H. R. Nagendra, PhD (Mech. Eng.) ⋆ Taksha Institute

H. R. Nagendra, PhD (Mech. Eng.) became the first recipient of the annual Takshashila Patanjali Yoga Award and inductee into the Taksha Hall of Fame (THoF) in April 2022. Dr. Nagendra was recognized with this award for his outstanding contributions to Yoga Therapy worldwide.

He currently serves as the Chancellor of S-VYASA (Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana), the world’s premiere university on Yoga, at Bengaluru, India. Dr. H. R. Nagendra completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering and joined the University of British Columbia as Post Doctoral Research Fellow. During 1971-71, he was awarded the prestigious US National Research Council (NRC) Post-Doctoral Research Associateship at NASA Marshall Space Center, Huntsville, Alabama, US, and in 1972, he moved to the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, UK, as a consultant and Visiting Staff. In 1975, he joined the Vivekananda Kendra, India. From 1986 to 2000, he was the Secretary of Vivekananda Kendra Yoga Research Foundation, India, and the Director of Indian Yoga Institute. From 2000 to present, he served as the President of Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samasthana.

He currently serves as the Chancellor of S-VYASA. He has published over 30 Research Papers in Engineering and authored 150 papers on Yoga and co-authored 35 books on Yoga. Recognized with innumerable number of national and international awards, citations in recognition of the extemporary contribution in the field of Yoga, in 2016, the Government of India honored him with Padmashree Award, the fourth highest civilian award to a citizen of India. He has been recently recognized by Stanford University under Complimentary & Alternative Medicine.

Awards conferred to Dr. Nagendra include:
• Takshashila Patanjali Yoga Award, TakshaShila Institute, US – 2022
• Taksha Hall of Fame Induction, TakshaShila Institute, US – 2022
• Padma Shri award, Government of India – 2016
• Distinguished Alumni Award of IISc, Bengaluru – 2015
• Light of Yoga award from Hindu Students Council, NJ, US – 2015
• Global Peace Award in UNO hall from Sri Swami Madhavananda,
World Peace Council, Vienna – 2015
• Bharat Gaurav award in British Parliament – 2015 International Yoga
Grand Master Award from Portuguese Yoga Confederation – 2013
• Kannada Rajyotsava Award form Govt of Karnataka (for
Organization) – 2010
• Recipient of Bharata Rathna Sir M Visvesvaraya Science Award
for contributions in the field of Yoga Education and Yoga Therapy
from Svadeshi Vijnana Andholan, Karnataka – 2010
• National Citizen’s Award from the hands of Justice P N Bhagavati,
Hon. Chairman, UN Human Rights Commission – 2001
• Nominated by the American Biographical Association for the
Distinguished Leadership award for his service to humanity
• Recipient of Bhaskar award for the contributions in the field of Yoga
by organizers of Mystic India Exhibition, New Delhi from the hands of Sri
Ramananda Sagar – 1997
• Recipient of Patanjali Award 1997 for the contributions in the field of
Yoga by ISM&H, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of
India, through Director, ISM&H in Bengaluru
• Award for Contributions in the Field of Yoga Therapy, Chief Minister, Govt. of Delhi – 1995
• Yoga Shree award by Padma shri Yogacharya BKS Iyengar, organized by
Bengaluru Yoga Association – 1995
• Man of Excellence Award, Badaganadu Sangha Association, Bengaluru – 1994

Recent Positions Dr. Nagendra has held:
• Ex-Chairman, IUCYS, Inter University Center of Yoga Sciences, MHRD,
Govt of India
• Secretary General, Indian Yogasana Sports Federation
• Member, NITI Aayog
• Chancellor, S-VYASA, deemed to be University, Bengaluru
• Chairman, Vivekananda Yoga University (VaYU), Los Angeles, US
• Expert, Development of Benchmarks for Training in Yoga’ – WHO, Geneva
• President, VYASA, Bengaluru
• Chairman, Yoga Certification Board, Ministry of AYUSH
• Chairman, Yoga and Naturopathy Development Committee
• Chairman of SAC of CCRYN, Ministry of AYUSH
• Chairman, National Committee for Development of Yoga Courses
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
• Member, General Assembly of ICCR, Ministry of External Affairs
• Secretary General, World Yogasana Sports Federation, New Delhi
• Member of EC, AIISH, Mysore under MOHFW
Formerly he was:
• Chairman, IDY Experts Committee, GOI
• Chairman of Task Force of AYUSH, Govt of India, Ministry of AYUSH
• Chairman, Expert Committee on Yoga for Teacher Educators, NCTE
• Chairman, Expert Committee for Yoga for Schools, NCERT
• Chairperson, “Committee on Yoga Education in Universities”, UGC
• Member, Committee for Development of Vision and Road Map for the
Development of Sanskrit, Ministry of HRD, Govt of India
• Member Planning Commission, Govt of India
• President, HUA, US