Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati came to the village of Rikhia (Jharkhand) in 1989. There he performed intense austerities and, as a result of his sadhanas, transformed the lives of the villagers around him, whom he calls his 'neighbours'. Rikhiapeeth Satsangs is a selection of talks given by Sri Swamiji between 2000 and 2007 to visitors from all over the world.

The satsangs exemplify Sri Swamiji's liberal, compassionate and practical views on a broad range of subjects, including ashram life, guru-disciple relationship, sannyasa, the Cosmic Mother, kanya worship, anna daan, children, awakening of consciousness, yoga, poverty, purushartha, destiny, opening the heart, and the future vision of Rikhiapeeth. Rikhiapeeth Satsangs provides fresh impetus and inspiration for all individuals seeking guidance on how to meet the needs of the modern age.

Swami Satyananda was born at Almora, Uttar Pradesh, in 1923. In 1943 he met Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh, where he lived as a sannyasin for the next 12 years.

Swami Satyananda founded the International Yoga Fellowship in 1956 and the Bihar School of Yoga in 1963. Over the next 20 years he toured internationally and authored over 80 books.

In 1984 he founded Sivananda Math, a charitable institution for aiding rural development, and the Yoga Research Foundation.

In 1988 he adopted kshetra sannyasa and settled in Rikhia, Jharkhand, where he now lives as a paramahamsa sannyasin.

Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati came to the remote village of Rikhia (Jharkhand) in 1989 after entering a new phase of spiritual life. Here he performed intense austerities, exemplifying the highest principles of the sannyasa tradition. The fruit of his sadhana was distributed to the local villagers in the form of economic, social and spiritual prosperity. Sri Swamiji established Rikhiapeeth in 2007 with the mandate from his guru Swami Sivananda, to 'Serve, Love, Give'. He entered into mahasamadhi at midnight on 5 December 2009, epitomizing the highest accomplishment of yoga.

Rikhiapeeth Satsangs 2 is a collection of talks given by Sri Swamiji between 2004 and 2009. He speaks on a broad range of subjects, including the changes in Rikhia, his sadhanas, his birthday, yajna, yogic principles, children, kriya yoga, jnana yoga, transcending the mind, the sannyasa tradition, Sri Krishna, Jesus Christ, war and peace, and the future of the world. Sri Swamiji's liberal, compassionate and practical views provide inspiration and fresh insights to all individuals seeking expansion of mind.

Swami Satyananda was born in Almora (Uttaranchal) in 1923. Drawn to spiritual life from an early age, he left home at the age of eighteen, and in 1943 surrendered himself to Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh who initiated him into Dashnami sannyasa in 1947. He served his guru for twelve years, perfecting every aspect of spiritual life. Thereafter, he travelled throughout the Indian subcontinent as a wandering ascetic.

Realizing the need of the times as scientific rendition of the ancient system of yoga, he founded the International Yoga Fellowship in 1956 and the Bihar School of Yoga in 1963. During the next twenty years, Swami Satyananda hoisted the flag of yoga in every corner of the world, consolidated BSY into a foremost institution of yoga, and authored over eighty major texts on yoga, tantra and spiritual life.

Satyananda Yoga became a tradition which combines classical knowledge with experiential understanding and a modern outlook. In 1984 he founded the Yoga Research Foundation to synchronize scientific research and yoga, and Sivananda Math to assist the under-privileged. In 1988, at the peak of his achievements, he renounced everything and adopted kshetra sannyasa, living as a paramahamsa ascetic. In 1989 Rikhia was revealed to him, where he came to live and performed higher vedic sadhanas in seclusion. Receiving the command to provide for his neighbours in 1991, he allowed the ashram to help the underprivileged villages in the region. From 1995 onwards, he performed a twelve-year Rajasooya Yajna with the sankalpa of peace, plenty and prosperity for all, and in 2007 he announced the establishment of Rikhiapeeth with its mandate to 'serve, love, give'.

Swami Satyananda attained mahasamadhi, a yogic accomplishment of discarding the body at will to become one with the universal consciousness, in 2009, in the presence of his disciples.

Rikhiapeeth Satsangs 3 is a collection of talks given by Sri Swamiji in 1997 to an Indian audience. He speaks on a wide range of subjects, including philosophical systems, sadhana, working for others, bhakti, emancipation of women, children's education, ancient history, modern social systems and economics. Translated from the original Hindi, Sri Swamiji's liberal, compassionate and practical views provide inspiration and fresh insights to all individuals seeking expansion of mind.

Rikhiapeeth Satsangs 4 is a collection of talks given by Sri Swamiji in 1997 to an Indian audience. He speaks on a wide range of subjects, including the sannyasa tradition, Bhakti, yoga, dhyana, mind management, seva, health, village development, education, emancipation of women, ancient and modern history, science, social systems and economics. Translated from the original Hindi, Sri Swamiji's liberal, compassionate and practical views provide inspiration and fresh insights to all individuals seeking expansion of mind.