Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
as Chief Guest of
International Yoga Day Celebration,
organized by Sarala Birla University, Ranchi,
on 21st June 2021

In June 2021 some States of India were under strict lockdown in order to prevent
uncontrollable spread of the Covid Pandemic. Therefore the Seventh International Yoga Day,
on Monday, 21st June 2021, was celebrated by the Sarala Birla University, Ranchi,
via Video Conference. Ranchi is the Capital city of the Indian State of Jharkhand.
On 15th June 2021 Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, had received a phone call from a nice person, Mr. K.R.R. Parashar,
Assistant Professor of Yoga and Naturopathy, Sarala Birla University, Ranchi, and Co-Convenor
of the International Yoga Day Celebration. He invited Swami Vishveshwarananda heartily
to be the honourable Chief Guest of their Function and to address the Professors of their University and its many Students, on the topic of Yoga, via Video Conference,
in the morning of 21st June 2021. Swamiji kindly agreed.

From the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Muni-ki-reti, Rishikesh,
Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati attended the International Yoga Day Celebration with the Sarala Birla University (SBU), Ranchi, via Video Conference.
Swamiji was first heartily welcomed as the Chief Guest of this Function by the Honourable
Vice Chancellor SBU, Ranchi, Prof. Dr. Gopal Pathak. Afterwards Miss Kavita Kumari,
Assistant Professor, Department of English SBU, Ranchi, very nicely and comprehensively introduced His Holiness Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati to all participants
with a beautiful and fluent English.

After he was introduced, Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji - via Video Conference - heartily greeted and addressed the honourable Vice Chancellor, Professors and Students
of the Sarala Birla University, Ranchi.
Then Swamiji threw light upon the relevance and importance of Yoga in daily life.
He mentioned different types of Yoga, like Hatha Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga
and Bhakti Yoga. Swami Vishveshwarananda emphasized strongly, that, though nowadays
Hatha Yoga has gained a lot of popularity all over the world, one should be aware, that,
if Hatha Yoga is not practised with the background Consciousness of the Divine,
it can become a mere physical exercise. Swamiji further clearly explained, that only that,
which has God as basis and Union with God as aim, is a real Yoga, no matter which outer form
or name it is having. Every work, even simple works like driving, household-works, etc.,
can become Yoga with a divine attitude and divine aim.
The interesting and thought provoking words by Swami Vishveshwarananda on Yoga and
its real Essence, were very much appreciated by the Participants of the Video Conference on
the Seventh International Yoga Day Celebration, organized by Sarala Birla University, Ranchi.

On the next day, Tuesday, 22nd June 2021, many newspapers from Ranchi covered the
Seventh International Yoga Day Celebration by Sarala Birla University, Ranchi, on 21st June 2021,
with photos of Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda. Swamiji's address as the Chief Guest
was also mentioned.