The Mystic Who Transformed a Disease into Your Guru

If someone asks me to sum up my impressions about Dr. Jayadeva, I would say that he was a mystic householder who has transformed the lives of thousands. If his illustrious father, Shri Yogendraji was a Householder Yogi, Dr. Jayadeva was a Householder Mystic to me.

- AD Pradeep Kumar

In one of his earlier articles, he had pointed that a disease can be your Guru. That was what he tried to do if anyone came to the Institute seeking cure for a disease. With his mystic touch, he would transform the illness which had been haunting you for years into a friend, philosopher and guide. And it is quite interesting that his life partner Hansaji came to his life to get rid of her asthma.

How can a disease become a teacher, a Guru? Dr. Jayadeva had explained in one of his talks, “In the process of overcoming a disease, a person has to understand and change his entire lifestyle. Many asthmatics know this. Change of habits contributes to much relief. With new habits wisely integrated into their daily regimen, the disease regresses.”

Mother India has given birth to legions of saints and mystics. One unique quality found in these great souls is the compassion they had towards the suffering humanity. I found this great quality in abundance in Dr. Jayadeva. He was a remarkable combination of knowledge, wisdom and compassion.

One incident I can never forget in my life is the compassion which he had shown to me while I was passing through a very bad patch in my life. My younger brother, who was staying with me at that time, was suddenly undergoing bouts of depression. In Mumbai I did not have any relatives whom I could fall back on. Dr. Jayadeva was like a friend, philosopher and guide to me during those tough days. I could never repay him for his guidance, care and compassion, which he had shown to me and to my brother during those days.

His interest was in practising yoga in the true sense of the term. However, he agreed to do research into yoga for the larger benefit of humanity. So the therapeutic work carried out by the Institute is only due to his compassion towards humanity.