Yoga brings individual, world peace, says PM Modi

Mysuru: "Yoga brings peace to us, the peace from yoga is not only for individuals, but also to our society, nation, the world and the universe," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, while leading the International Day of Yoga in the backdrop of the iconic Mysuru Palace here on Tuesday.

He said the physical fitness regime was forming a basis for cooperation among countries and that it could become a problem-solver besides giving the hope of a healthy life to humanity.

Speaking after inaugurating the grand event at 'Amba Vilas Palace' here, he said, "this might feel like an extreme thought to someone, but our sages have answered this in a simple mantra - that this whole universe starts from our own body and soul. The universe starts from us and yoga makes us conscious of everything within us and builds a sense of awareness."

"Things start with self-awareness and proceed to awareness of the world. When we become aware of ourselves and our world, we begin to spot the things that need to be changed both in ourselves and in the world. They may be individual problems or global problems like climate change and international conflicts."

Observing that spiritual centres like Mysuru nurtured the energy of yoga for centuries, calling it the land of "spirituality and yoga", Modi said today that energy was giving direction for world health.

"Yoga today is not just a part of life, but is becoming the way of life, and it should not be limited to any particular time or place," he stated.

Pointing out that pictures of yoga until a few years ago were limited to houses and spiritual centres, the PM said, today they were coming from every corner of the world, and at a time when the world faced the pandemic over the last two years, thus depicting enthusiasm towards Yoga Day, leaving behind the barriers of country, subcontinent and continent. This proved our vitality. "Yoga is not limited to any individual. It is for the whole of humanity. So this year's International Day of Yoga theme is Yoga for Humanity," he said and thanked the United Nations and all the countries for taking the message of yoga to the entire globe. "Millions of people with a common consciousness and consensus, millions of those with inner peace will create an environment of global peace, and that's how yoga can connect people, countries and it can become a problem solver for all of us." "The mass Yoga at iconic places will bind together India's past, vastness and diversity."

On the 'startup Yoga challenge', the PM called upon the youth to participate in new ideas and possibilities in the field of yoga. The event here was attended by Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Mysuru royal scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and "Rajmata" Pramoda Devi.

The organising of the main event of the eighth 'International Day of Yoga' in this royal city of Mysuru, is being seen as a befitting tribute to the patronage it received under the Mysore rulers here.

Recollecting Mysuru's yoga heritage, Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar said this event was a big stamp of approval to the heritage.

The Prime Minister's event here was also part of the novel programme 'Guardian Yoga Ring' which is a collaborative exercise between 79 countries and United Nations organisations along with Indian Missions abroad to illustrate yoga's unifying power that surpasses national boundaries.