Yoga is a passport to health assurance: PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled a 112-foot tall statue of Lord Shiva on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri in Coimbatore.

The programme was organised by Isha Foundation and dedicated to its founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.

While addressing the gathering, PM Modi talked about the importance and essence of yoga.

He said, 'India has given the gift of Yoga to the world and by practising Yoga, a spirit of oneness is created'.

'The whole world wants peace, not only from wars and conflicts but also peace from stress. And we have yoga. If body is the temple of mind, then yoga creates a beautiful temple,' Modi said explaining the benefits of the ancient art.

One of the strongest weapons to have peace is yoga, which fights stress, he stressed.

He said that yoga has come a long way and has different schools of thought and styles, but the essence of yoga has remained unchanged.

Highlighted the essence of Yoga, how practising Yoga creates a spirit of oneness & importance of Yoga to manage stress. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2017

Yoga is a passport to health assurance. It is about 'Rog Mukti' and 'Bhog Mukti.' More than curing ailments, it is a means to wellness. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2017

Through Yoga let us create a new 'Yuga' of togetherness and harmony. This will benefit the entire humankind. https://t.co/EdzQqpZuYW — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2017

He also lit a sacred fire to mark the start of 'Maha Yoga Yagna' across the world. More than one million people are expected to take the oath to teach yoga to others.