Yoga increases the strength of the body, peace of mind and tolerance. Yoga is the art of living, which connects our body, mind and soul. It makes the body healthy, disease-free and strong, while getting rid of many serious diseases. With an increase in self-confidence, it helps in being happy. Yoga not only makes our mind strong but also awakens the power of our soul. In today's fast paced life, the role of yoga has proved to be significant.
In September 2014, world's most popular leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, proposed to celebrate June 21 as the International Day of Yoga while addressing the United Nations General Assembly. The UNGA approved the proposal of International Day of Yoga on 11 December 2014 in just 90 days. The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on 21st June, 2015. This great heritage of India has been re-established by PM Modi on a world stage.
The mind remains healthy only when the body is healthy. All the functions of the body are operated from the brain. These functions are completed properly when the brain is healthy and stress-free. Thus, yoga is essential for our physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual development.
Yoga is the complete essence of lifestyle in science. Yoga is an activity, which explains spirituality in a scientific way. It is a spiritual elevation with emotional integration and a touch of mystic element. Patanjali is regarded as the father of yoga and his Yoga Sutras are devoted entirely to the knowledge of yoga.
According to Patanjali's yoga philosophy - 'Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodhah', meaning yoga is the cessation of the instincts of mind. Yoga is a science beyond religion, faith and superstition. The word yoga has two meanings and both are important. Hence, it can be said that Yoga is both an art as well as a science of living life.
The modern era is emerging as an era of mental pressure, anxiety and tension. Blind faith in materialism has become the root cause of most problems nowadays. Until a few years ago, yoga was seen as something associated with Ayurveda, but today the importance of yoga has increased scientifically as well. Doctors are now advising children to do yoga.
Yoga is a path based on subtle science which is a medium to establish harmony between the mind and body. Yoga connects the consciousness of man to the conscious energy of the universe. According to modern scientists, everything in the universe is a manifestation of this conscious energy. The man who realises the consciousness of existence is said to be situated in yoga.
Yoga has made both material and spiritual upliftment of humanity possible. Yoga is not just exercise, but a sense of finding oneness with self, the world and nature. It creates awareness in us by bringing changes to our lifestyle and can be helpful in tolerating the changes in the body due to changes in nature.
Decline in moral values is a big problem today. Yogic activities like Yama and Niyam teach moral discipline by following the path of truth, non-violence, non-stealing and Brahma Charya. Such qualities make a person more ethical and virtuous. All these can be attained by following the path of yoga.
Yoga originated thousands of years ago in India. In Yoga Vidya, Shiva is considered as the first Yogi or Adi Yogi and the first Guru or Adi Guru. Thousands of years ago in the Himalayan region, Adi Yogi passed this knowledge on to his famous sages. The sages took this yoga science to the whole world including Asia, Middle East, North Africa and South America. Agastya Rishi fashioned this yoga culture around the yogic way of life.
If we look at the history, there are many remnants of the Indus and Saraswati Valley Civilizations that have the presence of Yoga in India. Yoga is present in many folk traditions, such as the Indus Valley Civilization, Vedic and Upanishadic heritage, Buddhist and Jain traditions, philosophies, the epics Mahabharata and Ramayana, theistic traditions of Shaivas, Vaishnavas, and Tantric traditions.
Surya worship was given utmost importance during the Vedic period. Later on, the practice of 'Surya Namaskar' was invented. The great sage Maharishi Patanjali, through his Yoga Sutras, systematised the practice of yoga existing at that time.
Let us make our mind, soul and body healthy by following rules of yoga and practising it regularly. Yoga is the Sanjivani for a beautiful, healthy, peaceful life.
The author is Organisational General Secretary of BJP, Jharkhand. The views expressed are personal. Translated from Hindi by Astha Anand, 2nd year student of BA Journalism/Eng, KJC, Bangalore.