Yoga Has Nothing To Do With Religion: Vice President Venkaiah Naidu

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Yoga has nothing to do with religion and those who associate the "ancient science" with religion cause "immense harm" to humanity, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Oct. 10 in New Delhi, while inaugurating the two-day 'International Conference on Yoga for Wellness'. Yoga, a science of well-being, was like any other medical systems that must be researched and practiced, he said.

"Yoga has nothing to do with religion. Some people unfortunately attribute religious overtones to this ancient scientific system. Those who do this are causing immense harm to humanity," he said.

He said yoga is the mother of all exercises. Yoga provides physical fitness, mental well-being, and spiritual help and also takes care of "medical bills", he added.

Naidu said the conference on yoga was very relevant and timely as it provided a platform to reexamine the meaning of the ancient science and possible ways to apply it, making lives healthier.

"It is a holistic system where the mind and body act in unison and get completely rejuvenated as physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation help in overall well-being of an individual," he said, according to the Indian Express.

"Yoga also helps in the spiritual quest of an individual through understanding of the inner-self and achieving complete peace with the surroundings," he added.

Some Christian bodies have strictly restricted the practice of yoga.

In August, the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) had asked Christians in Nagaland to abstain from practicing yoga, saying it is "a spiritual and physical discipline deeply rooted in the religious beliefs and practices of Hinduism, and hence it is not compatible with Christianity."

"Any form of meditation, philosophical thinking and transcendental meditation tied to any religion, contrary to Christian world is viewed seriously by church," said Zelhou Keyho, general secretary, NBCC.

Nagaland is Christian majority state with over 87.93 per cent of Christians, according to 2011 Census. Of them, approximately 70 per cent are Baptists.

The NBCC is an important religious body in the state.