ayaz Memon, tweeted.
"Sad to hear my yoga instructor...B.K.S. Iyengar has died tonight in Pune, India. He was 96. Thoughts with the family," Jim Guy, meteorologist at King 5, wrote.
Iyengar, who belonged to a poor family in Bellur, Kolar District in Karnataka, was only 15 when he started practicing yoga.
Though the yoga sessions were started to address his poor health, he soon succeeded in establishing his name in the whole world. His contributions to yoga and Indian culture have fetched him Padma Shri (1991), Padma Bhushan (2002) and Padma Vibhushan (2014).
Meanwhile, 'Iyengar Yoga' mainly focuses on certain key aspects like technique – precision and alignment while performing asana and pranayama; planned sequence; timing and use of props. According to Iyengar Yoga Association of Australia, it was the students of the yoga guru who coined the term to differentiate their teacher's unique approach to yoga.
Light on Yoga, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Light on Pranayama are some of his notable works.
