Peace Through Yoga programme held in London

Book ‘Sivananda Yoga – A Worldwide Phenomenon’ released

By A.Mohanty

LONDON, Sept. 20: A unique programme titled “Peace Through Yoga” was recently organised at the Nehru Centre in London to highlight the relevance of yoga and the teachings of Swami Sivananda in promoting inner harmony, universal brotherhood and world peace.

The programme was organised jointly by the Swami Chidananda World Peace Foundation, Brahma Vidya, Shri Jagannath Society UK (SJSUK) and the Odisha Society of United Kingdom (OSUK). More than 100 spiritual leaders, community representatives and public figures attended the programme, organised to mark the 139th birth anniversary of Swami Sivananda Saraswati.

The programme began with the chanting of Vedic mantras and the traditional lighting of the lamp. An Odissi dance performance by Prem Sahu and a video presentation highlighting the life and philosophy of Swami Sivananda were also held.

Speakers at the programme underlined the relevance of Swami Sivananda’s teachings on selfless service, universal love, spiritual practice, mutual understanding, brotherhood and world peace, particularly at a time when several parts of the world are witnessing conflict and unrest.

The book “Sivananda Yoga – A Worldwide Phenomenon”, authored by Swami Brahmanishthananda Saraswati, founder of the Swami Chidananda World Peace Foundation and Brahma Vidya, was also released on the occasion.

The book was jointly released by Swami Brahmanishthananda Saraswati and Kevin Payende, Deputy High Commissioner of Mauritius in the UK.

The book elaborates on Swami Sivananda’s core teachings, including “Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate and Realise”, and discusses the role of selfless service, devotion and meditation in spiritual development. It also emphasises individual responsibility and the need to work towards a peaceful and harmonious world.

The publication carries a foreword by Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, Sri Dibyasingha Deba. Messages from the European Yoga Federation, Swami Jyotirmayananda of the Yoga Research Foundation in Miami, Florida, Swami Premananda of the Sivananda Seva Samiti, Uttarkashi, and the headquarters of Yoga Vidya in Germany have also been included in the book.

The programme was organised as part of the “Chidananda Decade 2016–26: A World Peace Campaign.”

Addressing the gathering, Swami Brahmanishthananda Saraswati said yoga should not be confined merely to physical exercises or asanas but should become an integral part of daily life. He said yoga should reach people irrespective of caste, community or religion.

He also highlighted the importance of integrating the four paths of yoga — Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Karma Yoga — as propounded by Swami Vivekananda.

“Peace must first be established within the individual, then within the family and ultimately spread across the world,” he said, urging followers to translate spiritual teachings into regular personal practice.

SJSUK trustee and OSUK secretary Sukanta Sahu referred to the declaration of June 21 as the International Day of Yoga and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative with helping take yoga to a global platform.

Jay Sharma, trustee of the Shri Ram Mandir in Southall, spoke about the transformative potential of Bhakti Yoga through faith and sustained spiritual practice.

Among those present were Swami Sarvasthananda of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, UK; Parvati Chaitanya; Dr Sahadev Swain; Anuradha Pandey; Dr Prakash De; Anita Mishra; Partha Panda; Sunita Gupta; Nityananda Pattnaik and Shubhakantha Das.

The Indian High Commission in the UK, the High Commission of Mauritius in London and the Nehru Centre were associated with the programme as sponsors.