From Sri Lanka, Bageshwar Dham seer Dhirendra Shastri calls yoga a bridge for humanity
Colombo, June 21
On the occasion of the 12th International Yoga Day, Bageshwar Dham Peethadheeshwar Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri extended warm greetings to the people of India and the world from Sri Lankan soil.
Currently on a visit to Sri Lanka, the prominent spiritual leader delivered a message emphasising yoga as a unifying force for humanity.
Speaking at an event attended by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, Sri Lankan government officials and local citizens, Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri described yoga in simple yet profound terms.
"Yoga is a matter of connection in life. It is not just an exercise or a physical state, but a supreme system of connecting the soul with God," he said.
He further elaborated that yoga signifies connection, attachment and the bond of humanity and culture.
The Bageshwar Sarkar highlighted India's ancient philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' -- the world is one family -- stating that the aspiration for global brotherhood begins with yoga.
He noted that when a person connects with yoga, the soul rises above worldly limitations, fostering a global outlook and higher consciousness.
He offered prayers to the "Creator" for the health and well-being of all and appealed to people worldwide to adopt yoga in their daily lives.
"If you want happiness in life, you must adopt yoga," he urged.
Pandit Shastri advised people to rise early in the morning, greet the Sun God and bathe in his rays, saying that a healthy body leads to a calm mind and a calm mind results in a better life.
In his address, the Katha Vyas bowed to the divine presence in everyone's heart and prayed to Lord Hanuman for the health, prosperity and happiness of all present, their families and the nation.
He expressed hope that people's feelings of love and compassion towards India, the motherland, would continue to grow.
Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri's message from Sri Lanka carried an appeal to embrace yoga in the true spirit of International Yoga Day.
His remarks underscored yoga's universal appeal as a practice that nurtures physical health, mental peace and spiritual unity.
By emphasising world brotherhood through yoga, he aligned with the spirit of this year's global celebrations, promoting India's ancient wisdom across borders and fostering a sense of shared humanity.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I've been practicing yoga for 5 years and it's transformed my life. But seeing this from a cultural perspective is eye-opening. It's not just about flexibility—it's about global brotherhood. Beautiful message from Sri Lanka.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is not just a slogan—it's our collective responsibility. Glad to see Pandit Shastri taking this ancient wisdom to our Lankan brothers and sisters. Yoga as a bridge? Absolutely! Hope this fosters deeper ties between our nations.
While I appreciate the sentiment, I wish these messages would focus more on the actual physical and mental health benefits of yoga rather than the spiritual angle. Many of us just want to reduce stress, not connect with God. But good initiative overall.
Yoga in Sri Lanka, great! But why do we always need a spiritual leader to promote our culture? Our yoga gurus and teachers are doing incredible work globally without all this controversy. Still, a good message for International Yoga Day.
"Healthy body leads to calm mind, calm mind leads to better life" — this is universal truth! As someone who does yoga daily, I can vouch for this. But I hope leaders also address mental health stigma alongside these messages. One step at a time.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.