NEW YORK: A recently imposed ban on religious symbols, religious music, mantra and incense burning at Yoga centers in Turkey has been a source of concern to many an Indian in USA.
A directive issued by the Sports for Everyone Federation of Turkey (HIS) has officials arguing that it is aimed against missionary activities but Yoga lovers here feel it is an unnecessary obtrusion and burdensome on Yoga. A group of Indians led by Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, have urged Turkey to reconsider this directive.
Yoga has blossomed into a world-wide phenomena of late. Though having its roots in India and Hindu thoughts, it has ceased to be a sectarian practice. Rajan said it is a world heritage and is even described as “a living fossil” whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization. It is open for everybody to share and benefit from.
Rajan noted that Yoga is a mental and physical discipline by means of which the human-soul (jivatman) united with universal-soul (parmatman). For Patanjali, author of the basic text, the Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.
According to US National Institute of Health, Yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to an estimate, about 21 million Americans, including many celebrities, now practice yoga. Yoga was the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche and attempts at regulating it are kind of an infringement, Zed added.
Neela Pandya
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