Prime Minister chants yoga mantra at Adiyogi launch event

Modi expressed the need to analyse, understand and make ancient ideals easily available to the next generation. Modi said, “Yoga has come a long way. Yoga is ancient yet modern. Constant, yet evolving. The essence of yoga has not changed. It is of utmost importance to preserve the essence to rediscover yoga,” he said, as he called the ancient art form the best solution to deal with increasing stress and lifestyle diseases. 

Calling India a diverse nation, Modi linked unity in diversity in the country with the example of Lord Shiva’s family. Stating that Shiva was synonymous with Himalayas in the north, he said that his wife Parvathi is from the southernmost part of India — Kanyakumari. He also cited examples of the family on how humans should live in harmony with animals. 

Earlier, the Prime Minister enthralled the audience by starting his 26-minute speech with the words un gal ellarukum ennudaya anbaana vanakkam (my warm greeting to everyone present here), which received a roaring applause from the audience. He concluded his speech that was primarily in English by saying vanakkam. 

Isha Yoga Founder Jaggi Vasudev said that the 112-foot-tall metal statue is a representation of the 112 methods to do yoga. He said that the statue was designed by him in two and-a-half years and was made in eight months. He claimed that this was the largest bust statue in world.

The police arrested 359 persons attached to 50 organisations for trying to conduct a black flag protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit here on Friday. Members from more than 30 organisations, tried to wave black flags at the south taluk office to condemn the Centre for not stopping the Kerala government from constructing check dams across the Bhavani. Six other demonstrations were organised by various organisations, alleging that Isha Centre encroached on tribal lands and was engaged in unauthorised constructions.