New York Times Sri Daya Mata, American Hindu Leader, Dies at 96

From 1955 until her death, Sri Daya Mata — her name means “true mother of compassion” in Sanskrit — was the society’s president and spiritual leader. In her flowing ocher sari, she presided over an organization that now has more than 600 temples, centers and retreats in 60 countries, about half of them in the United States.

Just a reminder that yoga in America has multiple origins, including the Self-Realization Society. Sir Daya Mata may not be on the lips of every American yogi, but a successor of a charismatic movement founder (Paramahansa Yogananda) is instrumental in assuring the continued vitality of the organization, in this case, the Self-Realization Fellowship.