The solar eclipse is a magnificent cosmic event that holds great significance for our spiritual journey and advancement
Yoga of the Lunar Eclipse
Important: some dos and donts for lunar eclipse (To my students I will send you more detailed personalized ritual details)
Dos and Don’ts for Lunar Eclipse: Following the Ancient Rituals and Purifying the Self
During a lunar or solar eclipse, certain regions of the world are affected, and to honor this event, we must follow the prescribed rituals as laid out in the scriptures. Our esteemed gurus advocate for embracing the sanctity of the occasion and abiding by the following practices:
The Shikshãpatri, a revered text, commands us to stop all activities at the time of the eclipse and chant the name of God in a purified state. After the eclipse, householders must bathe with their clothes on and then donate according to their means.
The Purãnas tells the story of how the eclipse came into existence, narrating how during the churning of the ocean by the gods and demons, the nectar of immortality was produced, and a demon named Rãhu, disguising himself as a god, drank it. Thus, when God beheaded Rãhu, he became a planet, and during certain times of the year, he holds the sun and moon by his mouth (Grahan), causing solar and lunar eclipses.
The rules to follow before, during, and after an eclipse are as follows:
Before the eclipse, one must not eat for 12 hours before the solar eclipse begins and for 9 hours before the lunar eclipse begins. During this period, one must not offer meals to God, but one can perform arti, pray, and sing devotional songs. If the solar eclipse occurs before sunrise, one may see the eclipse only after the sun has risen, and in this case, one must not eat after sunset the previous night.
During the eclipse, one must sit in one place, chant the name of God, and sing devotional songs. One must also observe a waterless fast while the eclipse is in progress.
After the eclipse, one must bathe immediately with clothes on and preferably with cold water. The Satsangijivan recommends offering donations according to one’s income, as this expresses one’s joy at the release of the Sun and/or Moon god from Rãhu’s grasp. Sadhus rejoice by performing puja.
To remain pure during the eclipse, one must get rid of extra cooked food, and not touch anything such as clothes, food, personal items, etc. After the eclipse, one must not touch anyone, and if one has touched anything by mistake, it must be purified by washing or by sprinkling water over it.
It is crucial to take a bath after an eclipse as darkness during the eclipse symbolizes impurity. Once the eclipse is over, light returns to the earth, and to rejoice, one must cleanse the impurity that darkness brought, worship God, and offer donations to express happiness.
We must also remember that we are all engulfed by an eclipse in the form of mãy, and purifying ourselves on this occasion will enable us to transcend this illusory world and reach the ultimate goal of yoga. Let us embrace the sacredness of the lunar eclipse and follow these ancient rituals to purify ourselves and connect with the divine.
Maha Mantra Om Namah Shivay “The Maha Panchakshari Mantra”
Maha Mantra Om Namah Shivay “The Maha Panchakshari Mantra” is the great Vedic mantra to achieve awakenings, enlightenment and moksh. Many believe that this 5 Letter Mantra had the power to even Save you from Hell and the affects of bad karma.
Om Namah Shivay mantra generates a very high energy. These waves enhance human intelligence to the optimum level. Chanting Om Namah Shivay slowly during Meditation gives Harmony, Concentration, and strength.
Rig Veda defined Supreme being as Maharudra. Bhagwan Shiv ji symbolizes the Maharudra (रुदन रोकने वाला ) means the one who wipes out the tears. If a yogi chants the mantra with true devotion towards Sachidanand, their mind, body, and soul go through the transcendental phase, and they can even switch to higher dimensions of reality .
The Mantra
ॐ नमः शिवाय:
Direct Translation: Adoration to Bhagwan shiv ji
The mantra focuses on Bhagwan shiv ji who is understood to be the god of all yogis and the god of yoga along with being the god of time and also the god who gives moksh. The repetition of the mantra is such that the last syllable of the mantra is the doorway to Shiva-consciousness, moving from the end to a new beginning.
Om Namah Shivay is Panchakshari mantra excluding Omkar (primary cosmic vibration) . Namah Shivay attached with the five essential elements of the materialistic world NA – MA -SI – VA – YA.
Na Earth Element (Prithvi Tattva)
Ma Water Element (Jal Tattva)
Si Fire element (Agni Tattva)
Va Air element (Vayu Tattva)
Ya Space element (Akasha Tattva)
ॐ नमः शिवाय mantra chanting brings transcendental changes to the body of the chanter. Yogis all around the world are busy in chanting the auspicious mantra through which they have increased their abilities to infinite levels.
It means that those particular yogis have connected themselves with the primary nature of the existence which is Prakriti or sublime energy flow. Goddess Shakti resides in that energy flow and takes you to the Shiva. It is a remarkable ancient science of Yogis based on logistic realities. If chanted correctly, mantra helps chanter to get connected with Bhagwan shiv ji. Connecting to Shiva means going to self-healing mode. It is the ultimate state of the eternal blissfulness.
Yogeshwara Shiv is Mahadev, in simple terms supreme god of gods. The one who doesn’t have any start and end. Everything emerges from him and in the end, gets dissolve in him. Therefore, Shiva is unique; there is no one like Shiv, the immortal one, Unconquerable, the greatest Aghor, infinite, omniscient, greatest transformer, Adi Purusha.
The benefits of chanting Om Namah Shivay
The Mantra is Moksha Giver and stabilizes your thoughts – The Chanting of Om Namah Shivay is not just moksha giving mantra; It also enlightens, our inner thoughts process and improves blood circulation on the neurons. In medical term, this concept is called neuroplasticity .
Mantra makes you feel Light – Lord Shiva is highly auspicious, When someone chants Om Namah Shivay, At that moment he becomes AGHORI. Ghor means extreme and, AGhor (Not Ghor) means the one who is not extreme. That’s how Shiva makes you feel light inside your heart. A significant vibration originates in the subconsciousness part of the mind which gives the feeling of internal ecstasy. Om Namah Shivay mantra benefits that the Continuous repetition of the divine mantra is the way toward perennial joy.
Om Namah Shivay helps in controlling Senses and anxieties Neelkantham is Vairagya founder (Means founder of Dispassion). Shiva Kaam Bhasmam (Destroyer of eroticism ) makes you qualify to control your senses and nerves. The deity of eroticism (Kaam Dev) will not influence you.
Om Namah Shivay gives calmness to your mind Shiva holds moon crescent on his head. It impacts chanter body When somebody starts Om Namah Shivaay chanting. It cools his/her mind and helps them to get peace of mind, persistence, and calmness especially when everything is going against you.
Om Namah Shivay increases the happiness chemical which is known as GABA chemical. Lack of Gaba chemical reduces the natural sleep within humans. People who lack such chemical always feel exhausts. The frontal area of the human brain is in the Orbito prefrontal cortex which is responsible for making decisions, problem-solving and awakening the consciousness gets charged.
Students get the immense benefit of improving memory power after the Om Namah Shivaya chanting. Therefore if your kid is suffering from low memory power, advice them to chant the mantra for 15 mins every day. Chanting Om Namah Shivay mantra gives you eternal joy and the great Bhagwan shiv ji becomes your protector, Every kind of panic, stress, depression, insanity starts fading slowly, when you begin Om Namah Shivay chanting. Himself becomes the protector of the chanter.
Om Namah Shivay mantra makes you free from your animal passion and rude behavior. It grows positive energy in you which improves your body metabolism and reduces the toxicity of the body. You will start feeling the reduction in your aggression and anger. These changes will require 25-30 days. You require to practice mantra with high reverence on Shiv at least two times daily. Slowly – Slowly Internal and external Changes start appearing It activates the inactive neurons of the brain cell. Your body and skin start getting glow and shine by tightening up your pores automatically in a natural way. Om Namah Shivaya is a powerful maha-mantra.
The Continuous 108-time repetition is more beneficial to get Siddhis and It is helpful in awakening Kundalini Yoga Shakti.
Health Benefits of Om Namah Shivay
•improves your blood circulation and stabilizes heartbeat.
•Mantra can even enhance your blood purification system.
•Chanting the mantra also purifies your rationalizing process which improves your physiological as well as intellectual well-being.
•It also heals your sorrows, emotional pain and takes you out of the darkness and show the positivity of life.
•It also reduces the chances of heart strokes and organ failure.
It spreads positivity in your house Worshipping Shiva in the home brings happiness into the family. Shiva & Shakti both get established in that house. You start understanding others problem and becomes ever ready to give helping hand to others. Moreover that, Moral values will start growing in the kids. Positive vibes will get emitting from that house and from the people living in that house. Chanting Om Namah Shivaya makes the law of attraction works better in your favor.
The Power of Om Namah Shivaya is that it can free you from your past sins. The Mantra helps you to invoke [ AtmyaGyan – Atman ] What most of the people don’t know is that almighty Shiva is known for his simplicity and guiltless nature. This mantra helps you to get connected with supreme consciousness. Every substance including deities is the manifestation of Shiva’s energy. Chanting Om Namah Shivay is like worshipping the primary elements of nature means invoking your inner Shiva.
Importance of 108
Welcome to the sacred knowledge about the importance of 108. The mala, consisting of 108 beads, holds great importance in the practice of yoga and meditation. Although there are numerous explanations for the number 108, none are superior or inferior to the others.
108 is a Harshad number, a number that is divisible by the sum of its digits. The Sanskrit term for Harshad is “great joy.”
In mortals, there are said to be 108 earthly desires and 108 lies. The chakras, energy intersections in the body, have 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra, and the path to self-realization lies in Sushumna, one of the energy lines leading to the crown chakra.
The Sri Yantra, which has 108 points, as well as the human body, has 54 intersections where three lines meet, each having shiva and shakti aspects.
There are 108 human delusions or forms of ignorance, and 108 marmas in the subtle body. When reciting mantras on the mala, it is essential to remember the mantra with sincerity, devotion, feeling, and full attention.
In the practice of counting the number of repetitions of the mala, 100 beads are counted as completed, with the remaining 8 beads being offered to god and guru and used to cover errors or omissions.
Some say there are 108 feelings, with 36 related to the past, present, and future. The numbers 1, 0, and 8 have symbolic meanings, with 1 representing higher truth, 0 representing emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 representing infinity or eternity.
The diameter of the sun is 108 times the diameter of the earth, while the average distance of the moon from the earth is 108 times the diameter of the moon.
Lastly, 108 is believed to refer to the number of Hindu deities, with each having 108 names. It is also said that there are 108 paths to god, and 108 styles of meditation. Let the knowledge of 108 inspire your spiritual practice and guide you on your journey toward self-realization.
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra reads:
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्
om tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭivardhanam
urvārukamiva bandhanānmṛtyor mukṣīya maamṛtāt
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is a powerful chant that is believed to have originated from Rigveda. It is considered to be one of the most potent mantras for healing and is chanted to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva, the three-eyed Lord who sees everything, both visible and invisible. The mantra seeks the Lord’s protection from disease, death, and all forms of suffering.
The mantra begins with the sacred syllable “Om,” which is a mystical symbol of the universe and the divine. The word “Tryambakam” refers to Lord Shiva, who is known as the three-eyed one. The next line, “Yajamahe,” is an expression of worship, adoration, and reverence.
“Sugandhim” means fragrant and is a reference to the Lord’s sweet-smelling nature. “Pushthivardhanam” refers to the Lord’s nourishing and life-giving qualities. The Lord is seen as a good gardener who takes care of all his creations, making them thrive and prosper.
The line “Urvārukamiva” compares the Lord’s protective powers to that of a cucumber, which is shielded by its strong vine. The Lord’s protection is believed to be as powerful as the vine that holds the cucumber. “Bandhanān” means bound down, and with “Mṛtyormukṣīya,” it means “liberate from the bounds of death.”
The last line, “Māmṛtāt,” can be interpreted in different ways. One interpretation is “Free me from death but not from immortality,” implying that the mantra seeks protection from death but not necessarily eternal life. Another interpretation is “Give me some life-rejuvenating nectar,” which implies that the mantra seeks the blessings of the Lord for a healthy and long life.
The origin of this secret mantra is steeped in mythology, with Rishi Markandeya being the only one in the world who knew it. Legend has it that the Moon was once in trouble and cursed by King Daksha. Rishi Markandeya gave the Mahamritryunjaya Mantra to Sati, Daksha’s daughter, for the Moon’s well-being.
The mantra is also known as the Rudra mantra, symbolizing the furious aspect of Lord Shiva. The Tryambakam mantra alludes to Shiva’s three eyes and is sometimes called the Mrita-Sanjivini mantra, as it forms a part of the life-restoring practice given to the primordial sage Sukracharya.
The Mahamritryunjaya Mantra is a potent tool for seekers of yoga and spirituality. It has found its place in the Vedas and holds within it the essence of the divine. So let us invoke the blessings of the three-eyed Lord Shiva and elevate our consciousness to new heights.
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, a sacred and powerful invocation to Lord Shiva, is renowned for its benefits to mental, emotional, and physical health. This moksha mantra is believed to grant longevity and immortality, and to protect against untimely death.
When chanted, the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra imbues the practitioner with energy and guidance from the divine, while reconnecting the consciousness to its true nature. This transformative practice is known as Japa, which involves the repetition of the mantra and leads to greater concentration and awareness.
The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra can be used in various ways, including during the smearing of Vibhuti over various parts of the body, as well as in Japa or Homa (havan) to manifest desired results. While the Gayatri Mantra serves to purify and guide spiritually, the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra provides healing, rejuvenation, and nurturance to the practitioner.
What does Siddhartha mean
सिद्धार्थ – that’s how we write SIDDHARTHA in Hindi/Sanskrit through the Devanagari script. Following is how this powerful name came into existence.
Noun: सिद्धार्थ (siddhā-rtha)
- “He who has fulfilled the object (of his coming)”
- Name of the great Buddha from shakya clan (Siddhartha).
- One of the names for Bhagwan Shiv among his sahastra naam
Adjective सिद्धार्थ (siddhā-rtha)
- One who has accomplished an aim or object, successful, prosperous
- Leading to the goal, efficient, efficacious
- One whose aim or intention is known
” was the original name of Buddha and a name which is formed of two words “Sidh” whose meaning is “perfect” and “Artha” whose meaning is “purpose” both are from the language of Sanskrit and combined they mean “the one who perfects ( sidh ) his purpose ( artha )”.
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“Sidh” whose meaning is that which “achieves” and that which is “perfect” then expands and becomes “Siddha” whose meaning is “perfected” and “supernatural” and this is then seen in “Siddhanta” whose meaning is “the end ( anta ) of perfection ( siddha )”.
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“Sidh” also becomes “Siddhi” whose meaning is “perfection” “skill” and “art” and this is seen in the “Asta Siddhis” which are the “eight ( asta ) perfections ( siddhi )” yogis who can become “larger than a planet” and “smaller than an atom”.
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“Siddha” whose meaning is “perfection” can be seen in this verse from the Gita where “Siddhaye” and “Siddhanam” are translated as “perfection” the Gita spoken over 5000 years ago, long before the appearance of Buddha and the language of Pali.
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“Out of the many thousands among men, one may endeavour for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.” Gita 7.3
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“Sidh” expresses that which “binds one ( si ) to the motion ( h ) of light ( d )” as in the “light of the soul” as in the “light of illumination” while its secondary meanings of “beatitude” and “perfection” are an expression of mystical and spiritual states.
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As it journeys to other languages “Sidh” is seen throughout Europe as “Sidus” a word from Latin whose meanings are “star” “group of stars” and “constellation” and “Sidereal” whose meaning is “starry” “astral” and that which belongs to the “constellations”.
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Around the early 17th century Gallileo wrote his “Sidereus Nuncius” whose meaning was the “message from the stars” a message which announced his “clusters ( si ) of light ( d )” all of which move around the satellites of Jupiter thus proving the rotation of planets around the stars.
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“Sidh” expresses the nature of Sanskrit, which expresses the nature of the Vedas, which expresses the nature of the divine, and this can be seen in words such as “Consider” whose meaning is to “observe ( con ) the stars ( sidus )” and also “Desire” which means to “long for ( de ) the stars ( sidus )”.
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These words from the Ancient language of Sanskrit go back in time over 5000 years, long before the 2500 year old date for Panini, long before the 3500 year old date for the stone tablets of Armana, long before the 4000 year old date for the disappearance of Sarasvati, and long before Buddhism and the language of Pali.
Post courtesy: James Robinson Cooper
Everyone says they do meditation, but what is this thing called meditation?
Meditation, it’s not sitting in a posture, it is actually trying to concentrate on a particular thing. It could be your guru who you love a lot. Meditation is a practice in which an individual trains the mind or induces a mode of consciousness, for the mind to acknowledge its content without becoming identified with that content.
The term meditation refers to a broad variety of practices that includes techniques designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy or life force and develop compassion, love, patience, generosity and forgiveness. Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation is often used to clear the mind and ease many health concerns, such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety. It may be done sitting, or in an active way ; for instance, Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training.
Meditation has many benefits as it affects you physiologically, psychologically and also spiritually. It means a person who meditates, not only has a good sharp mind, with a great will power but the person is also physiologically sound with all the bodily functions working in harmony. By quoting spiritually, a person develops a knack of forgiving anyone for the mistakes, a person become enlightened. This level of enlightenment can only be achieved if a person meditates.
A person can do Breath awareness meditation, Mantra meditation. When you inhale breath, try to feel it, and then try to feel the way it exhales from the body. In the whole process of inhaling and exhaling, thoughts will come in the mind. Just acknowledge the thoughts and smile on it and then try to focus again on the breath. It will improve one’s concentration and patience.
Another simple technique is to close your eyes and try to see the image of guru or god. The whole purpose is to concentrate on the image. Random thoughts will definitely bother you but just smile on it. Meditation is something which can be done anytime and anywhere. It is not about closing eyes and sitting. It can be done by opening your eyes. But by closing eyes it becomes easier for the person to concentrate while cutting all the distractions. A relaxed peaceful mind can do wonders and this can only be achieved if we meditate!
Yoga For Horoscopes
Welcome to mantra and aasana series for horoscopes. In the Olden days yoga was not just practiced by itself but it was practiced under a guru in the ancient system of Gurukul. Here the sadhak or the shishya was not just taught yoga but also Ayurveda, Vedic astrology, vastu shastra along with various other important topics which were related to the human mind, the society, country the universe and such other matters.
We wanted to share the mysticism of mantra, asana, the main element of that horoscope along with the planet having a direct impact on it and the polarity the specific horoscope bends towards…
How to achieve Yoga
Yoga means union with God. The state of yoga is impossible to attain without the blessings of Lord Shiva. It needs a concentrated and focussed mind. There are some specific spots in the human body concentrating upon which, enables a man to attain the state of yoga-spot between the eyebrows, lower part of the throat, Navel and six inches above it etc.
The state of yoga can never be attained until and unless a person has fully controlled the tendencies of sense organs. It can be achieved with the help of eight means-Yama (Penance), Niyam (discipline), Aasan (Posture), Pranayam (Breath-control), Pratyahar (restraint of passion), Dharan (retention), Dhyan (concentration) and Samadhi (deep meditation). Each of them holds an important position in the path of yoga.
Describing about the methods of performing yoga, in Linga Purana Sutji says – “A person should sit with his legs crossed in Padmasan and try to concentrate his mind by fixing his gaze between his eyebrows. He should keep his spine erect. He should meditate either on the form of Omkar or on the form of lord Shiva. Breath control is an important aspect of yogic exercise. A man should exhale deeply for 32 times and then breathe in deeply. He should then retain his breath as long as possible and visualize lord Shiva within his body. By constant practice he will achieve mastery over this art and a time will come when he will experience divine bliss. This divine bliss can not be experienced unless one has attained a deep state of meditation (Samadhi).”
Obstacles in the Path of Yoga –
A man experiences numerous obstacles in the path of Yoga-laziness, restlessness confusion, a diseased body etc. The main reason for being lazy is a bulky physique and one’s inability to concentrate his mind. Lack of concentration results in restlessness, which is a major obstacle in the path of yoga. If a person in unsure about the results he becomes confused. It is impossible for a person suffering from any disease to concentrate his mind.
All the above mentioned hurdles can be overcome by firm resolution. A man who has successfully overcome all these obstacles might experience other obstacles in the form of siddhis (divine powers). There is a real danger of getting lured by these divine powers. As a result his mind may get distracted from his original goal and he may deviate from his path. The names of these siddhis or divine powers are-Pratibha (having knowledge of past present & future incident), Shravan (being capable of listening to abnormal sounds), Varta (whatever is said becomes true), Darshana (capable of seeing things which can mot be seen by the mortal eyes), Aaswada (being capable of experiencing divine (tastes), Vedana (being capable of relieving other’s pain by a mere touch). If a person successfully overcomes all these allurements then he becomes a siddha- or man of accomplishment and divine powers.!!
Important things to know before selecting a yoga course
Things are the most important factors to know for anyone before taking up any yoga course…
– How authentic is the teacher?
This can be seen by reading his/her history, asking about their family/guru lineage, the traditions they follow and then doing your own conclusive research about what’s been shared with you…
– What subject is being taught?
There are various subjects which have such important relevance. So much so, that without their knowledge you can’t even be considered to be practicing yoga, but there is lack of awareness about them in the west due to the limited knowledge even today. This doesn’t let a person fully grow in yoga, as they aren’t aware of these subjects. These subjects can add depth to your existing yoga and might be very important for not just your own growth but might have a direct impact on the evolution of your students Incase you’re an existing teacher…
– Can this subject be found in the original transcriptions and scripts of yoga or is it a filtered or toned down or a deviated subject given to you? Authenticity of text is important as these are time and character tested methodology. They are accepted as universal truths because they can be applied to anyone, from any region, at any time!
Adding to that, I would also say it’s important that whose commentary is being taught. Try to avoid as less change of wording in the manual as possible, the more hands it has passed the more away from Subject of yoga it became! All texts existed predominantly in Sanskrit, then were translated to Hindi or other local language, then to English, then to your local language and then someone added their own colour to it, in the end it ended up being just the shadow of what existed.
I would like to say the “best teacher and course” is a subjective matter and indeed in this aspect there can’t be a single best! However having said that, we are talking about yoga and when we talk of yoga guiding a person or giving guidelines to person so that they can have access to the best quality of teachings is the most fundamental aspect and we have to be responsible and truthful about!
Even though today it does act as a parameter of quality of a teaching but the past graduates testimonials also doesn’t speak much. For example if I have zero knowledge of yoga and only 1% of authentic knowledge was provided to me, I will consider that as wholesome 100% and write very nicely about the school and the teacher. This is totally misleading and I can vouch that some leading names have do not teach authentically.
Now the question about whether the question of if the teacher is from India, this is directly relevant to the question of which course to take, even today there are many families in India who have been following and practicing yoga for over 1000 generations and this can not be replaced even with a lifetime of studies as many things in yoga come from real life situation experience after applying the wisdom of the books applied generation after generation. However I would also say that many Indians have compromised for the sake of money, this is why it becomes important to check their guru/family lineage.
Let me at this point also talk of moral and ethical issues, as an indian you would never go for yoga alliance for the reason that no American association can verify and certify an indian cultural practice and those who’ve done the certification of the alliances are simply in it for the money, as a matter of fact there is no body which can measure if you have achieved yoga, so measuring or certifying it becomes impossible. Adding to that there is literally only one certification body in the world recognised by any government and that is authorised by the ministry of yoga in India and is not yoga alliance America or even the Indian chapter of yoga alliance…
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