Puran Chand Sharma

Our religious scriptures prominently proclaim ” SHRIR MADHYAM KHALU DHARAM SADHNAM” which means that our body is like a vehicle which perfectly facilitates us to perform all noble, religious deeds and various other daring exploits in our life time in this phenomenal world. It is ,therefore, incumbent upon us to properly maintain it and keep it in a state of absolute fitness and in excellent functional condition.

Our body comprises Physical body which is visible to the naked eyes, it is our most dependable vehicle for navigation through the worldly life. Next is our mental body that is mind which is extremely intractable and very difficult to control. It is instrumental in wasting our maximum energy, then comes the CHIT(subconscious mind) wherein the sanskars of our thought process and our actions get accumulated.

This is also called as causal body which ultimately decides our next birth. Therefore, fitness of physical, mental and emotional body is the top most priority and is required to be maintained at all costs. Undoubtedly regular and persistent practice of YOG I.E. Asans( Physical postures) for physical body, Pranayam ( process of Inhalation and Exhalation) for making mind stable and peaceful , Meditation for purification of CHIT or SUBCONSCIOUS MIND. The Buzz Word for this is sustained and uninterrupted practice.

We all know that in the year 2014, when Prime Minister Modi took over the reins of Governance for the first time, he resolved to ensure that 21st June is declared and celebrated as INTERNATIONAL YOG DAY, promptly got engaged in meaningful dialogue with global leaders of the world community, evolved consensus and in due course of time when he got an opportunity to address U N Assembly he strongly pleaded for adopting a United Nation’s Resolution to celebrate YOGA DAY on 21st June every year being summer solstice , the longest day of the year.

The representative countries accepted the proposal and accordingly this grand Yoga event is being held every year on 21st June which was supported by more than 175 countries.This year the mega Yoga event is being observed as 10th International Yog Day.

The idea and philosophy behind this phenomenal move was to highlight and enhance the national prestige of the country and bolster the significance and efficacy of YOG in providing Physical, Mental and Emotional Health to one and all at zero cost in the present ultra modern and excessively commercialized world already entrapped in vicious cycle of profiteering and money minting out of providing health care services to the common man.

UNDERSTANDING YOGIC PROCESS IN THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE

From the prevailing scenario we observe that the annual event of INTERNATIONAL YOG DAY on 21st June every year has been able to generate tremendous awareness in respect of the health benefits accruing from daily practice of YOG ASANAS for physical body which create needed flexibility in the body and activates all the nine systems which work in unison enabling people to have perfect physical health. PRANAYAM for MENTAL HEALTH. It pacifies and empowers the mind.

It is a kind of deep breathing which improves Inhalation and Exhalation of breaths in different ways and sufficiently augments the flow of PRAN SHAKTI in yogic parlance or oxygenated blood in medical language in the entire body. Every cell, tissue, organ and systems of human body needs oxygenated blood to survive and to be healthy as one powerful unit to accomplish its worldly assignment successfully.

MEDITATION FOR CAUSAL BODY OR EMOTIONAL HEALTH:- In the present times man is too busy in multifarious chores, therefore, remains stressed most of the times. Mostly negative emotions dominate his intellect. Therefore, meditation is very significant and powerful technique to stabilize and balance the emotions of human mind .

We do this five simple steps such as 1. Chanting of OM 2. Mental recitation of OM 3. Watching of normal Breaths(Inhalation and Exhalation) 4. Watching thought process. Arising thoughts may be negative or positive, just let them go as they are and not to hold them even for a moment. 5. Positive and pious resolve. Admittedly regular practice provides magical and phenomenal positive benefits.

SYMBOLISM TO CHANGE OF LIFE STYLE

In these modern times of Kaliyuga , Symbolism is being pursued as a short cut and just a cosmetic exercise to do the things casually without realizing their core value and holistic benefits. Sans an iota of doubt, this mortal world is passing through a critical phase. Grave crisis is brewing up at a rapid pace.

There is no dearth of materialistic prosperity , wealth and colossal possessions but the man is entrapped in a web of extreme stress such as physical, mental and emotional. Dreaded diseases are ruling the roost and multiplying fast.

We are fortunate enough to have the ambrosia of unchallenged Yog therapy , courtesy and virtue of consistent penance of our spiritual Rishis like Maharishi PATANJALI, the originator of ASHTANG YOG. As regards INTERNATIONAL YOG DAY, the overall experience displays and substantiates that on every 21st June people are exhibiting ample interest and enthusiasm to engage in symbolic yog festival but afterwards they relapse into old ruts and avoid adopting it as the TOP MOST PRIORITY of their life.

The message of 10th IYD is loud and clear ” Adopt yogic life style for holistic health( physical, mental and emotional”. Shun symbolism, do it religiously as prayer to the ALMIGHTY. Bhartiya yog sansthan has been doing a yeoman’s service for the society by conducting more than 120 daily classes in Jammu , udhampur and adjoining areas on charitable basis by virtue of their own well trained yog teachers.

“YOGASCH KARAM SU KOUSHLAM”

(The author is vice president of Bhartiya Yog Sansthan)