Vishwas Vasant Mandlik

Vishwas Mandlik, better known as Mandlik sir, was the founder of the "Yoga Vidya Dham" and is considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in India. He has written many books on yoga practice and philosophy. On 6 March 2007, Paramhansa Niranjananda Saraswati of Bihar Yoga, initiated him to Rushi Sannayasa (part of higher sannayasa tradition) and gave new name Rushi Dharmajyoti.

Mandlik started his career as an Engineer in Voltas Transformers Ltd., a Multinational Company in Pune. After working there for 12 years eventually he started his own business of Manufacturing Electrical Distribution Transformers and Industrial Equipments in Nasik in 1978, expanding to Pune and Aurangabad in next few years. Along with his business, he was practicing yoga. He retired from his business in 1995, adopting Yoga Education as his life mission.

Mandlik started Yoga Vidya Dham in 1978, utilizing the morning and evening hours for the noble cause of Yoga Education. He has authored more than 45 books and over 200 audio cassettes and cds, 2 software on Yoga Education, applications of Yoga, Yoga as a Therapy, Yoga for Kids, Women etc. His books are mainly in Marathi and later translated in English, Hindi, Kenned, Gujarathi. He is the Editor of Yoga monthly called "Yoga Sugandha" for last 25 years. He is Vice Chancellor of Yoga Vidya Gurukul (Yoga University). He has treated more than 35000 patients suffering from various chronic diseases like Back ache, spondilitis, asthma, diabetes, heart problems, arthritis, hypertension, blood pressure, digestive disorders, psychosomatic disorders and many more through Yoga therapy centers in Nasik and other cities. he conducts various courses, lectures, workshops on stress management, therapy etc. all over India. He has been the source of inspiration to thousands of yoga seekers, volunteers, teachers all over India and other countries as well.

Yoga Vidya Dham is a university which imparts Yoga training to students and those aspiring to be yoga teachers. Yoga Vidya Dham is considered one of the big yoga institutes in India. Founded in 1978, it is working as a Non-Profit Organization having 150 branches in Maharashtra alone, 8 in Karnataka and 7 in the eastern part of India. This includes all major cities of Maharashtra including Nasik, Pune, Ahmednager, Kolhapur, Pimpri-Chinchwad and others. It is now expanding in other countries such as United States, UK, Italy, Hong Kong, Australia and Ireland. More than 450,000 people have completed basic Yoga Pravesh course till today, with over 500 teachers. Yoga Vidya Dham runs 2 centers in Nasik. Various courses are conducted at different levels:

Mandlik was born in 1944 in Nasik in a middle-class family. He completed his education from Nasik and then in Pune. In 1967, he graduated from University of Pune as Bachelor in Electrical engineering from Government College of Engineering, Pune, one of the oldest technical schools in India. During the college days, he won lot of awards on national level in competitive rowing and boating. He also won the prestigious "Senior Championship" in 1966.