Tracing the History of Yoga in India
Tracing the history of yoga in India reveals its ancient roots and the journey of this discipline from its origin to the West and back to India. While yoga has existed since the pre-Vedic period in India, conscious efforts were made by colonial rulers to misguide people. This disrupted its practice. However, this ancient wisdom eventually returned to India, gaining acknowledgment worldwide due to its immense benefits.
India, as the birthplace of yoga, has a history deeply intertwined with the practice. In ancient times, sages in India embraced yoga as a way of life, peace, health, and wealth for the population. Around 1,000 AD, Mahmud Ghaznavi’s attack on India led to the plundering of its wealth. Despite this, Al-Biruni, a historian, recognized the value of yoga and advised the preservation and translation of Indian yoga scriptures into Arabic. The first translation of Patanjali Yoga Sutra occurred in Arabic.
The Colonial Influence
During the British colonial era in India, education policies introduced by Thomas Babington Macaulay aimed at training individuals for administrative roles as small-time clerks. Emphasizing social pride, the top priority for students thus became mastering the English language. This colonial influence had lasting effects, with rich families sending their children to convent schools. There, traditional practices, including the teachings of yoga by knowledgeable Indian sages, were replaced by Westernized lifestyles. Despite the potential benefits of orally transmitted wisdom, the British rulers strategically removed these teachings from the lives of common people. Yoga, once an integral part of education, became an extracurricular activity and is still not compulsory in Indian schools. Ironically, the rulers themselves recognized the value of yoga and then implemented these practices in their own lives.
Finding Global Recognition
The impact of works like Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra and Hath Yoga Pradipika by Swami Swatmarama, has been profound, contributing to the preservation of yoga within Indian traditions. The United Nations declared June 21st as the International Yoga Day, emphasizing the timeless value of yoga. This day serves as a global acknowledgment of yoga’s indispensability, recognizing it not only as a form of exercise but also as a practice that develops mental abilities and broadens perspectives positively.
Author – Rishi Singh
Date Published: 21st June 2021
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