Meetings with Indian Yoga Masters
Honored & Humbled
Desikachar, Larry and Indra Devi. Taken at the Samata Garden Yoga Center at the party following the 1st U.S. tribute to Krishnamacharya 1987.
Larry and Sri B.K.S. Iyengar, Pune, India 1980. Larry received private lessons, group classes and an interview. He was also allowed to take over 50 photographs of BKS Iyengar while he was preparing for a tour of Japan.
Sri Swami Satchidananda of RishiKesh.
Mataji Indra Devi, Puttaparthi, India 1980. Larry received an interview and a personal introduction to Sathya Sai Baba. Mataji became a close friend. She met with Larry at Yoga conventions all over the world. She stayed at the Samata Yoga Center and he stayed at her private home in Buenos Aires.
Last standing photo of Krishnamacharya before he broke his hip.
Krishnamacharya’s first American student. Dr. Albert Franklin the U.S. Ambassador to India. The late Dr. Franklin initiated Samata Yoga Center in Los Angeles.
First tribute to Krishnamacharya in America. Los Angeles 1987. Produced by Larry Payne and May Lou Skelton of the original Viniyoga America.
Krishnamacharya demonstrating the bandahas (locks)
Rare photo of Krishnamacharya in his 90s.
Desicachar chanting with his father, 1987.
Sri T.K.V. Desikachar, Madras, India 1983.
Sri Desikachar and the Dalai Lama.
Desikachar and Larry at Cogate University 1985. They co-produced a Yoga video for the Colgate football team.
Desikachar writing letters, 1986.
A young TKV Desikachar performing asana for his father Sri T. Krishnamacharya.
Kausthub with his father, T.K.V. Desikachar.
Kausthub Desikchar (Grandson of Krishnamacharya)
Desikachar Family: Desikachar, Meneka, Kausthub, Mekhala (Desikachar's daughter) and Kate Holcombe.
The great Sri T. Krishnamacharya of Mysore and Madras. Taken at his 100-year birthday ceremony... Larry met with Krishnamacharya many times. Received his blessing for co-producing his first tribute in America and interviewed him with Sonya Nelson, in1985.
Meneka Desikachar, 2005.
Meneka giving lecture in Madras.
AG Mohan & Family. Wife Indra, A.G. Daughter Nitya, son Ganesh
A.G. Mohan and family 2005.
A.G. Mohan at Krishnamacharya’s 100th birthday ceremony.
A.G. Mohan's first visit to America. Co-sponsored by Larry Payne and the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Larry and Indra Devi in Buenos Aires, celebrating their May birthdays in 1988.
Indra Devi and actress Gloria Swanson. Hollywood, CA 1940s
Indra Devi at her orphanage near Sai Baba's Ashram.
Indra Devi,Carlos Fiel M.D.(left) President European Yoga Federation, David Lifar (above) President Indra Devi Foundation and Larry. First World Congress of Yoga. Montevideo, Uruguay, 1986.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba materializing holy ash known as vibhuti from his hand. Witnessed at very close range by Larry and life long friend professor Sasi Velupillai. Puttaparthi, India 1980.
Closer view of Sai Baba’s hand.
Sai Baba coming out of his ashram to bless thousands of people, 1980.
Sai Baba receiving gift from Larry, 1980.
Larry at Sai Baba's ashram, 1980.
Sai Baba at orphanage dedication ceremony.
Sylvester Yesudian Zurich 1979. Author of Yoga for Health, Larry’s first Yoga book. Larry met with him and his spiritual partner Elisabeth Haich.
Yesudian and Elisabeth Haich, author of “Initiation”, 1970s.
Invitation letter from BKS Iyengar, 1980.
Sri Swami Satchidananda of Madras. 1980. Met several times at his center. He took a vow of silence. His hair reached the ground and he did an annual fast on coconut water for 30 days.
Satchidananda of Madras executing Trakata meditation technique.
Sri Ganapati Saccidananda materialized necklace for Larry and emerald ring for composer David McHugh. Santa Cruz, 1992.
Sri Swami Vishnu Devananda, first Yoga teacher training with swami Vishnu and the Sivananda training program. Neyyar Dam, Southern India, December 1989.
Sri Yogendraji, founder Yoga Institute of Santa Cruz, India (Near Bombay). This is India’s oldest organized Yoga center, founded in 1918. Long interview when he was in his late 80s.
First meeting and interview with Indra Devi. Photos of Indra Devi and Sai Baba from Ramesh Photography.
Chakrapani Ullal America's leading Vedic astrologer. Personal astrologer for the late Swami Mukatananda.
Satchidananda and Gerard Blitz (In Black), founder of Club Med and the European Yoga Foundation. Larry and Nancy Ford Kohne representing Unity and Yoga USA, 1988.
Personal letter from Sri Satchidananda of Rishikesh.
Yogi Bajan founder of 3HO, Kundalini Yoga and the Western Seik movement... interviewed for a chapter in a book for Unity and Yoga.