Syro-Malabar Church strikes sirsasana' on yoga

Kottayam: The Syro-Malabar Church has objected to the practise of yoga as a ‘spiritual relief method,’ which it says is  a physical exercise.

“The Sangh Parivar is trying to unleash Hindutva agenda through  yoga and it is against the Christian faith,” according to a report by the chairman of the Doctrinal Commission of the Church, Pala Bishop Joseph Kallarangattu.  

Taking a strong stand against  the practise of  yoga in the institutions of the Church, the report has quoted the authentic documents of the Church,  which contain references against yoga, and has asked the faithful to refrain from practising it as  'spiritual relief method.’ 

The report explains the  stand adopted by the Church forums,  including the pontifical councils, the guideline published by the Viswasa Thirusangam on    October 15, 1989 named ‘Orationis Formas’ and the document released by the Vatican in 2003 titled ‘Jesus Christ, the bearer of the water of life: A Christian reflection on the new age, ’   and says these share  the anxieties regarding yoga. 

‘Orationis Formas’ asks the faithful  not to misinterpret the physical reliefs received through  yoga as the soothing effect of the ‘Holy spirit.’

"Yoga will not get along with the Christian faith as  they  teach  contradictory lessons in the basic realms,  including that of God, sin, prayer, meditation and morality.   Under  these  circumstances,  the Church institutions should not be a venue to encourage   yoga,"  the commission says in its report.    

However, there is nothing wrong in practising it as a physical exercise.  In a reference against the Hindu ritualistic symbols adopted in  yoga, the report says that the clear godly images, world view, rituals, holy texts and pilgrim places associated with Hindu religion  make  it impossible for the conscience of  Christians  to imbibe the art form.

“The blind imitation will lead to contradictions in the religious perspective as well as in the realm of spiritual experience,” it says.

Under the subtitle ‘Theological crisis,’  the report says that the theology of yoga never goes in unison with the Catholic belief tenets.

The report maintains that most of the Christian spiritual styles were formed from the oriental  spiritual styles.  Yoga  could never be presented as a meditation style or an explanation method of divinity. The report signed by Mar Kallarangattu concludes  saying that everything being offered by  various cultures cannot be imbibed in the name of cultural synthesis.

The synod of the Syro-Malabar Church approved the policy document bypassing the opposition from the Faridabad, Chandha and Mandya dioceses.