- Lord Shiva’s destructive drive is also creative, leading to the regeneration and rejuvenation of the cosmos: President Murmu
- President of India graces Mahashivaratri celebrations at Isha Yoga Center Coimbatore
- President Murmu emphasises need for a balanced, compassionate life
NE NEWS SERVICE
COIMBATORE, FEB 19
President Droupadi Murmu graced the Mahashivaratri Celebrations, organised by the Isha Foundation, at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore on Saturday evening.
May this Mahashivaratri dispel darkness inside us and lead us all to a more fulfilling and flourishing life. I wish you a happy journey on this path, as the saying goes:
शिवास्ते पन्थानः सन्तु। pic.twitter.com/OBYUolqxIf— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 18, 2023
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Lord Shiva is a deity for all, as he appears in his various manifestations matching each of us. He is the first yogi, the Adiyogi, and he also the first jnani who, for example, is said to have inspired Panini’s grammar system, one of the tallest intellectual achievements of humankind.
President Droupadi Murmu graced the Mahashivaratri Celebrations organised by the Isha Foundation at Coimbatore. The President said that Lord Shiva's destructive drive is also creative, leading to the regeneration and rejuvenation of the cosmos. https://t.co/dPCwxL7xmv pic.twitter.com/cWxRdgS6Yv
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 18, 2023
The President said that Lord Shiva is a benevolent deity, and yet in countless myths he is also depicted the ultimate fearsome deity, as revealed in another name for him, ‘Rudra’. This way, he is the symbol of both kinds of energies, creative and destructive. He, indeed, transcends such pairs of opposites, because his destructive drive is also creative, leading to the regeneration and rejuvenation of the cosmos.
President Droupadi Murmu started her visit to Tamil Nadu with the darshan of Meenakshi Amman in Madurai. She prayed before the Mother Goddess for the well-being of all. pic.twitter.com/YHqBBhc913
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 18, 2023
The President said Lord Shiva appears in the form of ardh-narishwar also, half male and half female. It points to the masculine and feminine sides of every human being and is an expression of the ideal of balancing the two.
Governor of Tamil Nadu, Shri R.N. Ravi received President Droupadi Murmu on her arrival in Madurai. pic.twitter.com/IILcNzLGre
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) February 18, 2023
The President said that Mahashivaratri marks the end of winter and beginning of sunny days in most parts of India. Mahashivaratri thus also marks the end of darkness – the darkness of ignorance, and opens the path to enlightenment. For those in search of higher ideals of life, today is an especially significant occasion. She said that today, the world remains as torn in strife as ever, but it is also facing an unprecedented ecological crisis. The need for a balanced and compassionate life, in harmony with Mother Nature and all its children, was never felt so pressing as it does today. May this Mahashivaratri dispel darkness inside us and lead us all to a more fulfilling and flourishing life.
#Mahashivratri2023 is at full swing and the spirit of celebration is infectious! pic.twitter.com/eYhMLQF8aY
— Isha Foundation (@ishafoundation) February 18, 2023
The need for a balanced and compassionate life in harmony with Mother Nature and all its dear children was never felt so pressing as it does today, President Droupadi Murmu said as she joined the Mahashivaratri celebrations at Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore on Saturday night.
“For those in search of higher ideals of life, today is an especially significant occasion,” she said, addressing the devotees near the 112-foot tall Adiyogi statue.
Earlier, Murmu was welcomed by Sadhguru, the founder of Isha Foundation. Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, IT minister Mano Thangaraj were also present on the occasion.
The President participated in the Pancha Bhutha Kriya (cleansing of the five elements) conducted by Sadhguru at Dhyanalinga and also lit the Mahayoga Yagna at Adiyogi to symbolize the spread of Yoga through the world.
Murmu termed Sadhguru as a “renowned Rishi of modern times” and said, “countless people, especially the young from India and abroad, have found in him the inspiration to make spiritual progress.”
Sadhguru, in his address, underlined the importance of bringing physical and mental stability to individual human beings and said Mahayoga Yagna is a symbol of Isha’s commitment to offer tools and technologies of wellbeing to humanity.
“In the next 24 months, we are committed to bring a simple form of yoga to at least 2 billion people on the planet. This needs to happen for the wellbeing of humanity,” he said.
The 12-hour nightlong cultural extravaganza had meditation sessions, Sadhguru’s discourse and Q&A sessions. Several artists including Ram Mirjala, Velmurugan, Kutle Khan, Mangli, Ananya Chakraborty, Meenal Jain, Nihar Shembekar, Mame Khan and Niladri Kumar performed on the occasion, besides the Kannada folk singers, a troupe of Georgian dancers and the Theyyam fire dancers from Kerala.
