The priests and officials of Srisailam Devasthanams and local people performed yoga as part of the International Yoga Day celebrations in Srisailam on Thursday.
The temple’s executive officer A. Sriramachandra Murthy promised to establish a yoga centre in the meditation hall at Rudravanam in Srisailam soon. Experienced Yoga instructors would impart training five days in a week, he said.
Explaining the significance of yoga, Mr. Sriramachandra Murthy said Lord Siva was referred to as ‘Adiyogi’ and that yoga sastram was a rich sastra in India. Yoga was listed among the Shat (six) Dharmas in Indian tradition, he said.
Yoga Guru of Go Yogasala Yoga Kendram at Hyderabad, Murali Duggani guided the participants in performing ‘sookshma vyayamam’, followed by pranayamam and dhayanam.
At the outdoor stadium in Kurnool, MP Butta Renuka, District Collector S. Satyanarayana, SP Gopinath Jatti performed yogasanas as part of the celebrations.
The Collector and the SP spoke about the benefits of yoga.
MLC K.E. Prabhakar, Kodumur MLA Mani Gandhi, Municipal Commissioner C.B. Harinatha Reddy and others were present.
Classes in villages
In Chittoor, about five hundred villagers from various panchayats of Tavanampalle mandal had thronged the Apollo Total Health Center at Aragonda village and performed yogasanas under the guidance of experts.
Speaking to the media, Deputy Medical Director (Total Health programme) and Yoga trainer S. Rajagopal said that yoga classes were being conducted in twenty villages of Tavanampalle mandal. “During the last three years, Yoga classes are being regularly conducted in the villages. Apart from imparting yoga, our instructors are extensively spreading the message of nutrition for the participants," Dr Rajagopal said.
Medical Director Subbanna also spoke.
Volunteers perform asanas
Thousands of Srivari Seva volunteers took part in the celebrations organised at the TTD’s Asthana mandapam in Tirumala. They performed various yoga asanas, Prana yamam, etc.
TTD’s Assistant PRO P. Neelima, Co-ordinator Varaprasad, State in-charge of Satya Sai seva organisation Hariharan, OSD Phaniranga sai were among those who took part in the programme.
Celebrations in Nellore
In Nellore, the police officials and staff took part in the celebrations held at the Parade Grounds on Thursday. DSP (AR) Chandrasekhar was the chief guest on the occasion.
Yoga trainer A. Muralikrishna guided the participants through various Yoga asanas and postures.
Yoga courses
Staff Reporter from Tirupati adds:
TTD observed the day at the Sri Venkateswara Ayurvedic College grounds. Students of the S.V. Vedic University performed yoga asanas and Pranayama.
At NCC Tirupati group headquarters, Group Commander Col. K.V. Vithal led 1,250 cadets in performing yoga protocol as demonstrated by Gyaneshwar, a cadet who had participated in the RDC 2018. Director K.N. Satyanarayana led students of the IIT Tirupati campus by performing yoga. At Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Vice-Chancellor V. Muralidhara Sharma announced the launch of B.Sc. (Yoga) and M.Sc. (Yoga Therapy) regular courses from this academic year.