THE CAUSE OF LOSS OF POPULARITY OF YOGA AND MEDITATION IN THE PAST

Yoga-meditation was and is the most scientific, complete, practical and effective way to maintain one's health in the best possible state and to keep away from disease. But why Yoga did not have so much popularity in the present era as was expected. The allopathy or modern medical science is still more popular today even in India, the land where Yoga was invented. Let's find out the cause of the setback that the Science of Yoga - Medication had in the last 2000 years.

The cause of this fall was repeated invasion of India from outside, imposition of foreign culture and lack of support from then existing Rolers. Starting from the Greek emperor Alexander's invasion (327BC) India had been over and again invaded by outsiders. It was Taimurlong, Lodis, Tughlaks, Babar and so on. By the time of about 500 AD Yoga got a major blow as the scriptures were burnt, gurukuls (where the students learnt Yoga from their teachers-called Gurus) were abolished and the support base was withdrawn. once the political front settled for 500 years (The Mughal Emperors became stable) there was a possibility that Yoga will become popular again but India was fragmented and so many smaller states started existing and were regularly fighting but India was fragmented and so many smaller states started existing and were regularly fighting with each other. The Yogis, Saints, Gurus thus could not promote the system as they lacked support - Government priorities being War and defense. The science could not have spread to outside countries because of it sea and the mountains - which did not allow it to travel beyond.

By the year 1500AD or so the British rulers came to India. Conversant with the modern medical science (Allopathy) the Britishers promoted drugs and surgery - which gradually became the order of the day. hospitals were opened, Medical colleges were established. The most important advantage to the Modern medical science was the organized way of spreading, more and more scientific research, growing manpower training and infrastructure. Yoga science remained dormant and was followed by only a few.

The Rise in the Popularity of Yoga-meditation again:

Though the medical science could understand and analyze the Body functions, organs, their pathology, the bacteria that cause the infection - they invented new drugs, used surgery after putting anesthetics in the brain and tremendous progress. They went deeper and deeper into the chemical structure, metabolism, hormones using the most modern gadgets - and achieved remarkable results. But they failed in one field very badly - that is to understand the brain mechanisms and production of stress. They could not even measure stress - even by using the most sophisticated equipments. Even, now the medical science does not know and understand 90% of the Brain's functioning.  

Since the Modern Medical Science did not have adequate information about brain - they could not give medical solutions to Stress and stress related diseases. They failed to give suggestions to keep the brain healthy. They failed miserably in solving the diseases which originate at the brain or are greatly influenced by it. All they tried was to nullify the effects of the stress hormones and manufactured drugs to maintain the body normal when stress created its effects. The Psychosomatic diseases grew by leaps and bounds cause remaining unchecked and undetected.

The main central station of the body - the mind/brain/cerebral cortex/emotional cortex, or whatever you call them - was out of their reach. All they could invent were some sleeping tablets, excitatory and depressive drugs. They tried to get Antacids to nullify acids in the stomach, anti blood pressure drugs to lower the blood pressure and so on. All these medicines had their side effects. The surgical means also failed. They could control the disease by giving temporary relief - by producing tons of chemicals (naturally the drug companies did very well).

The same people in the west - who once invented the Medical science, tablets and surgery have realized the complications and side effects of these drugs-chemicals intended to cure diseases and the surgeries being carried out and are looking for better alternatives. Many of them have adopted the ancient way of Yoga and Meditation as a non invasive way to deal with ill health in the last few decades. Now as the Modern Medical Science studies Yoga and Meditation in great depth more and more facts are emerging which support the beneficial effects of Yoga on the human body and mind. This has made yoga more acceptable and popular.

                                                                     

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This article is written by Dr. Bimal Chhajer (Best Heart Doctor in Delhi NCR)