Badrinath Dham reopens after 6-month wait with prayers, flowers, and grand celebrations
#BadrinathDham #CharDhamYatra2025 #BadrinathTemple #VedicChants #IndianArmyBand #PushkarDhamiAfter a 6-month wait, Badrinath Dham's portals reopened with Vedic chants and prayers for public welfare. The temple was adorned with 15 tons of flowers as the Indian Army band played devotional tunes. CM Pushkar Dhami and leaders attended. Devotees praised the peaceful experience and smooth administration.
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Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Capt Abhimanyu's mother cremated with Vedic rites; thousands, including Ramdev and minister Parvesh Verma pay tribute
CHANDIGARH: Parmeshwari Devi, mother of former Haryana finance minister Captain Abhimanyu and wife of late Arya Samaj stalwart Chaudhary Mitrasen Arya, was cremated with full Vedic rituals on Saturday at her native village Khanda Kheri, near the Bharat Mitra Stambh. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She passed away at the age of 89 on Friday at a private hospital in Delhi after a prolonged illness. Her eldest son, Captain Rudra Sen Sindhu, performed the last rites. Renowned yoga guru , who arrived by helicopter, joined the bereaved family in carrying the mortal remains to the cremation site. Several dignitaries including Delhi Cabinet Minister Parvesh Verma, Haryana Deputy Speaker Ranbir Gangwa, Social Justice Minister Krishan Bedi, and MP Dharambir Singh, among others. A condolence meeting will be held at Sindhu Bhawan, Sector-14, Rohtak. Before the cremation, the body was brought from Rohtak to the family village, with citizens paying homage along the route. The body was kept at Mata Jiyo Devi College in Khanda Kheri for public viewing. Swami Ramdev offered emotional tribute by touching her feet and standing vigil throughout the rites. Several prominent personalities attended to pay their respects, including Swami Aryavesh, Swami Adityavesh, Swami Pranavanand, Swami Sampurnanand, Acharya Vednisth, former Union minister Subhash Maharia, former ministers Om Prakash Dhankar and Bijender Billu, MLAs Ramkumar Gautam, Vinod Bhayana, and many others from political, social, and spiritual circles. Captain Abhimanyu, in an emotional tribute, said, 'She was my first guru, my strength, and the guiding force of my life. Whatever I am today is due to her love, discipline, and sacrifice. Her teachings and ideals will remain with us forever.'
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
International Yoga Day: Why is it hard to pinpoint the origin of yoga?
People from around the world celebrated the International Yoga Day on Saturday (June 21) with large scale gatherings, virtual events, and messages of peace and harmony. The genesis of yoga can be traced to ancient India. But it is impossible to pinpoint exactly how old it is. While the words '5,000-year-old tradition' are often thrown around, available evidence simply does not allow for such specificity. Here's why. Two key pieces of archaeological evidence are often cited as proof of yoga's antiquity. * The first is a small staetite seal recovered from the Indus Valley Civilisation (IVC) site of Mojenjodaro (now in Pakistan). Dated to circa 2,500-2,400 BCE, the seal 'depicts an impressive seated figure… sitting with legs crossed in what many have taken to be the mulabandhasana, a posture later to be much favoured by tantric yogis,' historian Alistair Shearer wrote in The Story Of Yoga: From Ancient India To The Modern West (2020). But ascribing meaning to millenia-old objects whose contexts are not fully understood, especially given that the IVC script is yet to be deciphered, is not sound historical practice. Could the so-called Pashupati seal be depicting a yogic pose? Yes. But it could also simply be depicting someone sitting cross-legged, as is common across South Asia till date. * The other, more recent, archaeological find comes from Balathal, Rajasthan, one of the 90-odd sites of the chalcolithic Banas culture. Excavated from the site was a roughly 2,700-year-old skeleton 'sitting in the samadhi position,' a posture 'that many yogis adopt for meditation and it is also assumed at the time of their burial,' Shearer wrote. The exact posture of the buried figure — 'cross-legged, hands resting on his knees with thumb and index fingers touching in the yogic jnanamudra' — makes this piece of evidence more credible. Nonetheless, this only helps establish a baseline date of the yoga's origin: logically, the genesis of yoga would predate what is preserved in the archaeological record. In ancient literature The word 'yoga' finds mention in the Vedic corpus (1,500-500 BCE), the earliest (surviving) literature from the sub-continent. But it appears in a context far removed from postural or even meditational exercise — the sense in which it is understood today. It is in the Mahabharata, composed over six centuries from 300 BCE to 300 CE, that yoga is used in a sense that would be familiar today. 'Some of these citations [in the Mahabharata] refer to yoga in a philosophical sense,' while others use the word 'when describing arduous physical penances and austerities performed by holy men,' Shearer wrote. Contemporaneous and later texts, such as the Upanishads, also use the term similarly. One school of thought states that yoga is not of Vedic provenance at all, but has its origins in heterodox traditions of the first millennium BCE (and before), most notably Buddhism and Jainism. 'The unifying feature of this freelance religious movement was the practice of yoga,' Vivian Worthington asserts in A History of Yoga (1982). Various Buddhist and Jain texts mention yoga. The Yoga Sutra of Maharishi Patanjali is the most well-known text on the matter, and composed around 350 CE, the oldest text dedicated solely to the subject. Most scholars agree that the present understanding of yoga is shaped by this text. What is an 'origin'? None of the texts mentioned above provide definite, empirical answers on the origin of yoga. This is largely because India does not have a tradition of history-writing like in the West, where a sharp distinction is drawn between history, based on empirical evidence, and myth, whose credibility lies in its meaning rather than veracity. As Worthington wrote, 'One of the difficulties of tracing a history of yoga has been that by its nature it leaves nothing behind except myths and legends of miraculous powers possessed by some of the more accomplished practitioners of the art.' There are no contemporary sources on yoga which can provide empirical specifics on its provenance. While analysing textual evidence can provide clues about the evolving meaning of the term and the evolution of the practice, it cannot with certainty provide a singular point in time when yoga originated. Like any other facet of culture, yoga is a product of diverse, interacting influences. And just as it continues to evolve today, it underwent constant in the past. As such, it is often impossible to determine any facet of culture distinguishes itself from antecedents that shape it.
News18
a day ago
- News18
From Gunner To Lieutenant: Himachal's Son Rises Through Army Ranks With Grit And Glory
Last Updated: In December 2009, Punit Mankotia joined the Indian Army as a gunner. Right from the outset, he stood out for his discipline and diligence The olive green uniform that once sparked a childhood dream has now become a symbol of hard-earned achievement for Army Lieutenant Punit Mankotia. Hailing from the mountainous terrains of Himachal's Kangra district, this young man's extraordinary journey from a gunner to a commissioned officer in the Indian Army is an inspiring tale of determination, discipline, and unshakable resolve. For Punit, the dream of donning the Indian Army uniform was seeded early. Born into a family steeped in military tradition, patriotism came naturally. His father, a retired Naib Subedar from the Signal Corps, instilled in him the core values of discipline, duty, and honour. These were not just lessons, but a way of life in the Mankotia household. With two elder brothers also in uniform, Punit's path seemed almost destined, but never easy. In December 2009, Punit joined the Indian Army as a gunner. Right from the outset, he stood out for his discipline and diligence. During his time at the School of Artillery in Deolali, he earned top honours in both Basic and Advanced courses – a testament to his sharp mind and technical acumen. His career progressed steadily, with postings in the 625 SATA Battery and later as Regimental Havildar Major (RHM), where he shouldered leadership responsibilities with competence and care. Eventually, he became a technical instructor – passing on his expertise to the next generation of soldiers. His superiors consistently noted his commitment and leadership, but Punit had his eyes set on a bigger dream – becoming an officer. In 2023, Punit's service extended beyond national borders when he was deployed as part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the tense Syria-Israel border. Representing India on this international platform, he earned commendation from the Force Commander – a rare and prestigious recognition that added another feather to his cap. Despite his credentials and accolades, Punit's path to becoming an officer wasn't smooth. He appeared twice for the Army's Special Commissioned Officers (SCO) entry but was unable to clear. While many might have given up, Punit refused to surrender to disappointment. On his third attempt, success finally came knocking. He cleared the selection process and earned the rank of Lieutenant, a moment that marked not just personal victory, but the fulfillment of a lifelong promise to his family and himself. Now a commissioned officer, Lieutenant Punit Mankotia's story is one of perseverance and pride. His rise from the ranks underscores a vital message – that one's origins do not limit one's destiny. He carries forward not only the legacy of his own family but also that of countless Indian soldiers who rise through merit, resolve, and sheer willpower. First Published: June 20, 2025, 20:00 IST
