Technologies of Renunciation

In the 1940s, photography at Sivananda Ashram had a multifaceted presence—it contributed to ritual practice, deepened the connection between the ashram community and householder visitors, and provided a rich metaphor for yogic life. This photography was distinguished by the fact that the images were produced by monks as part of their daily life, and the techniques of photographic production themselves became part of yogic practice. As a devotional practice at Sivananda Ashram, photography initiated a period of extended and provocative reflection on the question of how media technology, largely associated with worldliness, could support a yogic path of renunciation and self-realization.