International Yoga Day (Reblog)

Summer Solstice

The day of Dakshinayan, the sun will now move from North to South, the day will start becoming smaller and the nights will increase.

Science calls it the Summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. The word ‘Sol’ means the sun and ‘stice’ means stood still, the day the sun stood still. Today the duration of day and night is roughly the same.

Tomorrow the monsoons formally set in India according to the Indian calendar. The sun will enter the “Aardra” constellation and the atmosphere will see changes accordingly. It is considered to be a wet constellation also signifying that it is monsoon time.

From last 7 years now the day of Summer Solstice is being celebrated as International Yoga Day. It is the call of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the efforts of our then ambassador to the United Nation, that out of the 192 or 196 member countries more than 180 countries supported and adopted to celebrate this day as International Yoga Day. The support for this day all over the world is overwhelming and transcends religion and faiths. It is heartening to see people performing Yoga irrespective of gender, caste and creed.

The ancient science of Yoga propounded by Bhagwaan Patanjali is now being recognised in its truest sense. Also let me clarify, our seers have never given a school of thought or method of maintaining good health out of gaining name and fame. They had their own experiences which they shared with world and left it upto the human race to decide and adopt. The “Yoga” that Bhagwaan Patanjali has explained has a deep meaning and if followed in its purest sense, will not only benefit humanity physically but also spiritually. The ‘Aasanas’ being performed everyday are the basic step towards attaining bliss in life. A lot of research has and is being done on this and available on the net for my readers to read.

“Yoga” means “to join.”

A union with self and God within oneself.

A union of self and God within others.

A union of Self and God Himself.

Tell me one prevalent faith or thought which does not try to find the truth within and without. Every faith does. So Yoga transcends faith.

At the same time, Yoga is just not ”Aasanas”. It is just 1/8th part of the Ashtaang Yoga as explained by Bhagwaan Patanjali. The 8 parts are as follows:

1. Yama (Satya, Ahimsa, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha)

2. Niyama (Shouch, Santosh, Tap, Swadhyay and Ishwarpranidhan)

3. Aasan

4. Pranayaam

5. Pratyaahaar

6. Dhyaan

7. Dharanaa

8. Samadhi

Will dwell upon these 8 some other day.

The “Dhyaan Mudra’s” that we find Lord Mahaveera and Lord Buddha are nothing but Yoga Mudras. They help us find the peace within. Just a few years back, I visited a few caves near Mumbai and they all had Lord Buddha sitting in Padmasana and smiling. The sculptures itself were so serene and peaceful, it just helps us understand the actual emotions when we do Yoga sincerely. And they both have found their self through these postures. So if practised properly, Yoga will slowly lead us to Self realisation.

So today,

Let us all dwell upon such gems given to us by our civilisation.

Let us learn to treasure them. Let us practise them.

Let us imbibe such practises into our lives.

Let the world follow.

Wishing you all and your families a very Happy International Yoga Day

Pray to Bhagwaan Patanjali to bless us all with good personal, social and spiritual health.