India-Sri Lanka spiritual heritage for world peace

Yoga served as a connecting point between Buddhistic wisdom and yogic understanding on 13 July in Kandy when over 100 delegates from Sri Lanka and India as well as some parts of the Western world gathered to learn about different aspects and routes connected to the science that emerged from the Sanathana Dharma tradition. 

Conceptualised by Rotary Bangalore Global Yoga, the first cause based club in Rotary International, created specifically to spread yoga for health, happiness and global peace, the Global Yoga Summit commenced under the auspices of both Hindu and Buddhist clergy and secular yoga experts where the diplomatic, spiritual and touristic integration was highlighted. 

The event was held in the Bogambara Stadium at the Ehelepola Kumarihami Mawatha in Kandy under the patronage of officials of the Ministry of Tourism in Sri Lanka and officiated by many masters of Indian spirituality, especially Dr. Sri Sri Trinetra Mahantha Shivayogi Swamiji, President of the Chandravana Ashram where the emerging traditions of spirituality in an integrated settings was highlighted. A significant part of the event was that many Sri Lankan youth especially those from the Kandy region attended, taking part in event activities such as compering as part of capacity building contributions to Sri Lankan youth.

The event was attended by a range of educators and yoga practitioners from Sri Lanka and was supported by Rotary Sri Lanka following the initial ideating and planning by Indian national and senior Rotarian, K.P. Nagaraj, a key promoter of Yoga and Vedic sciences for healing, peace and spiritual tourism. 

Dr. Yogi Devara, Rotarian and Chief Organiser, Bharath Lanka Global Yoga Festival and Guruji S.V.A. Jeyakumar, Founder and Executive Director of the Family Yoga Academy highlighted the relevance of yoga for peace creation in our current world focusing on how one human who uses the elevation of mind as taught by the yogic sciences influences the thinking and behaviour of many others. 

Dr. Rajashekhar Reddy P, Neurosurgeon and Vice Chancellor of the Yoga University of the Americas explained the significance of yoga as a path to boost mental health in the world, highlighting how many countries in the world are using yoga for creativity boosting and stress relief.

Dr. Ravindra Kandage, Executive Director Sarvodaya Shanthisena Movement, Smt. M. Chandana, Founder, Tapas Health and Wellness Centre Bengaluru, Vinay Kumar, international Yoga Therapist, S.S. Hiremath, Principal of Shivanand Yoga College in Gadang and a host of international speakers including those representing Rotary spoke at the event.

The commitment of Rotary in Sri Lanka and India to promote peace through diverse spiritual activities were highlighted.

Smt Chandana talked on the importance of Agnihotra based on her scholarly research on the significance of fire as a route of purification Indian Yogic realms. 

Those such as Sri Mariswamy are promoting yoga in rural areas in Karnataka and bring forth the Indian regional narrative concerning the relevance of yoga for development and equal opportunity for all persons. 

The theme of the event in Kandy was Local to Global where the link between Yogic spiritual heritage practices if India was discussed in relevance to the mission of spreading wellbeing to the world and especially to neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka. 

Rotary District Governor Sushena Ranatunghe, Past District Governor Ajith Weerasinghe, and Past District Governor Aruni Malalasekara were key Rotarian representatives at the event which discussed topics such as Yoga as a science for longevity and health, Yoga for peace, Yoga in sports, alignment of yoga as asanas, women in Yoga, Yoga and music therapy, sound therapy with Yoga and significance of Yoga for children. 

(SV)