Yoga is the Ancient Solution to Modern Crises

Yoga: Made in India, Made for the World

By Yogesh Kumar Goyal

More than 170 countries across the world celebrate 21 June every year as International Day of Yoga and take a pledge to make yoga a part of their daily routine. In response to the proposal put forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations established the International Day of Yoga on 11 December 2014, and the first International Day of Yoga at the global level was celebrated on 21 June 2015. This year, the entire world is celebrating the 12th International Day of Yoga with the theme ‘Yoga for Healthy Aging’. This theme of International Day of Yoga highlights the role of yoga in promoting physical strength, mental adaptability, and overall well-being at all stages of life. Yoga continues to inspire individuals to lead a healthier and more balanced life, while also fostering inner strength and awareness. To commemorate the International Day of Yoga, the Indian Air Force will organize yoga sessions across the country, covering diverse terrains ranging from the high mountains of Leh in the North to the beaches of Car Nicobar in the South, and from the eastern frontier of Tawang to the holy city of Dwarka in the West.

The objective of celebrating this day every year is to promote yoga as a movement that enhances an individual's resilience and fosters well-being for every person in society. Although yoga was adopted globally in the year 2015 due to the continuous efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the history of yoga in India is centuries old. It is believed that yoga has been practiced ever since the beginning of civilization on Earth, but if we talk about evidence, yoga is a nearly five-thousand-year-old Indian tradition. Historical evidence of the existence of yoga is found around 2700 BCE in the Vedic period and thereafter up to the Patanjali period. Maharishi Patanjali defined yoga as controlling the fluctuations of the mind through practice and detachment.

Extensive mention of yoga is also found in Hindu scriptures. It is stated in the Vishnu Purana that the complete union of the individual soul and the Supreme Soul (Paramatma) is called Advaitanubhuti Yoga (the yoga of non-dual experience). Similarly, it is described in the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita that remaining detached and free from dualities such as sorrow-happiness, sin-virtue, enemy-friend, cold-heat, etc., and behaving with equanimity everywhere is yoga. In India, yoga is recognized as a nearly five-thousand-year-old mental, physical, and spiritual system to stay healthy, which is an integral part of the daily routine of Indians. In the true sense, yoga is such an invaluable heritage bestowed by nature upon India, from which India has been reaping physical and mental benefits for centuries. However, the neglect of this rare heritage over time is the reason why people became trapped in the web of various diseases. Although Swami Vivekananda also gave the message of yoga to the entire world in his speech at the Chicago Parliament of Religions, its widespread propagation became possible only a few years ago after Yoga Guru Swami Ramdev took the knowledge of yoga to every household, drawing the general public towards yoga. In no time, people in many countries started adopting it. In the year 2023 alone, more than 25 crore (250 million) people participated under the Yoga Day events in about 190 countries.

In today's fast-paced lifestyle, the importance of yoga has increased manifold. Yoga not only proves helpful in getting rid of many serious diseases but also eliminates mental stress and provides spiritual peace. In fact, it is such a spiritual practice, such a medicine, which is capable of treating physical and mental illnesses without any cost. It keeps the body energetic throughout the day by increasing brain activity. This is the reason why youth are now leaving aerobics and gym to adopt yoga. It is believed that with yoga and pranayama, even diabetes, which cannot be cured by medicines throughout life, can be treated. It is also considered helpful in weight loss. Keeping these significances of yoga in view, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to the United Nations General Assembly on 27 September 2014 to celebrate Yoga Day annually across the world so that the entire world could benefit from this invaluable system gifted by nature to India. It was a matter of immense pride and achievement for India that within just three months of this proposal by the Prime Minister in the United Nations General Assembly, 177 countries stamped their approval on the proposal to celebrate International Day of Yoga, after which it was declared by the United Nations General Assembly on 11 December 2014 that 21 June would be celebrated as International Day of Yoga across the world every year.

There was also a special reason for fixing 21 June as the International Day of Yoga. In fact, this day is the longest day of the entire calendar year in the Northern Hemisphere. The date of this day was designed to coincide with the Summer Solstice, which is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and is a symbol of light and health. From the perspective of Indian culture, the sun begins its southward journey (Dakshinayan) after the Summer Solstice, and this period is considered beneficial for attaining spiritual accomplishments. Modern medical science has also started accepting the importance of yoga. Therefore, to live a healthy life, it is essential to make yoga an inseparable part of one's daily routine. Yoga is not just an exercise, but it is an excellent way to empower oneself along with the body and mind. It is the revival of that heritage of India, which the entire world is adopting today to bring balance to their body, mind, and soul.

(The author is a senior journalist active in journalism for 36 years and author of several acclaimed books including defence book 'Sagar Se Antariksh Tak: Bharat ki Raksha Kranti')

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