International Yoga Day

International Yoga Day – 21st June

Introduction

Yoga is an ancient practice that started in India thousands of years ago. It is not just a form of exercise but a way of living a healthy, peaceful, and balanced life. The idea of celebrating International Yoga Day every year on 21st June was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2014. The proposal was accepted by 177 countries, which is a record in UN history. Since then, the day is celebrated worldwide with great enthusiasm.

What is Yoga?

The word ‘Yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’, which means ‘to join’ or ‘to unite’. It symbolizes the union of body and mind, or the connection between the individual self and the universal spirit. Yoga helps people become more aware of their bodies, minds, and emotions.

Yoga is not just about twisting the body or doing difficult postures. It also includes breathing exercises (pranayama), meditation, and a positive way of thinking. It teaches us how to control our mind, stay calm under pressure, and live in the present moment.

Why is Yoga Important?

In today’s fast-moving world, people are always busy, stressed, and tired. Most people spend their time sitting in front of screens, eating unhealthy food, and not getting enough sleep. This kind of lifestyle causes many physical and mental health problems.

Yoga helps us fight these problems naturally. Some of its benefits include:

Improves flexibility and strength

Relieves stress and anxiety

Improves concentration and memory

Helps with better sleep

Boosts immunity

Improves posture and balance

Promotes inner peace and happiness

Whether you are young or old, fit or unfit, anyone can practice yoga and enjoy its benefits.

Why 21st June?

June 21st is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is known as the summer solstice, a day with special importance in many cultures around the world. In yogic tradition, this day is considered very powerful. It is believed that Lord Shiva, the first yogi or Adiyogi, began teaching yoga to his disciples on this very day. That’s why 21st June was chosen as the perfect day to celebrate yoga.

History and Origin of International Yoga Day

On 27th September 2014, during his speech at the United Nations, PM Narendra Modi said,

“Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature.”

On 11th December 2014, the UN declared 21st June as the International Day of Yoga.

The first International Yoga Day was celebrated on 21st June 2015 across the world. In India, the main event took place in New Delhi, where PM Modi and over 35,000 people participated.

Since then, millions of people across over 190 countries celebrate this day every year with public yoga sessions, seminars, workshops, and awareness drives.

Themes of Yoga Day

Each year, Yoga Day is celebrated with a specific theme to highlight different benefits of yoga. Some of the past themes include:

2015: Yoga for Harmony and Peace

2016: Yoga for the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals

2017: Yoga for Health

2018: Yoga for Peace

Gheranda Samhita: A Simple Explanation In Hindi :

Gheranda Samhita: A Simple Explanation  in Hindi :

The Gheranda Samhita is one of the most important ancient texts on Hatha Yoga. It is a guide for those who want to purify their body and mind and achieve spiritual growth. This text is written in the form of a dialogue between Sage Gheranda and his student Chanda Kapali. Chanda asks questions about yoga, and Gheranda answers them with deep wisdom and simple steps.

While other yogic texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika focus more on physical postures and energy, the Gheranda Samhita is a complete manual. It teaches not just body exercises but also breathing, meditation, and moral discipline to help a person reach spiritual perfection.

The Gheran

The Gheranda Samhita is structured into seven chapters, with each chapter focusing on a key element of yoga.. Together, these seven parts are called the Saptasadhana, or the Seven Limbs of Yoga.

 

Chapter 1: Shatkarma – The Six Purifications

  Gheranda says that before practicing yoga, a person must clean their body from the inside. This is called Shatkarma – the six purification techniques. These are:

Dhauti – Cleansing the stomach using by cloth or water.

Basti – Washing the intestines with water (like a yogic enema).

Neti – Cleaning the nasal passage using by water or a thread.

Trataka – Concentrating the eyes on one object to improve focus.

Kapalabhati – A breathing technique to cleanse the lungs and mind.

These practices make the body pure, strong, and ready for further yoga.Nauli is a yoga technique that uses rhythmic abdominal rotations to activate and support healthy digestion

 

Chapter 2: Asana – Postures

The second chapter is about Asanas or yoga postures. Gheranda describes 32 different postures. Each one has specific benefits like strength, balance, flexibility, and inner peace.

Some famous postures include:

Padmasana (Lotus Pose)

Siddhasana (Perfect Pose)

Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Pose)

Shavasana (Corpse Pose)

According to Gheranda, practicing these postures helps make the body firm, disease-free, and ready   for long hours of meditation.

 

Chapter 3: Mudras – Energy Seals

In this chapter, Gheranda explains 25 Mudras. These are special physical gestures that help control the energy in the body. They include actions involving the hands, tongue, and other body parts.

Some important Mudras are:

Mula Bandha is the root lock technique used to harness and direct the energy of the lower body.

Uddiyana Bandha – Abdominal lock to control breath and digestion.

Jalandhara Bandha:

Jalandhara Bandha is the throat lock practice used to regulate pressure within the head and upper body."

 Khechari Mudra:

Khechari Mudra involves curling the tongue backward into the throat to aid in deep meditation and energy control."

These Mudras help awaken the spiritual energy within us, known as Kundalini.

 

Chapter 4: Pratyahara – Withdrawing the Senses

This chapter talks about Pratyahara, which means taking your attention away from the outside world and turning it inward. It is like switching off your senses so that you can focus better during meditation.

Gheranda teaches five types of Pratyahara, which involve:

Detaching from sound, sight, smell, taste, and touch

Practicing mental focus

Learning to control desires and emotions

This practice helps calm the mind and prepares it for deep meditation.

Chapter 5: Pranayama – Breath Control

"Pranayama focuses on regulating the breath, which serves as a vital link between the body and the mind.". Gheranda provides thorough guidance on performing Pranayama in a safe and effective manner.

He explains eight types of Pranayama, and each one has benefits like:

Improving concentration

Balancing emotions

Increasing energy

Purifying the mind

Some of the techniques include:

Nadi Shodhana (Alternate nostril breathing)

Bhastrika (Bellows breath)

Kumbhaka (Breath retention)

Gheranda says one must first purify the body (through Shatkarma) before starting Pranayama, otherwise it may harm the body.

 

Chapter 6: Dhyana – Meditation

In this chapter, Sage Gheranda talks about the power of meditation. He says meditation is the path to realizing the true Self and achieving liberation.

He recommends:

Sitting still in a comfortable posture

Focusing on a single object, like the image of a deity or the breath

Letting go of thoughts

Entering a deep state of silence

He describes two kinds of meditation:

Saguna Dhyana – Meditating on a form or with qualities (like a god or goddess).

Nirguna Dhyana -refers to meditation on the formless essence, focusing on pure, unmanifested consciousness.

Meditation, when done regularly, brings peace, joy, and spiritual wisdom.

 

Chapter 7: Samadhi – The State of Perfection

The final goal of yoga is Samadhi, a state where the mind becomes still and one experiences unity with the universe or God. Gheranda describes Samadhi as:

Total silence of the mind

Oneness with the soul

Freedom from suffering

Pure bliss

There are different levels of Samadhi, starting from deep concentration to complete spiritual union. In this state, the yogi transcends the cycle of birth and death, attaining spiritual liberation.

Unique Features of Gheranda Samhita:

It outlines seven stages of yoga, which differ from the eightfold path described by Patanjali.

Focuses a lot on body purification and strength before meditation.

 

It emphasizes the significance of consistent practice (abhyasa) along with inner and outer cleanliness (shuddhi)

Gives many physical techniques, but also explains the spiritual goals clearly.

Why Gheranda Samhita is Useful Today

Even though this book was written hundreds of years ago, its teachings are still very useful in today’s world. In modern life, we face stress, health problems, and emotional imbalance. The practices taught by Sage Gheranda offer simple but powerful tools to:

Keep the body fit and clean

Control the breath and calm the mind

Improve focus and remove negative thoughts

Discover inner peace and higher purpose

You don’t need to be a saint or a yogi living in the forest. Anyone – whether young or old, rich or poor – can benefit from this path. It only needs regular practice, patience, and faith.

Yoga

 Yoga is a gift from ancient India. The history of yoga itself dates back thousands of years. The term "Yoga" originates from the Sanskrit root word "Yuj," which means to join, unite, or connect. .Yoga means union — the coming together or integration of various aspects. It refers to the harmony between the mind and the body, or the connection between the individual self and the higher consciousness., Yoga is a spiritual discipline that focuses on the harmonious interaction of the mind and body. Both yoga and Ayurveda are closely related historically. Yoga helps to maintain the balance of the three doshas vata pitta kapha.

There are the following types of yoga: 

1. Raja Yoga, also known as Ashtanga Yoga, consists of eight foundational limbs as described by Patanjali — Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.

2. Hatha Yoga: Shatkarma, Asana, Mudra, Pratyahara, Dhyana and Samadhi are the seven limbs of yoga. But for Kundalini awakening, more emphasis is placed on Asana Bandha Mudra and Pranayama. This is called Kriya Yoga.   

3. Laya Yoga: There are eight limbs namely Yama, Niyama, gross Kriya, subtle Kriya, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

4. Gyana Yoga: To gain true knowledge of the soul, the world and the Supreme Brahman through the study of scriptures and with the help of a Guru, and to know and experience the unity of Brahman on it is called Jnana Yoga.

5. Karma Yoga: Karma Yoga is Karma Yoga. The real purpose behind it is to acquire skills through karma, and this is called cooperation. 

6. Bhakti Yoga: A person who has nine qualities namely devotion, kirtan, remembrance, foot worship, conduct, worship, service, peace and self-reflection is called a devotee.