Why is 21st June chosen as International Yoga Day? India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged the international community to adopt 21 June as International Yoga Day. The UN has passed a resolution declaring June 21 as International Yoga Day (World Yoga Day).
Every year in Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice falls on June 21. It is the day when the day is longest and the night is shortest. It is the day when the earth is at its closest distance from the sun, on its orbit.
From the perspective of yoga, the summer solstice marks the transition of the sun from Uttarayan to Dakshinayan, according to the ancient Vedic Calendar. It is mentioned in the vedic books that this was the day when lord Shiva first taught yoga to his disciples. The knowledge of yoga first descended from Shiva on this day, marking this day as the birth of yoga.
At first, I wondered why. Why do we need a day to mark this ancient Indian practice of yoga? And then I thought, why not? Just like our birthday, a day when we celebrate our existence on this earth, we can also dedicate one day to celebrate this ancient tradition, which was so beautifully designed to enhance the physical, mental and spiritual health, thus uplifting our soul. This day will help people revive their interest and practice of yoga. It will also help bring together people to practice, like they did this morning, in large numbers. When one practices in groups, the group energy helps to elevate each practitioner's mood and spirit.
I generally wind up my class with this shloka from the Upanishads -
Aum poornamadah poornamidam poornaat poornamudachyate
Poornasya poornamadaya poornamevaavashishyate
(Aum, that is complete, this is complete, from completeness comes completeness
If completeness is taken away from completeness, only completeness remains.)
This state of completeness can be attained with consistent practice of yoga. So, let us all take a positive step towards regular practice of yoga.
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| Photo Credit: Joel Nilsson (Uploaded by High Contrast) via Wikimedia Commons |
From the perspective of yoga, the summer solstice marks the transition of the sun from Uttarayan to Dakshinayan, according to the ancient Vedic Calendar. It is mentioned in the vedic books that this was the day when lord Shiva first taught yoga to his disciples. The knowledge of yoga first descended from Shiva on this day, marking this day as the birth of yoga.
At first, I wondered why. Why do we need a day to mark this ancient Indian practice of yoga? And then I thought, why not? Just like our birthday, a day when we celebrate our existence on this earth, we can also dedicate one day to celebrate this ancient tradition, which was so beautifully designed to enhance the physical, mental and spiritual health, thus uplifting our soul. This day will help people revive their interest and practice of yoga. It will also help bring together people to practice, like they did this morning, in large numbers. When one practices in groups, the group energy helps to elevate each practitioner's mood and spirit.
 |
| Photo credit: yogaparaprincipiantesonline.com |
I generally wind up my class with this shloka from the Upanishads -
Aum poornamadah poornamidam poornaat poornamudachyate
Poornasya poornamadaya poornamevaavashishyate
(Aum, that is complete, this is complete, from completeness comes completeness
If completeness is taken away from completeness, only completeness remains.)
This state of completeness can be attained with consistent practice of yoga. So, let us all take a positive step towards regular practice of yoga.
