Slavic People with Indian Connection
Stories of seekers from Slavic countries whose lives have been touched by India’s yogic tradition — and of the teachers who carry that tradition to them.
Yoga has always travelled beyond the borders of India, drawing students, teachers and seekers from every corner of the world. On this page we share the story of yoga teacher Satya Prakash Sharma, whose practice and teachings have been featured by Slavic media and audiences, along with a set of video interviews where he speaks about his path in yoga.
Slavic publication features Satya Prakash Sharma
A publication from a Slavic country featured yoga teacher Satya Prakash Sharma and his practice of advanced asanas. Read the full story on their site.
Read the ArticleSlavic Heritage and Its Echoes of India
Two ancient peoples, one shared root.
A Common Ancestry
Slavic peoples trace their roots to the ancient Indo-European family, the same broad linguistic and cultural lineage that gave rise to Vedic civilization in India. Some hold that in ancient times, the lands of the Slavic people and India were far closer than the map shows today, with no distant separation between our ancestors. This shared origin is why scholars have long noted striking parallels between early Slavic and early Indian belief systems.
Fire and Sun Worship
In old Slavic tradition, fire and the sun were treated as sacred, most visible today in the Kupala Night bonfire rituals still celebrated across Slavic countries. India’s own fire rituals, the Vedic homa and havan, hold fire in much the same regard — as a purifying force and a messenger between the human and the divine.
Gods of Thunder and Sky
The old Slavic thunder-god Perun and the Vedic sky-and-storm god Indra share more than a passing resemblance in myth and function, a connection linguists trace back to a common Indo-European ancestor deity. Slavic sun-deities such as Dazhbog similarly echo the reverence India holds for Surya, the sun.
Honoring Ancestors
Slavic communities have long observed Dziady (Forefathers’ Eve) and similar rites to honor departed ancestors with food, prayer, and remembrance. India’s tradition of Pitru Paksha and shraddha rituals serves the same purpose — a reminder that both cultures place deep value on continuity between the living and those who came before them.
These echoes are part of why yoga has found such a natural home among Slavic seekers, and why teachers like Satya Prakash Sharma have built such a warm following in Slavic countries — two ancient traditions, still recognizing something of themselves in one another.
Interviews & Video Stories
Watch Satya Prakash Sharma in his own words — recorded conversations shared on Facebook.
Train With Us in Rishikesh
Curious about the tradition behind these stories? Explore our yoga teacher training programs at Hatha Yogashram.
Contact UsHatha Yogashram · Balaknath Road, Upper Tapovan, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand – 249192