Swami Sivananda (1887–1963) was an influential Indian Hindu spiritual teacher, yoga guru, and proponent of Vedanta, born Kuppuswami in Tamil Nadu. After a career as a doctor in Malaya, he became a monastic and founded the Divine Life Society and the Yoga-Vedanta Forest Academy in Rishikesh. He is known for his concept of the Yoga of Synthesis, which harmonizes the traditional yogic paths of service (Karma), knowledge (Jnana), devotion (Bhakti), and meditation (Raja). He was a prolific writer, authoring over 200 books, and is remembered for his philosophy of selfless service and spiritual service to humanity.