New Delhi, Aug 20 (IANS): President Pranab Mukherjee has condoled the passing away of globally renowned yoga guru B.K.S. Iyengar Wednesday.

In a condolence message to his son, Prashant Iyengar, the president said: "I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of B.K.S. Iyengar."

"Iyengar was well known as one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world. He is credited with establishing and popularizing modern yoga first in India and then across the world. He created a unique school of yoga popularly known as 'Iyengar Yoga' and authored several books on yoga practice and philosophy which are considered authoritative texts used by practitioners, young and old," the president said.

"Iyengar was honoured with Padma Shri in 1991, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2014 by the government in recognition of his services to spreading knowledge of Indian culture and tradition globally. In the passing of Iyengar, the nation has lost a personality who devoted his entire life to the teaching and dissemination of India's ancient knowledge and wisdom to millions all around the world," the president added.