Sadhguru, Spiritual Leader
Spiritual Leader

Sadhguru

Born 3 September 1957 · Karnataka

Founded the Isha Foundation and established its ashram and yoga center in Coimbatore in 1992.

Jagadish "Jaggi" Vasudev, also known as Sadhguru, is an Indian guru and founder of the Isha Foundation, based in Coimbatore, India. The foundation, established in 1992, operates an ashram and yoga centre that carries out educational and spiritual activities. Sadhguru has been teaching yoga since 1982. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy and Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny, and a frequent speaker at international forums.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Sadhguru’s first business was a poultry farm in Mysore that he started because it allowed him the freedom to explore spirituality during low-maintenance farming hours.

The Story

1
In 1982, Jaggi Vasudev ( @SadhguruJV ) began teaching yoga in Mysore, India, while still managing income from his poultry farm, marking a dramatic shift from businessman to spiritual teacher.
2
🏞️ In 1992, he founded the Isha Foundation in Coimbatore, which evolved into a global yoga and spiritual center offering programs in multiple countries including the US, UK, and China.
3📚 His 2016 book, Inner Engineering: A Yogi's Guide to Joy, became a New York Times bestseller, bringing his teachings to a worldwide audience beyond traditional yoga circles.
4🌿 Sadhguru launched environmental campaigns like Project GreenHands in 2004 and Rally for Rivers in 2017, mobilizing millions to plant trees and address drought in India’s river basins.

🏅 Awards & Honours

2017
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 2017, Sadhguru consecrated the Adiyogi Shiva statue measuring 112 feet, which holds a Guinness World Record for its height and symbolic significance.

🖼️

Through the Years

7 photographs from the archives
Jaggi Vasudev at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland (2007)
Jaggi Vasudev at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland (2007)
2007
Jaggi Vasudev conducting an Inner Engineering class at BSE Mumbai (2010)
Jaggi Vasudev with Sachin Tendulkar at Isha Gramotsavam in Coimbatore (2015)
Jaggi Vasudev with Demi Lovato in a video podcast (2024)
Sadhguru

🗓️ A Life in Moments

Born in Mysore, Karnataka
Birth
Born in Mysore, Karnataka
Jagadish Vasudev was born into a Telugu family in Mysore, the youngest of five children to an ophthalmologist father and homemaker mother.
1957
Graduated University of Mysore
Education
Graduated University of Mysore
Vasudev earned a BA in English literature, ranking second in his class, yet chose not to pursue postgraduate studies.
1979
Started Teaching Yoga
Career
Started Teaching Yoga
He began teaching yoga in Mysore while still running a poultry farm, pioneering his Sahaja Sthiti Yoga style.
1982
Founded Isha Foundation
Career
Founded Isha Foundation
Established the Isha Foundation in Coimbatore to provide yoga programs and spiritual education.
1992
Received Padma Vibhushan
Award
Received Padma Vibhushan
Awarded India’s second-highest civilian honor for contributions to spirituality and humanitarian work.
2017
Consecrated Adiyogi Statue
Career
Consecrated Adiyogi Statue
Unveiled the 112-foot Adiyogi Shiva statue at the Isha Yoga Center, recognized by Guinness World Records.
2017
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Before his spiritual fame, Vasudev ran a construction company named Buildaids and a poultry farm, demonstrating a rare blend of business acumen and spiritual pursuits.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Sadhguru has amassed a collection of luxury motorcycles and cars, including a BMW K 1600 GT and a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG worth over 2 crore INR.

03 / 04
💡SURPRISING

Despite his widespread influence, in 2013, his TEDx talk was flagged by TED for containing medical inaccuracies, which sparked discussions on the limits of spiritual claims.

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"If you resist change, you resist life."

— Sadhguru

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
How Jaggi Vasudev Became Sadhguru | TED Talk 2009
More from this archive
How Jaggi Vasudev Became Sadhguru | TED Talk 2009
01
How Jaggi Vasudev Became Sadhguru | TED Talk 2009
The Power of Being Alone | Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
02
The Power of Being Alone | Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
Faith, Reason and Inner Engineering: Jaggi Vasudev, Javed Akhtar at THiNK 2012
03
Faith, Reason and Inner Engineering: Jaggi Vasudev, Javed Akhtar at THiNK 2012
UNCUT Kangana Ranaut Interviews Spiritual Leader And Author Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
04
UNCUT Kangana Ranaut Interviews Spiritual Leader And Author Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
How Do We Handle Hard Times in Life? Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev Answers
05
How Do We Handle Hard Times in Life? Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev Answers
Sadhguru Exclusive X Barkha I God, Religion, Freedom, Mental Health & Whether Aliens Exist !
06
Sadhguru Exclusive X Barkha I God, Religion, Freedom, Mental Health & Whether Aliens Exist !
What Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev REVEALS About Finding Inner Peace | Duologue with Barun Das | Podcast
07
What Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev REVEALS About Finding Inner Peace | Duologue with Barun Das | Podcast

🌱 What changed because of them

Jaggi Vasudev transformed yoga from a niche Indian practice into a global phenomenon through the Isha Foundation, which now operates internationally with millions participating in its programs. His environmental campaigns like Rally for Rivers have influenced public discourse and policy discussions on water conservation in India. The Adiyogi statue has become a cultural landmark, spotlighting yoga’s heritage in a contemporary context.

💬 Social Buzz

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