Relevance of International Yoga Day and Importance of Yoga

 Relevance of International Yoga Day and Importance of Yoga

The longest day of the year i.e. 21 June has been a day of special importance for yoga. As in the past, this year too, the tenth International Day of Yoga is being celebrated around the world with the theme of 'Yoga for Women Empowerment'.

This year's theme of yoga is yoga as a means of empowering women, which protects women's health, manages stress and develops every aspect of health. As a result, it gives the message that women empowerment will be supported. Likewise, the purpose of this year's Yoga Day is that if women are given awareness about yoga, there will be positive changes in their families, communities and society.

Yoga for women, men, children, adults, old people should be done by everyone according to their age and physical ability. However, it can be understood that this year's theme has a special call to connect women to yoga.

Apart from World Yoga Day, National Yoga Day is celebrated in Nepal every year on January 1. But World Yoga Day has been celebrated worldwide for the past 9 years. As we celebrate World Yoga Day, which brings a message of unity around the world, we hear discussions about the great yogis and founders of yoga, Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna, Gautama Buddha and Maharishi Patanjali. Because these gods and sages are considered to be the promoters and developers of yoga. So far, many scholars in the world have done a lot of research, use and development in the context of yoga. However, we also need to understand about the Sadhaka or a recluse in yoga called Mansagni of Nepal.

Reference to the 10th International Day of Yoga

On September 27, 2014, on the proposal of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, the United Nations Assembly passed the resolution on December 11, 2014 and decided to celebrate International Yoga Day from June 21, 2015. As always, this year also on June 21 or June 7, World Yoga Day is being celebrated by the state.

With reference to the World Yoga Day, week-long yoga programs have also been organized by inviting organizations related to yoga to celebrate Yoga Day in different parts of the country.

Yoga and its importance

Before talking about celebrating Yoga Day, it is important to understand what yoga is and its importance. In fact, yoga is a combination and yoga transforms a person's soul, mind, brain and body into a clean and pure soul. This means that by doing yoga regularly, mental stress will end in a person, various negative and unnecessary things in the mind will be controlled and the body and muscles will be strengthened. The various asanas, pranayama, meditation and spiritual thinking done in yoga strengthen the internal and external abilities of a person. A person is healthy physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually. According to a recent report, 300 million people around the world practice yoga daily, and 10 percent of people in the U.S. practice yoga daily. This also makes the importance of yoga more clear.

In fact, it is said that yoga is to separate the soul from the inanimate and unite it with the divine. According to the yoga philosophy of Maharishi Patanjali, yoga is the effort, that is sadhana or practice, through which the mind and senses are kept under control. It is said that yoga is to stop the disorders that come in the mind. After conquering the body, senses, mind, intellect and ego, one can get the pure form of the soul and yoga is the means to get that pure form. As Yoga is mentioned in Vedas, Upanishads, Smriti and Puranas, it can be said that Yoga is a science developed from the continuous penance and sadhana of ancient sages. Similarly, yoga has been discussed in Palitripitakas of Buddhism and in ancient Sanskrit texts.

Even in Jainism, Mahavir Swami himself was a yogi and during his time there was more discussion of yoga. Even in the Nath sect of Gorakhnath, Yoga is so respected that the sect is called the Yogi sect. Thus, yoga is popular in every religion, society and community.

Rishi Patanjali is the exponent of yoga philosophy. That is why yoga philosophy is also called Patanjala Yoga. Indians and Westerners call yoga yoga. Yogadarshan is a very old branch of Indian philosophy, which was systematized by sage Patanjali. Currently, Swami Ramdev has worked to make yoga more popular under the name of Patanjali.

As the speed of development of the society is increasing, the need and importance of yoga is also being felt. Until 5-10 years ago, only a few people were involved in yoga in the western developed countries, while today most of the people in the developed countries have also started adopting yoga.

In Yoga Philosophy, there is no scope for Yajna, Yajnadi and Pujapath for Dharmakarma. Only in this philosophy is the inspiration to use physical and mental strength properly. Because all kinds of religions and sects practice it, yoga is also called universal practice. The importance of yoga practice is given in almost all religions and philosophies. In yoga philosophy, it is shown that spiritual, mental, emotional and physical achievements can be achieved through asana, yogic action, pranayama and other exercises.

Yoga philosophy mentions eight paths (Ashtanga Yogamarga) for attaining liberation. They are

- Yama: Do not use violence, theft, greed, etc., that is, follow the rules of non-violence, truth, non-violence, celibacy and celibacy.

- Niyama: Following the five Niyamas such as - defecation, contentment, penance, self-reflection and faith in God.

̵ Asana: Sit in a comfortable position with concentration and feel joy.

̵ Pranayama: Keeping the mind focused by controlling the breathing properly.

̵ Pratyahara: Do not let the bad effects of the senses enter your mind.

- Dharana: To focus on the identity of the underlying object.

̵ Dhyana: To think with concentration on a certain subject.

̵ Samadhi: To draw the entire consciousness into the soul. It is the main meaning of Yogadarshan that salvation can be achieved through the mentioned measures.

Benefits of Yoga

While practicing yoga, wake up at amrit time (within 4-5 am) and drink 2-3 glasses of lukewarm water, after passing stool and urine, do it on an empty stomach, wearing light clothes, sitting on a good yoga mat and in an open place. While practicing yoga, learn from others or stay in a group and do as much as you can by looking at your body condition. In this way, by practicing yoga regularly, one can get health benefits such as flexibility, agility, balance, stress control in the body. Also, it is believed that yoga can be practiced with all the family members as it gives more satisfaction when practicing yoga with your family.

Benefits of Yoga

̵ The body is a temple, to keep it pure and clean it must have a holy spirit, which can only be achieved through yoga.

̵ Yoga is not only physical exercise by lifting the head and body, it is also able to keep the mind happy.

- Being able to consciously sprinkle light on impure thoughts and objects in the dark corners of the body is the specialty of yoga.

̵ The purpose of yoga cannot be fulfilled without pranayama, which is done along with yoga practice. Pranayama which activates our whole body and soul.

̵ Yoga is the most suitable and ingenious way to remove anxiety and stress.

̵ As much as yoga benefits the soul, it cannot benefit the body. Therefore, yoga is an important dose of the soul.

References to World Yoga Day and Mansagni

On World Yoga Day, Maharishi Patanjali, United Nations, Prime Minister Modi and others are specially remembered. But while discussing the history of yoga in Nepal, the role of Mansagni should also be remembered along with the role of the above mentioned person or organization. Since general readers may be ignorant about the history of yoga in Nepal, it is thought that before starting the history of Yoga Day, it is best to discuss about Mansagni and respect for Mansagni.

Mansagni is the pioneer of yoga and naturopathy in Nepal and also the first naturopath in Nepal and he has decided to spend his life in this campaign. Research done by Mansagni, sadhana and history also confirm this. According to Mansagni, yoga took the form of science from Shaiva philosophical thought and sadhana, and Mahadeva i.e. Shiva is considered to be the exponent of such philosophy. Mansagni argues with evidence that various philosophies came from Shiva civilization, Buddhist civilization and Janaka civilization in Nepal. Based on this philosophy, Mansagni is an expert personality and nature lover who is a great philosopher and scholar of yoga, Ayurveda and naturopathy, who has made himself a seeker and will continue to advance this field with naturopathy in Nepal. The father of Nepal's natural medicine and the pioneer of yoga and Ayurveda who named Mansagni after Sadhana. Hariprasad Pokharel is Mansagni.

In Madanpokhara of Palpa v. No. Born in 2020, Mansagni became Mansagni at the age of sixteen from Hari Prasad Pokharel. Mansagni v. No. He started a renaissance in the field of yoga in Nepal by proclaiming that World Yoga Day should be celebrated on 1st January 2036 i.e. on the day of Makar Sankranti. As mental purity is considered to be many times better than physical purity in yoga, Mansagni is making an incomparable contribution in Nepal by combining such multi-purpose yoga with natural medicine.

When his continuous journey from 2036 until now has completed four decades, Nepal has started celebrating the 1st of January as the National Yoga Day, every year on the 20th of June, the National Natural Medicine Day has also been started.

Meaning of celebrating Yoga Day

When we talk about why we celebrate Yoga Day, yoga is also a complementary treatment method for all physical, mental, social, emotional, spiritual and spiritual health. Yoga therapy is the only way to treat, prevent and control various mental diseases, diseases that appear as deviations in lifestyle and some non-communicable diseases. Yoga has now become an important branch of medical science. In today's chaotic world, it is certain that the life span of a person who does not practice yoga will be shortened. Another thing is that yoga plays an important role in adapting to a changing environment. Therefore, behind the discussion about such an important yoga and giving importance to the international world, its achievement is high.

It can be estimated that Yoga Day will also help to bring such things to the public.

The message of Yoga Day

̵ Yoga is essential for physical exercise, meditation and mental coolness which improves various aspects of a person's health and makes a person healthy.

̵ Yoga improves the spiritual aspect and provides unlimited energy and helps a person to attain peace.

̵ Yoga Day helps spread awareness about the importance, effectiveness and benefits of yoga.

̵ During the celebration of Yoga Day, various yoga camps, discourses, meetings, discussions, various programs, workshops, research, competitions, etc. are organized, which also help to clarify the importance and relevance of yoga. It helps to increase the attraction towards yoga.