TheSouthAsianTimes.info March 17-23, 2018 9 stresses yogaʼs role Indians will soon embrace in world peace at UN their ancient values: Special to Swami Maheshwarananda The South Asian Times Special to The South Asian Times United Nations: A global yoga has stressed the importance New York: Swami of world peace and stated that Maheshwarananda pre‑ yoga can help ensure that. dicts that Indians will “Peace endeavors can only be soon embrace their successful in combination with ancient culture and pro‑ inner transformation,” mote worldwide its val‑ Swami Maheshwarananda with international Vishwaguru Paramhans Swami ues, including the delegates from Sri Swami Madhavananda Maheshwarananda said last week. World Peace Council, founded by him, Swami Maheshwarananda speaking at the conference already‑popular yoga “Yoga can provide the power for at the UN headquarters. “Yoga and World Peace” at the UN on March 7. practice. Asked by this such a positive change.” writer in an interview and established in Vienna, Austria. They are endowed with reason The Swami, a native of whether South Asians, particularly Swami Madhavananda passed and conscience and should act , addressed a conference Indians, will discard western mal‑ away in 2003 and the full respon‑ towards one another in a spirit of titled “Yoga and World Peace” at adies that have afflicted their soci‑ sibility to propagate yoga, peace, brotherhood,” the Swami said, the UN on March 7 as part of his eties in recent decades, the yoga brotherhood and unity fell upon quoting the UNʼs Universal US visit that took him to New York guru sounded positive. Maheshwarananda. Declaration of Human Rights. and other American cities. The phone interview on March 8 In the interview the Swami Many international delegates The conference was organized was conducted during his two‑ spoke in Hindi and English. heard the Swami and other spiri‑ by the Sri Swami Madhavananda week tour of North America that “Yoga Manushya Ko Yogya tual leaders as well as political World Peace Council, based in the took him to several US and Banaataa Hai. Manushya Nirog dignitaries, artists and academics. Austrian capital of Vienna. It was Canadian cities. Ban Jaata Hai (Yoga makes one The participants agreed on the held to commemorate nonviolence “Time will come for our people skilful. He or she will becomes dis‑ importance of fostering peace and and yoga, aside from marking the to come back to our culture, ease‑free,” the Swami noted. “Yoga nonviolence as a way to make the 70th anniversary of the Universal including yoga,” he said. “Our peo‑ Se Man Mein Shanti Milegee (it world a better place, according to Declaration of Human Rights. Two ple are now in love with money brings peace to oneʼs mind.” a press release issued by the coun‑ other bodies – the International and they will have to re‑adopt The Swami made it clear that cil. Personal and spiritual develop‑ Day of Yoga Committee and the their ancient culture sooner than anyone belonging to any religion ment of humans is a key factor in UN Staff Recreation Council later for their own good and ten‑ can practice it, as yoga is not achieving such goals, the council Enlightenment Society – also sion‑free lives.” restricted only to and says. Among the international sponsored the event. The Swami, who is 73, learned its followers. At the same time, he Peace endeavors can only be objectives of the council are pro‑ Quoting Mahatma Gandhiʼs at an early age yoga and other emphasized the importance of successful in combination with tection of the environment, con‑ appeal “Be the Change You Want age‑old values from his maternal “satvik” (easily digestible vegetari‑ inner transformation ‑‑ Swami stant dialogue between various to See in the World,” the Swami uncle. He was also taught by his an) food as it would ensure peace Maheshwarananda denominations and nationalities, pointed out that inner peace is the father during that time. and happiness. “If you kill one ani‑ meeting was followed by visits to and respect among all religions. necessary path to world peace. Aside from Hindi and Sanskrit, mal, it is nothing but the equiva‑ New Zealand, Fiji, Canada and the World Peace Council is a non‑ The UN conference was the the Swami speaks English and lent of killing a human,” the US. The tour will take the Swami profit humanitarian organization, highlight of the Swamiʼs world German fluently. Sri Swami Swami remarked. this week to Europe. which is in special consultative peace tour, which began in Madhavananda World Peace More than 90% of his millions of “All human beings are born free status with the Economic and with a meeting with President Council, he named for his guru global followers are non‑Indians. Ramnath Kovind in January. That and equal in dignity and rights. Social Council (Ecosoc) of the UN. A boy from Rajasthan transforms into a global guru Swami Maheshwarananda’s ‘Yoga in Daily Life’ system has spread all over the world from its headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Based on yoga tradition, it is specially directed to the situation and needs of modern civilization.

Special to The South Asian Times he spent much of his time for prayer and Parliament of World Religions gave him the meditation. When he was a teenager, title “Saarvabhauma Sanatana Dharma New York: Paramhans Swami Mangilal Garg was ordained as the Swami .” In 2001, on the occasion of Maheshwarananda, who hails from by his guru Madhavananda. He spent sever‑ Maha Kumbh Mela, the Swami was given Rajasthan but is now based in the Austrian al years with the guru, performing strict the Vishwaguru honor. For his services to capital of Vienna, left New York late last anushthana, or spiritual practices. the ancient discipline, he was given the week for Europe after his North America He went to Europe in 1970. The Swami titles of Doctor of Yoga and Professor of the visit. came to know the modern needs of a man Spiritual Science of Yoga. The Swami had several programs in the and decided to combine the ancient yogic His principles and ideas drew widespread Big Apple, especially his UN event at which practices with the findings of modern sci‑ praise in Eastern Europe even during the he addressed a peace‑and‑yoga conference. ence. He created an integral system ‑‑ an communist rule. Czech and Croatian presi‑ According to details offered by Denis internationally acclaimed one of practices dents acknowledged his services. Lucil (Kripadevi), manager of the New York called “Yoga in Daily Life,” which has spread In India, his homeland, the Swami initiat‑ ʻYoga in Daily Lifeʼ center, the Swami was from its European base, Vienna, to several ed several humanitarian and charitable given a grand welcome by his followers as parts of the world. The Swamiʼs system has works. His Gyan Putra project supports the he arrived in the city. benefited benefitted and inspired millions. children of impoverished families and The guru stated that yoga, which essen‑ In the last 45 years, the Swami has exten‑ through the project attendance at schools tially means union in Sanskrit, can be prac‑ The Swami visited houses of worship in sively traveled the world, giving lectures on went up significantly. Ongoing projects in ticed by people of all religions. At the world the outer New York boroughs such as the Sanatana Dharma and yoga. His message is the country include the construction of hos‑ body, the Swamiʼs speech was well received. Ganesh temple and Shiv Shakti Peeth. simple: understanding, respect and toler‑ pitals and schools for girls in rural areas as “As a river divides into separate channels, He was born on August 15, 1945 at ance between nations, cultures and reli‑ well as establishing a university for ayurve‑ then comes together again, so the religions Rupawas village in Pali revenue district of gions; nonviolence; protection of the envi‑ da, naturopathy and yoga. Building an Om must recognize that all paths lead to the Rajasthan. His religious and devout parents ronment; and a vegetarian lifestyle. Ashram in Jadan in Pali revenue district is same destination – the Supreme,” he noted. named him Mangilal. Even as a young child, At the cusp of the millennium, the also an ambitious project.