The culmination of the vision of Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati and Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati, this gurukul based institute is the first of its kind in the world wholly devoted to the subject of yoga. BYB has been established along the lines of Nalanda and Vikramshila, two great spiritual centres of learning. It continues the work started by these ancient centres, as a pathfinder for the current and future spiritual awakening of people, in the spheres of Yoga, Vedanta, Tantra and other allied subjects.
What is a Gurukul?
Normally an educational institution focuses solely on academic goals, whereas a gurukul environment combines both intellectual and experiential learning, aiming towards the holistic growth of the student. Emphasis is laid on both the mental and spiritual development of the student.
BYB offers scholars, scientists, doctors and yoga aspirants from all parts of the world a golden opportunity to work together to formulate a scientific basis for the growth, expansion and rapid integration of yoga into modern society.
Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati originally had the vision of a yoga institute when he established the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy in Rishikesh in 1950. This inspiration was carried forward by Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati, who established Bihar School of Yoga in 1963, followed by the Ganga Darshan complex in Munger. Swami Niranjanananda, with the blessings of his predecessors, founded Bihar Yoga Bharati in 1994 as an Institute for Advanced Studies in Yogic Sciences.
 |  |
 |  |
Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati founded Bihar School of Yoga in order to carry out the mission given to him by his guru to spread the message of yoga from door to door and from shore to shore. Under the banner of BSY, he propagated yoga for people of all ages from all countries, races, religions and cultures. Under his guidance, the ancient science of yoga was taught on a scientific basis with clarity and vision. Thousands of people were and continue to be trained and educated in yogic subjects. Bihar Yoga Bharati is thus a natural continuation of the teaching activities of BSY.
This gurukul based institute, the first of its kind in the world to impart a comprehensive yogic education, is currently undergoing course restructuring and presently offers fully residential courses in Yogic Studies, of four months duration and in Yogic Science and Lifestyle of three months duration.
What is Education?
Education is not the amassing of information and its purpose is not mere career hunting. It is a means of developing a fully integrated personality and enabling one to grow effectively into the likeness of the ideal that one has set before oneself.
Education is a drawing out from within of the highest and best qualities inherent in the individual. It is training in the art of living.
Education is not injecting knowledge or information from outside. It is creating an atmosphere in which you will be able to express the knowledge which is already in you.
Education must be designed so that it can serve two purposes. Firstly to enlighten the intellect, to purify the emotions and to improve the quality of social awareness, and secondly to awaken and express the inner knowledge.
Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati