Overview
The University of Patanjali is a state private university located in Haridwar, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Established under the patronage of the Patanjali Yogpeeth, the university focuses on yoga, Ayurveda, Vedic studies and allied disciplines, while also offering programmes in conventional academic streams. It is associated with the wider network of institutions promoted by yoga guru Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna.
Key facts
| Name | University of Patanjali |
|---|---|
| Type | State private university |
| Location | Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India |
| Affiliation | Patanjali Yogpeeth |
| Founders | Swami Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna |
| Focus areas | Yoga, Ayurveda, Vedic studies, Sanskrit, allied sciences |
Background
The university was set up as part of the Patanjali Yogpeeth complex on the outskirts of Haridwar, a city long associated with traditional Indian learning and pilgrimage on the banks of the Ganga. The institution emerged from the broader movement led by Swami Ramdev to popularise yoga and Ayurveda, and from the research and clinical activities organised by Acharya Balkrishna under the Patanjali umbrella.
It functions as a private university recognised by the state government of Uttarakhand, with statutory recognition consistent with the framework laid down for such institutions by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India.
Academics
The academic profile of the University of Patanjali is built around the integration of traditional Indian knowledge systems with modern scientific study. Its faculties and departments typically include:
- Yoga science and human consciousness
- Ayurveda and naturopathy
- Sanskrit, Veda and darshan (Indian philosophy)
- Indian culture, history and education
- Management, journalism and information technology
Programmes are offered at undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and doctoral levels. The university is known particularly for degree and research programmes in yoga, which attract students from across India and from abroad.
Campus
The campus is situated within the Patanjali Yogpeeth premises near Bahadrabad, Haridwar, alongside other Patanjali establishments such as the yoga and Ayurveda hospital, research institutes and production facilities. Students have access to yoga halls, laboratories, a library focused on Indic studies, and residential accommodation.
Research and outreach
Research at the university is closely linked with the Patanjali Research Foundation and clinical work conducted at the affiliated Ayurveda hospitals. Areas of study include the scientific evaluation of yogic practices, herbal formulations, and classical Ayurvedic texts. The university also conducts certificate courses, training camps and outreach programmes aimed at promoting yoga and traditional medicine.
Significance
The University of Patanjali is among a small group of Indian universities that place yoga and Ayurveda at the centre of their academic identity. It is often cited as an example of the institutionalisation of traditional Indian disciplines within the formal higher education system, and it contributes to the supply of trained yoga teachers, therapists and Ayurveda practitioners in India.
Related topics
- Patanjali Yogpeeth
- Swami Ramdev
- Acharya Balkrishna
- Haridwar
- Yoga
- Ayurveda
- Education in Uttarakhand
- Private universities in India
References
- Wikidata entity: Q24927917
- Government of Uttarakhand, list of state private universities
- University Grants Commission (India), recognised universities directory