Hindus seek official status for Yoga
Prajakta Sapre, Jonas Malamanche, Dr H R Nagendra, Dr Vijay Senan and Dr Raj Vinod Anand at the Conference held in Lower Hutt on April 9, 2011.
While Yoga has become a fashionable expression to denote everything that it is not, there is a need to promote it as a science in its true form with respect.
There is also a need to accord it an official status and taught in schools and tertiary institutions by qualified teachers and experts in the field.
Yoga is being distorted and hence must be promoted appropriately.
These were among the issues discussed at the second Wellington Region Hindu Conference held at the Waiwhetu Mare in Lower Hutt on April 9.
‘Arogya’ (meaning ‘Health’), a division of the Hindu Council of New Zealand organised the one-day event for the benefit of the residents in the Wellington region and apprise them of the true concept of Yoga.
Officials of the Hindu Council, including General Secretary Dr Guna Magesan and Public Relations Officer Dr Rajiv Chatruvedi said the organisation would approach the Health Ministry to accord Yoga the status as an Alternative Therapy.
Revenue Minister Peter Dunne, who inaugurated the Conference, said that organisations such as the Hindu Council were utilising traditional medical wisdom to fill the gap where the Government was struggling to supply healthcare needs.
“I welcome such initiatives where communities came together to look for common grounds to share their time-tested knowledge,” he said.
In a message read by National MP Paul Quinn, Ethnic Affairs Minister Hekia Parata said that the mainstream media should stop stereotyping ethnic communities negatively.”
“There should be an alliance of civilisations in New Zealand and cross-cultural research will be a key factor in achieving such a goal,” she said.
Among the other speakers were Member of Parliament Trevor Mallard (Labour), Kaumatua Te Rira Puketapu, Ann Dysart, Manager, Community Relationships at the Social Development Ministry, Immediate Past President of the New Zealand Federation of Multiethnic Councils Pancha Narayanan, Jonas Malamanche of the Waiwhetu Marae, Dr H R Nagendra, Prajakta Sapre and Dr Raj Vinod Anand.
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However, writing it as Yoga has led to corrupt pronunciation योगा.
In Sanskrit, it is written as योग where ग is pronounced with a fullness of sound, not with a halant effect. By adding the tailing-a some experts hypothetically thought that it would bring desired result. However, they overlooked something very fundamental. Sanskrit has its own phonetic tradition as described here. English too has its own phonetic tradition where tailing-a is pronounced as आ (long-a), not as अ (short-a). But overlooking did not do as great a harm as did their apathy towards the outcome of their blunder. [/p]
[p] Not only they deliberately let that error of judgment continue but they themselves participated enthusiastically in encouraging the corruption to establish that they were treading on the right path. They would themselves pronounce it as योगा as if they never saw how it is written in Sanskrit script, and as if they never knew how it was actually pronounced in Sanskrit. As these people were considered the experts, it was natural for others to follow them. The process of what I call as "Parrot Humanoid Syndrome" was firmly established. They forgot that Sanskrit was their heritage language which had preserved in its fold Hindu literature, history, culture and almost everything that we can be proud of. [/p]
[p] Visually Phonetic English Spellings for Sanskrit terms [/p]
[p] It is not possible to present Sanskrit terms in English in a manner that can produce perfect pronunciation because English has only half the number of alphabets as compared to Sanskrit. English has little respect for true phonetics. They write "but" and "put" the same way. Do they pronounce them same way? They pronounce meter and metre the same way. Do they write them same way? [/p]
[p] Sanskrit has some exceptions. Sanskrit has also grammatical rules to deal with those exceptions. Question is: do you want to bring down such a highly evolved language Sanskrit to the level of a poorly evolved language English so far the phonetics are concerned? Don't you all have any pride and respect left for your heritage language? [/p]
[p] You all want to protect Hinduism. Do you want to distort and corrupt that language which preserved in its folds everything that Hinduism stands for? [/p]
[p] Indiscriminate use of tailing-a by so-called experts in Sanskrit has corrupted the phonetic integrity of this scientifically phonetic language. And you all want to not only keep it going, but also keep compounding to that corruption? [/p]
[p] Once I heard a lady from South on TV. She wanted to say the word "Joke" but she pronounced it as "Joka". Would you want to turn every second Sanskrit term a जोका (Joka)? Example: धर्मा (Dharma), अर्था (Artha), कर्मा (Karma), मोक्षा (Moksha), पापा (Papa), अर्जुना (Arjuna), and so on, the list can be endless... [/p]
[p] Try using what I call "Visually Phonetic English Spellings for Sanskrit terms". For instance, योग written as Yog' provides a visual clue to the reader that s/he needs to pause very briefly at the end of योग Yog'. When you have to choose between two evils, wouldn't you opt for the lesser one? [/p]
We wish you all the very best in your efforts.
Regards,
Dr. Apar Saoji
Technical Consultant,
National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune
It is a pleasure to note that 'YOGA' is taking new avatar in New Zealand. As we know, it is the time-tested technique since the Indus valley Civilisation that existed thousands of years ago. Its benefits have been well proved and is useful stress-relief, pain-relief, breathing problems, weight management, understanding the problems of others and maintaining calmness.
The workshop is a good beginning and should achieve its goal of better health and environment through YOGA. Care should be taken for meritorious practice and Guru.
Dr Raman Sivakumar
Prof BIT, TH 638401
I believe that there is nothing right and wrong, as everyone is on their way to reach the same place. It is just a matter of being at the right time at the right place.
I really hope this that this community will be able to open space for every body’s heart and mind.
With love and light Devika
nepaliyoga.com
nepaliyogawomentrust.org/net/com
Thanks everybody.
All nations would become healthier, happier, peace loving and derive multiple benefits if the respective governments realise the power of Yoga and adopting its eight parts.
If you can start a signature movement online to get global support, it would be great. You must provide research papers which proclaim the benefits of introducing Yoga at all levels in New Zealand.
All the best. May God be with you
Shantala Priyadarshini
Professor, Government Ayurveda Medical College (Affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore)
Chief Consultant, Dr Vijay’s Ayurveda Research and Treatment Centre
Sri Dhanwantari Krupa, Hootagalli, Mysore, Karnataka India 570018
Editor's Note:
Editor’s Note: Thanks for your comments. Indian Newslink will support all genuine efforts to promote Yoga worldwide. We will take the cue from Dr Guna Magesan, our friend and great enthusiast on Hindu matters in New Zealand
Yoga is wholesome, curative (Therapeutic), preventive and promotes positive health. It is beyond the scope of any country, religion, sex or age. With an integrated approach of the eight-limbed Yoga, you prepare yourself for an inward journey from Yamas and Niyamas, passing through asanas to culture the body, pranayama to bridge the body and the mind and pratyahara to have withdrawal of senses.
Yoga is becoming global, helping people to enjoy good health.
I love Yoga and would advocate it to every individual.
Yoga is a great contribution of Hinuds to the humanity at large and it needs to recognised.
Best wishes to all and kudos to all for their efforts
Yoga has been a great contribution by Hindus to the humanity at large and let the world recognize it
Best wishes to all and kudos for their efforts
You have taken up a noble task and I wish you success.
Dr L .KTripathi, Ayurvedic Physician, Palmist & Counsellor
The times of India, 7, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi, India
The health benefits are numerous. Universities in India have included Yoga as a subject.
Our young men and women are enthusiastic learners. I practise ‘Hatha Yoga’ and Meditation. Everyone, irrespective of religion, nationality or other considerations should learn Yoga.
I am happy that you are trying to get an official status for Yoga in New Zealand and I am sure that your Government will respond positively.
Dr Geetha Bai
Associate Professor of Economics
Providence College for Women Coonoor, Nilgiris, India
We in India are proud to have such luminous inheritance. Yoga guarantees a balanced mind in a healthy body. It teaches a person to overcome hurdles and obstacles in life in an exemplary manner. It imparts feelings of universal love, teaches one to be a good citizen.
It also teaches equipoise and benevolence. It is a way of life and has nothing to do with any religion.
Yoga is for the benefit of all humanity.
Yoga takes us closer to our Maker through spiritual wellbeing, but more importantly, it helps individuals realise their own potential of coming closer to natural, logical and scientific way of life with holistic methods. We learn through Yoga how to care of the individuals, the society and the global environment. Through Yoga, we will leave a positive legacy for our future generations to enjoy the Universal message of Peace and love.
Ashok Kumar, Bangalore, India
Kudos to the Hindu Council of New Zealand and I wish you the best for all your future projects.
I would be glad to help to promote Yoga and Ayurveda.
Yoga keeps a person mentally and physically fit and needs minimum space and means to follow. In India, our Rishis and seniors followed Yoga for thousands of years and some of them could elevate to the height of power. Yoga brings overall development and satisfaction. It is complete and ultimate.
All of us must practice Yoga. Governments will save billions of dollars in expenditure on health, safety, security and community services.
Let us move in the right direction without wasting any more time.
It is ancient Indian Vedic technology with tremendous benefits. It will depend only on your faith and regularity of practice.
It will ensure that whatever your religion is, you will rest in Vedic Dharma. This is an automatic advantage. Your mind will become calm, sharp and accommodating.
I wish your success.
Kiran Kumar
Professor of Psychology, University of Mysore
Member, International Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Committee on Yoga, Belgrade, Serbia
Academic Council Member, Swami Vivekananda Yoga University, Bangalore, India
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