Summary
of
Natha Yoga Sampradaya Seminar
In it's major event in the XXI Century YOCOCEN (International
Yoga Coordination Centre) held a Seminar from October 13th to 15th
at Parmath Niketan (Uttaranchal - India) focusing the remarkable
contribution of the Natha Yoga Sampradaya to the enhancement
of the Kaya Sadhana.
The meeting was attended by a large number of Indian scholars
a significant delegation from Brazil as well as from Spain
and the USA.
The Seminar was co-sponsored by the Uttaranchal Government by the International
Yoga Teachers Association and the Brazilian Yoga Collegiate
Dharmaparishad.
At the opening ceremony, His Holiness Swami Chiddhananda Saraswati,
spiritual leader of Parmath Niketan delivered the opening speech and told
the audience the meeting he had with Natha Yogis in his youth and stressed
the importance of this Sampradaya in the diffusion of the Indian spiritual
thought around world. He also reminded the happy coincidence of the Seminar
being held in the vicinity of Mount Neela Kanth, where Lord Shiva, the patron
of the Nathas during meditation hold in his throat the Venom that could poison
the world. Later in the afternoon Swamiji himself conducted an ”arti” at the
banks of the Ganges were all the participants of the Seminar took part in
the special "Yajna" held for them on that day.
The key note address was delivered by Dr. Vishnu Dutt Rakesh
member of the Sanskrit Academy of Uttaranchal. The lectures covered several
aspects of the Natha Yoga Tradition: Dra. Mridul Joshi (Gurukul
University) described the impact of Natha thought on Sant Literature; Dr.
S. K. Joshi (Government Ayurvedic College) explained how yogasanas
exerted acupressure on body marmas ; Dr. Rakesh Giri (Gurukul
University) focused on the Hathayogic Mudras and their organic and psychic
aspects on the practitioner; Dr. P. C. Malshe evaluated the
potential use of Hatha Yoga techniques in therapy of
coronary diseases; Professor Shantanu Chakrabortee described
the influence of meditation in the reestablishment of emotional and psychic
balance; Prof. Ishwar Bhardwaj from Haridwar University brought
some of his very young students that demonstrated an exceptional capacity
to remain in dhyana for a long period.
A relevant paper by Dr. Kunwar Narendra Pratap Singh, General
Secretary of the Hindu Federation and Gorakhpur University analyzed the relationship
between Natha and Patanjala Yoga. Acharya Vishwanatha from
Bangalore conducted two practical classes following the traditional text of
the Hatha Yoga Ratnavali. Professor Emeritus Kamalakar Mishra,
from the Benares Hindu University, delivered an outstanding lecture on the
meaning Natha Tradition in the context of Tantrism, and the role of Gorakhnatha
in triggering a socio spiritual movement and the components of advanced Hatha
Yoga.
The closing ceremony was opened by a speech of Sadvi Bhagwati Saraswati
followed by a memorable performance of a large number of Rishi Kumaras.
Finalizing the Seminar, YOCOCEN’s president Mrs.
Maria Helena de Bastos Freire requested the audience to establish
a task force to rescue the oral tradition of the Natha Yoga Sampradaya
today scattered among thousands of sannyasis and sadhus spread all over India,
reminding that these are the living force of this school.
The great success of the Seminar can be attributed to the exceptional effort
of Mrs. Sushila Sibal (Honorary Secretary of YOCOCEN
Trust) and for Dr. Vageesh Paliwal on the screening and reception
of the lectures and for the outstanding leadership and administrative abilities
of Mr. K. K. Gupta (Co-chairperson of YOCOCEN).
Besides publishing the proceedings YOCOCEN intends to encourage
Indian institutions to research on this particular subject as well as to continue
to collect manuscripts and the oral tradition of the Nathas.
Maria Helena de Bastos Freire
Chairperson
 |
 |
 |
||
| Maria
Helena, Swami Chiddhananda Saraswati, K. K. Gupta and
Professor Kamalakar Mishra - Traditional Vedic Ritual of lighting
the lamps |
Professor
Emeritus Kamalakar Mishra delivering his Lecture |
Dr.
Rakesh Dutt, Maria Helena and Yogi
Rakesh Nath Ji delivering Certificate and Memento |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
Parmarth
Niketan lunch |
Rshis
Kumaras |
Acharya
Vishwanatha conducting a morning class |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
Members
of Narayana and Lectureres |
Vageesh Paliwall, Maria Helena, K.K.
Gupta and Ruy Alfredo de Bastos Freire Filho |
Arati on the banks of the Ganga |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
|
Acharya
Vishwanatha e Maria Helena |
Acharya
Vishwanatha e Swami Rudra Dev |
Acharya
Vishwanatha, Swami Rudra Dev e Maria
Helena |