Mysore, May 18th—Last night, the body of Pattabhi Jois, feet tucked up into lotus position and hands crossed over his chest and covered with a white sheet, lay in the shala in Gokulam where he, his grandson Sharath and daughter Saraswati had been teaching thousands of yoga students from around the world for the past twelve years since his wife died. He was piled high with offerings of jasmine blossom wreaths, surrounded by family, friends, former students, and admirers coming to pay their respects. The entire family, including his older brother, son Manju Jois, and his granddaughter were there to observe the funeral rites--Sharath interrupted his world tour, returning early from abroad in order to be close by should something happen to his grandfather. Many long time students had also heard the news their beloved Guruji was in the hospital, and traveled to Mysore just in case. He had been sick for months already, and it is said he had been neither sleeping nor eating for the last few days. The body was removed from the shala around 8PM, and brought to garage below, where it was doused in water, and a priest, Manju, and Sharath observed the funeral rituals. Jois touched the lives of tens of thousands of people, and was one of the most revered, and one of the final living students of Krishnamacharya. The shala will be open for those paying final respects from 11 to 12 PM today.
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