Press & Media
Explore resources on Sadhviji’s life and influence, including high-res photos, factsheets and briefings for journalists, and an archive of interviews and public statements.
A life dedicated to spirituality & service
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati grew up in Studio City, California, just up the hill from Universal Studios, in what she calls “the coveted world of Hollywood.” She attended a private prep school alongside the children of actors, directors, and producers. It was a childhood of abundance. And it was also marked by challenge, suffering and trauma that planted deep roots of pain and disconnection, and set her on a path in search of healing, meaning, and wholeness.
Full Bio (250 words)
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, known as Sadhviji, is a global spiritual leader, and bestselling author who has spent nearly 30 years living and teaching in the Himalayas. Raised in Hollywood and a graduate of Stanford University with a Ph.D. in psychology, she left behind a life marked by trauma and outward success to find profound healing on the banks of the sacred Ganga River in Rishikesh, India.
Today, she serves as the International Director of Parmarth Niketan (one of India’s largest spiritual institutions), Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, and President of the Divine Shakti Foundation, where she leads major initiatives in sustainability, women’s empowerment, and interfaith collaboration.
Sadhviji is one of the leading voices in spiritual transformation, guiding seekers around the world to quiet the mind, release the past, reconnect with their true nature, and live in sacred alignment. Her teachings bridge ancient Vedic wisdom with modern psychology, offering a path that is emotionally accessible, intellectually grounded, and globally relevant.
She is the author of Hollywood to the Himalayas and Come Home to Yourself, a recipient of President Biden’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Service. She has spoken at TED, the United Nations, COP, Interfaith G20, the Parliament of World Religions and global interfaith events supported by institutions such as the World Bank. She has shared the stage with leaders such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jane Goodall, King Charles III, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, calling for global compassion, spiritual unity, and sacred action. She also serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on Religion and leads several humanitarian and interfaith initiatives.
Short Bio (120 words)
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, known as Sadhviji, is a global spiritual leader and bestselling author who has lived in the Himalayas for nearly three decades. Raised in Hollywood and a graduate of Stanford University with a PhD in psychology, she left behind a life of outward success to embrace a path of spiritual transformation and service.
Her work spans humanitarian aid, interfaith dialogue, and spiritual teaching, guiding people to live with purpose, presence, and inner alignment. She is the International Director of Parmarth Niketan, Secretary-General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, and a speaker at global forums including TED and the United Nations.
She is also the author of Hollywood to the Himalayas and Come Home to Yourself, and serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on Religion.
Brief Bio (40 words)
Sadhviji is a global spiritual leader and Stanford-educated psychologist raised in Hollywood and transformed by nearly 30 years in the Himalayas, India. A Stanford grad with a psychology PhD, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by President Biden and is speaker at global forums including TED and the United Nations.
For media inquiries please contact
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati’s insights are keys that unlock the doors to our deepest potential and provide a profound roadmap to inner peace and self-discovery. Her words resonate with the wisdom of the ages, guiding us gently yet powerfully toward our highest selves
– Jack Canfield, coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is a rare and radiant bridge between the mystical East and the modern West. She speaks the language of the soul with the clarity of a Stanford-trained mind and the compassion of a true saint. When she speaks, hearts open. Walls fall away. You remember who you really are. She’s not just a great teacher—she’s a spiritual force, reminding us of the power of love to heal, unite, and uplift us all.
– Marci Shimoff, Co-founder, Your Year of Miracles, #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Happy for No Reason, Love For No Reason, Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul
At the age of 18, I began my spiritual journey with some of the most revered masters of both the East and West. Now, many decades later, I can say with absolute confidence: the wisdom that flows from Sadhviji stands among the most profound I’ve ever encountered. If you long to remember who you truly are and why you’re here… if you’re ready to release the wounds of the past and live in sacred alignment… if you’re tired of chasing success and want instead to relax into a life of true fulfillment — then Sadhvi is the guide your soul has been waiting for.
– Debra Poneman, Best Selling Author and founder, Yes to Success, Inc.
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati masterfully weaves spiritual wisdom with the science of consciousness, bridging the gap between spirituality and science. She empowers us to harness the full potential of our minds and spirits
– Bruce H. Lipton, PhD, stemcell biologist, epigenetic science pioneer, and bestselling author of The Biology of Belief, Spontaneous Evolution (with Steve Bhaerman) and The Honeymoon Effect
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati offers wisdom that helps us navigate relationships and life with greater understanding and love
– John Gray, author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati’s wisdom is truly extraordinary—her ability to bridge the sacred teachings of the East with the needs and hearts of the West is unparalleled. Her words resonate like a sacred invitation to come back to the essence of who we truly are.
– Arielle Ford, author of The Soulmate Secret
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati’s teachings are like a fl owing river, guiding us back to the ocean of our true selves.
– Shiva Rea, founder of Samudra Global School of Living Yoga
Sadhviji was born in Los Angeles and has lived for almost thirty years in India as a devotee of Truth. If you let her sit with you and share stories from her evening gatherings, I firmly believe you will gain profound insight into your own life.
– Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, cofounder and director of the Golden Bridge Yoga Center and author of Eight Human Talents and Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati’s insights are keys that unlock the doors to our deepest potential and provide a profound roadmap to inner peace and self-discovery. Her words resonate with the wisdom of the ages, guiding us gently yet powerfully toward our highest selves
– Jack Canfield, coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is a rare and radiant bridge between the mystical East and the modern West. She speaks the language of the soul with the clarity of a Stanford-trained mind and the compassion of a true saint. When she speaks, hearts open. Walls fall away. You remember who you really are. She’s not just a great teacher—she’s a spiritual force, reminding us of the power of love to heal, unite, and uplift us all.
– Marci Shimoff, Co-founder, Your Year of Miracles, #1 NY Times Bestselling Author Happy for No Reason, Love For No Reason, Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul
At the age of 18, I began my spiritual journey with some of the most revered masters of both the East and West. Now, many decades later, I can say with absolute confidence: the wisdom that flows from Sadhviji stands among the most profound I’ve ever encountered. If you long to remember who you truly are and why you’re here… if you’re ready to release the wounds of the past and live in sacred alignment… if you’re tired of chasing success and want instead to relax into a life of true fulfillment — then Sadhvi is the guide your soul has been waiting for.
– Debra Poneman, Best Selling Author and founder, Yes to Success, Inc.
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati masterfully weaves spiritual wisdom with the science of consciousness, bridging the gap between spirituality and science. She empowers us to harness the full potential of our minds and spirits
– Bruce H. Lipton, PhD, stemcell biologist, epigenetic science pioneer, and bestselling author of The Biology of Belief, Spontaneous Evolution (with Steve Bhaerman) and The Honeymoon Effect
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati offers wisdom that helps us navigate relationships and life with greater understanding and love
– John Gray, author of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati’s wisdom is truly extraordinary—her ability to bridge the sacred teachings of the East with the needs and hearts of the West is unparalleled. Her words resonate like a sacred invitation to come back to the essence of who we truly are.
– Arielle Ford, author of The Soulmate Secret
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati’s teachings are like a fl owing river, guiding us back to the ocean of our true selves.
– Shiva Rea, founder of Samudra Global School of Living Yoga
Sadhviji was born in Los Angeles and has lived for almost thirty years in India as a devotee of Truth. If you let her sit with you and share stories from her evening gatherings, I firmly believe you will gain profound insight into your own life.
– Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, cofounder and director of the Golden Bridge Yoga Center and author of Eight Human Talents and Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful
Browse a curated selection of Sadhviji's featured media interviews. For a broader collection of television, podcast, and print appearances, explore the Media Library.
Breakdown with Mayim Bialik! : Stanford PhD: The Instant Spiritual Awakening That Healed Her Trauma (Science Can’t Explain) & How Humanity Wakes Up
In this episode of Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati shares the deeply personal journey of her spiritual awakening—from a science-trained skeptic to a renunciant living in the Himalayas—revealing how a profound inner transformation reshaped her identity and sense of self. Blending personal story with practical insight, she explores healing trauma, the mind-body connection, and how spiritual awakening can be integrated into everyday life as a path to freedom and lasting peace.
Republic World: How A Stanford Neuroscientist Became Spiritual Leader
In this interview, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati reflects on her journey from a life of external success to one of inner fulfillment, sharing how a profound spiritual awakening reshaped her understanding of happiness and purpose. She explores the shift from asking “What for me?” to “What through me?”, offering a powerful framework for living a life rooted in service, meaning, and connection to the Divine.
KTLA Weekend Morning News: Vedic monk shares tips to ground yourself
In this live segment, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati shares practical tools for grounding the mind and body, especially in times of stress and uncertainty. Drawing on both psychology and spiritual wisdom, she explains how true stability comes from reconnecting with inner awareness rather than trying to control external circumstances.
CNN News 18: Rising Bharat Summit 2026: Strength Within
At the CNN-News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati joins a panel exploring India’s evolving identity through the lens of culture, spirituality, and global transformation. Reflecting on her journey from the West to India, she highlights how spiritual wisdom rooted in service, self-realization, and interconnectedness offers a powerful foundation for both personal fulfillment and the nation’s growing global role.
The Indian Express: Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati’s Journey: How A Research Scientist Became Spiritual Leader
In this feature, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati reflects on her journey from academic research to a life of spiritual service, sharing the experiences that reshaped her understanding of success and fulfillment. She explores the true nature of happiness, emphasizing that lasting peace arises not from external achievement, but from inner connection, purpose, and self-realization.
Lewis Howes: How To BREAK Your Negative Patterns To Achieve INNER PEACE
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati shares how deeply ingrained patterns of thought and behavior can be transformed through awareness, compassion, and conscious practice. Drawing on both psychology and spiritual wisdom, she explains how breaking free from these patterns opens the door to lasting inner peace and a more aligned, intentional life.
ABC Affiliate KATU 2 News: “Come Home to Yourself” Author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati
In this interview, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati shares practical tools for navigating life’s challenges, emphasizing the power of perspective and the stories we tell ourselves. By “zooming out” and consciously reframing our experiences, she explains how we can shift from stress and reactivity to clarity, compassion, and inner peace.
Denver 9news Colorado and Company: Center Yourself with Author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji
In this segment, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati shares practical tools for managing anxiety and finding inner peace, emphasizing that calm is cultivated from within rather than dependent on external circumstances. Through simple practices like breath awareness, mindful grounding, and shifting from desire-driven stress to inner fulfillment, she offers accessible ways to move from overwhelm into clarity, balance, and joy.
Into the Magic Shop with Dr. Jim Doty: Overcoming trauma and the path of liberation
In this episode of Into the Magic Shop, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati joins Dr. Jim Doty to explore the journey from trauma to healing, and the deeper path to inner freedom. Bridging neuroscience and spirituality, she shares how liberation arises not from escaping pain, but from transforming our relationship to it through awareness, compassion, and self-realization.
Take Back Your Mind with Michael B. Beckwith: Live Your Dharma Now with Sadhviji
In this conversation, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati explores the journey from personal suffering to spiritual freedom, emphasizing the importance of releasing identification with pain and reconnecting with the deeper Self that remains untouched by life’s challenges. She reflects on discovering one’s dharma through service and grace, offering insight into how purpose emerges naturally when we align with truth and live from a place of inner wholeness.
CNN News 18: Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Throws Light On India’s Spiritual Strength
In this interview at the Maha Kumbh Mela, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati reflects on why millions are drawn to the sacred gathering in search of deeper meaning amidst rising global stress, loneliness, and disconnection. She explains that the true significance of the Kumbh lies not in ritual alone, but in the opportunity to remember one’s true nature beyond the body and mind—an awakening that brings freedom from suffering and a return to inner peace.
CNN News 18: Maha Kumbh Mela 2025: Stanford To Sangam: Pujya Sadhvi Bhagwati’s Bharat Story
At the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati reflects on her journey from a life of external success to a profound spiritual awakening on the banks of the Ganga, where she discovered a deeper sense of purpose through service. She shares the significance of the Kumbh as a powerful convergence of spiritual energy and collective devotion, describing it as an opportunity not just for ritual, but for inner awakening, self-realization, and the remembrance of our inherent divinity.
The Ranveer Show: Stanford Neuro-Scientist Who Gave Up PhD For Spirituality & Dharma
In this episode of The Ranveer Show, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati explores the intersection of science and spirituality, challenging the idea that external success alone leads to fulfillment. She discusses conscious living, the illusion of fame, and offers practical insights for finding inner freedom, clarity, and purpose in a fast-paced, modern world.
Asian News International: Celebrating the Dallai Lama’s 90th: The Case for Compassion
At a special gathering in Dharamshala honoring His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati reflects on the enduring power of compassion, forgiveness, and inner resilience in the face of life’s challenges. Representing the Hindu tradition alongside her guru, she emphasizes that true spiritual strength lies in the ability to move forward with an open heart rooted in love and understanding.
Next Level Soul Podcast: Humanity’s Spiritual EVOLUTION! A Mass Awakening of LOVE & LIGHT!
The conversation between Alex Ferrari and Sadhviji Bhagawati Saraswati explores the concept of humanity’s awakening and the importance of conscious living to preserve the planet. Sadhviji emphasizes the need for a balance of masculine and feminine energies, highlighting the shift towards feminine principles since the 1960s. She defines a fulfilled life as one free from internal blockages, allowing the divine flow to express through us.
Religion News Service: An American Jew turned Hindu holy woman tells her story
In this feature, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati reflects on her unexpected journey from a Jewish upbringing in the United States to a life of spiritual service in India. The article explores themes of identity, faith, and transformation, highlighting how a profound inner experience can redefine one’s path and sense of belonging.
Dr. James Doty, Stanford University’s Center on Compassion and Altruism: A Conversation on Compassion
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati joins Dr. Jim Doty to explore compassion as both a spiritual principle and a lived practice. Drawing from neuroscience and contemplative wisdom, she reflects on how opening the heart transforms not only our inner experience, but our capacity to serve and connect with the world.
Dr. Bruce Lipton: Interconnectedness of Life and Consciousness
Reflecting on the unity of life, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati explores how consciousness, nature, and the human experience are deeply interconnected. Through this dialogue, she highlights the responsibility that arises from this awareness, emphasizing the need for care, reverence, and alignment with the natural world.
Elijah Interfaith’s Coronaspection: Coronaspection: Spiritual Reflection in a Time of Crisis
Amid the global uncertainty of the pandemic, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati reflects on the deeper spiritual lessons revealed during a time of collective disruption. She explores how service, compassion, and responsiveness to human need—physical, emotional, and spiritual—can guide the rebuilding of a more connected and conscious world.
NDTV: Banega Swasth India Broadcast
As part of NDTV’s national health initiative, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati joins a panel exploring the role of awareness, lifestyle, and collective responsibility in building a healthier society. She reflects on how true well-being extends beyond the physical, emphasizing the importance of inner balance, mindfulness, and conscious living.
Times of Isreal: Jewish woman from California among worshipers at India’s religious mega festival
Featured during the Kumbh Mela, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati reflects on her journey from a Jewish upbringing in California to a life of spiritual practice in India. The article highlights her perspective on the deeper meaning of sacred traditions, and how such experiences offer a profound connection to the soul beyond cultural boundaries.
India Today Global: Exclusive Interview: Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati’s Journey From Los Angeles To Rishikesh!
In this conversation with India Today Global, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati reflects on her extraordinary journey from a Stanford-trained psychologist raised in Los Angeles to a spiritual teacher living in the Himalayas. Through the story of her own transformation, she explores the nature of healing, purpose, and awakening, offering insight into how lasting fulfillment comes not from external success, but from discovering our true Self and living a life of service.
The New Sunday Express: The Himalayas on the Mind
In this feature for The New Sunday Express Magazine, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati reflects on the profound shift from what she calls the “Hollywood mindset”—a life rooted in identity, achievement, and external validation—to the “Himalayan mindset,” grounded in our true nature as consciousness itself. Writing in the context of India’s G20 theme, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“The world is one family”), she explores how this transformation offers a path to personal freedom, compassionate leadership, and a more conscious future for humanity.
Continue Watching
You've been viewing a curated selection of Sadhviji's featured media appearances.
Explore More Media Coverage
Browse an extended collection of interviews, articles, and television appearances.
Watch More Conversations
Discover hundreds of interviews, podcasts, keynote talks, films, guided meditations, and spiritual teachings on Sadhviji's YouTube channel.
Weekly wisdom from the Himalayas
Spiritual tools, stories, and guidance to live with peace, purpose, and presence delivered to your inbox.
Sadhviji is a Vedic monk, Stanford-educated psychologist, and global spiritual leader raised in Hollywood and transformed by nearly 30 years in the Himalayas, India. Her teachings help people quiet the mind, heal the heart, and live in deep alignment with their true Self.