Nātha Sampradāya Symposium at Central University of Karnataka

We are delighted to share that Dr. Seth Powell, Founder and Director of Yogic Studies, was recently invited to participate as a featured speaker at the international symposium hosted by the Central University of Karnataka (CUK) on the theme “Nātha Sampradāya in the Deccan: Early Development, Śaiva–Buddhist Interactions, and Yogic Traditions.” The event was held on November 27, 2025. 

This distinguished academic gathering brought together scholars and students from across India and beyond to explore the rich historical, philosophical, and cultural dimensions of the Nātha tradition—a seminal lineage within the history of Haṭha yoga and South Asian religious practices.

Dr. Powell’s presentation was on the "Temple Sculptures of Nāth Yogis in Complex Āsanas Across the Deccan," highlighting his fieldwork on the visual record of Nāth yogis and other Siddhas carved upon the temple pillars and walls of many Vijayanagara-era temple sites in the Deccan, especially in the state of Karnataka where the symposium was held. 

At CUK, Dr. Powell engaged with undergraduate and postgraduate students, shared insights from contemporary research in yoga studies, and contributed to discussions that bridged textual and art historical scholarship with lived yogic traditions. The response from the students, faculty, and staff was nothing short of inspiring. 

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Department of History and Archaeology at CUK, especially to Dr. Vijay Sarde and the other symposium organizers for their gracious invitation and thoughtful curation of this important event. Yogic Studies looks forward to continuing collaborations that enrich the global conversation on yoga history, philosophy, and practice.