We live in an age of intense competition, and commotion pervades our lives in almost every
sphere of modern society.In this age, technology and science have made things remarkable for mankind.Whether it is the invention of railways, space-exploration, the advancement in
biotechnology or even the invention of computers, and telecommunications; life is not the same as it were a thousand years ago. The twenty-first century is truly a different era in human history.

What truly is life if one may ask? Many say -A successful career, wealth ( Cars, Bungalow,
Assets), a great vocation which is fruitful and loved ones with a similar worldview. Our
conditioning and belief systems are shaped based on language, culture, ethnography and many social factors of one’s geography. It is what we refer to as a contemporary society, based on scientific temperament and shared values.A nation can also be a subset and amalgamation of these value systems.

The West has always believed in the advancement of civilization, and progressive outlook of
one’s social milieu. Worldviews are different among cultures.There is always a polarity between the views of the Occident and the Orient. The westerner may perceive life to be a construct, whereas someone from India may believe life to be a play or perhaps in Chinaone may perceive life evolving like an organism. These approaches, as to how we perceive the world becomes very important to live our lives every day.

It is the age of physics and scientific laws, where logic and empiricism define the contours of one’s action.This is our modern world.We are progressive and yet materialistic in this
competitive world, but most people are living a life only from the physical standpoint.We might have comforts and material advancement, but we do need to ask ourselves -is life only about the physical nature?

Life in India, the birthplace of Yoga, was very different a thousand years ago.We had the Yogic system of living and India was the place, where mystics and sages preserved this ancient knowledge and wisdom.Today, although we have made advancement and progress in science and technology there is still misery and unhappiness in modern life.It is called the ‘Kali Yuga’.According to Hinduism, Yugas can be divided into four Subyugas- Satya subyuga , Treta subyuga , Dwapara Subyuga and Kali Subyuga . These Yugas are transitional in nature. It also referred to as a period in the journey of time.These Yugas are a cycle of 12,960 years and their transitional periods are called ‘Sandhis’.

TheKali Yuga is considered the last and final yuga, as for each time cycle, and also with the shortest span of years. It is said according to legend, that after the war of Kurukshetra when Lord Krishna left his body, the ‘Kali Yuga’ began. It is the rotation of the earth’s axis which passes through one full cycle of the zodiac.It is told that we still have another seventy years to complete ‘Dwapara Yuga’ and eventually moving on towards the ‘Treta subyuga’.We also believe that the system is not moving towards the center of the orbit, but somewhere along the side. When this transition happens, and the solar system gets closer to the ‘Great Sun’, human consciousness and intelligence would blossom and go further ahead. It is the actual interplay and symbiosis between the microcosm and macrocosm.The epic ‘Mahabharata’, is a reflection of how we human beings have always had a preconceived notion of life, and coming to terms with one’s true self-was never easy.It is the constant battle between the senses and the soul. The scriptures in the Upanishads show us a path, and it is for us to decipher the actual meaning by understanding the true essence of life.

Yoga is not just a spiritual practice but a way of life.It is not so much a doctrine or a philosophy, but a path to liberation.The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the forms of practice are still relevant in this age.Most people practice Yoga to solve their problems and use it as a tool for physical fitness, but Yogis have outlined the uses and benefits of Yoga not just for physical health, but also for spiritual and mental well-being. It is for each of us to take this path of Yoga seriously and understand it not just from a physical standpoint, but more-so, with an intense spiritual quest and love for life.Worldly success cannot satisfy us completely. Power, wealth and fame do not survive death. This disillusionment and agony stem from not understanding the nature of the self, and the self-satisfying nature of human desire.

Yoga liberates us from these shackles and enables one to view the world in a whole new
perspective. The aim of Yoga is to throw light on life.With the practice of Yoga, the sensory
power diminishes and intuitive awareness penetrates the layers of the subconscious and
unconscious mind.The true nature of ‘Atman’and ‘Brahman is the greatest understanding of the supreme reality, as described in the Upanishads.Yoga is a path which transforms this stream of consciousness in all human beings, who pass through the various yugas in time.

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