CHICAGO: Narayan Dhekane, 80, popularly known among his disciples as Kaka Maharaj, an Engineer turned teacher of Yoga Meditation, said here that the objective of Yoga is to extend our awareness beyond our body and mind to the Spirit or Prana in Sanskrit language, which is the Universal Life Force (Chaitanya), lying dormant within every one of us.

He was in Chicago last week on his extensive and onerous tour across USA meeting his disciples and Yoga lovers. Quite simple, yet profoundly scholarly Kaka Maharaj was able to impress upon the press of his deep understanding of the science of Yoga. He observed that all humans are aware of their bodies and most of them of their minds too, but far too many of us are unaware of the spirit- the Universal Life force called Chaitanya - lying dormant in each one of us.

This Energy is also called Kundalini. He said "Awakening this dormant energy through the disciplines of physical exercises and meditation is "Yoga" or Union. It is achieved by the practice of unwavering concentration of the mind and raising the awareness from the dormant state of energy at the root of the spine identified as Muladhara Chakra to the Sahasrar Chakra identified as existing in brain.

This Chaitanya merging with brain is, "Self Realization," he explained.Kaka Maharaj said that through the ages, saints and seers have developed several types of Yogic sadhanas (practices) like Hatha Yoga (postures), Manthra Yoga (chanting), Bhakti Yoga (devotion), Pranayama (regulated breathing), etc., but Sidha Yoga, which he is practicing, is easy and simple. In this simple method a Siddha Guru guides the disciple through self-realizing beginning from Instructions for Initiation (Deeksha).

He said anyone desirous of initiation does not have to do anything but request the Guru and pray in all earnestness with complete faith in the Siddha Guru and follow his simple instructions at the time of initiation. Kaka Maharaj was born on July 3, 1927 in a village called Dhule in the State of Maharashtra, India.

He received Master of Engineering degree from University of Calcutta. Deeply spiritual in nature from his childhood, he was initiated into Siddha Yoga at the age of 23 by Loknath Tirth Swami Maharaj. Ever since, he has practiced Sidha Yoga with great devotion having taken a vow of celibacy at the same time.He founded P.P. Shri Loknath Tirth Swami Maharaj Maha Yoga Trust in Nasik, Maharashtra in 1986. He has also established 29 Siddha Yoga sub-centers at various locations around India, lead by his senior disciples.