Protest against denigration of Yoga by “BierYoga” company

We at Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) have received several complaints from devout Hindus regarding the association of Yoga Asanas (poses) with beer by “BierYoga” company on the website – http://bieryoga.de/english/.

Upon reviewing the website, HJS team immediately notified and appealed to the owners requesting them to stop the distortion of Yoga by removing the denigrating Yoga-beer concept from their website, which is not in accordance with Hinduism. In the appeal, HJS explained that in Hinduism, Yoga has been referred to in the context of a path to oneness to God and not just for the body and mind. By associating alcoholic beverages such as beer, which is tamasik (spiritually impure) in nature, with Yoga denigrates the concept of Yoga. The appeal letter also tried to clarify to the owners that in the minds of the yoga practitioner, an incorrect concept of Yoga can form due to wrong behavior and hence, hinder the development of their faith in Yoga-sutra, which is most important for their spiritual progress and experiencing Divine presence.

Regrettably the HJS team has not received any response from BierYoga owners. Consequently, HJS now requests all readers to appeal against this appalling denigration of Yoga tradition peacefully and lawfully by emailing them requesting to stop the denigration of age old sacred Yoga traditions from their http://bieryoga.de/english/ website and not to make such mockery in the future.

Email: [email protected]

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Please see below the appeal letter written by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS):

|| Shree ||

Namaskar,

We at Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) have received several complaints from devout Hindus regarding the association of Yoga Asanas (poses) with beer by “BierYoga” company on the website – http://bieryoga.de/english/.

We would like to bring to your attention that promoting Yoga with beer, is incorrect and not in accordance with the tradition of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra philosophy.

In Hinduism, for thousands of years, Yoga has been referred to in the context of a path to God realization and not just for the body and mind. By associating alcoholic beverages such as beer, which is tamasik (spiritually impure) in nature, with Yoga denigrates the concept of Yoga. This is a cheap way to attract publicity and humiliates the sanctity of age old traditions.

On your website, you mentioned that it is useful to yogis who like beer. This is only a distortion of facts and humiliating to Hindu traditions. Yogis, in the true sense are highly revered and are a symbol of seekers of truth, who advance in the path of self-discipline and aspire to attain ‘moksha’ (God realization). A Yogi desires to liberate from worldly ‘Maya’ (attachments, for example, beer) but if portrayed as on your website, defeats the whole purpose of Yoga. In the minds of the yoga practitioner, an incorrect concept of Yoga can form and hence, obstruct the development of their faith in Yoga-sutra, which is most important for their spiritual growth and experiencing Divine presence and blessings.

While we commend your dedication in carrying on the Yoga practices, we also urge you to consider the above points and stop the distortion of Yoga by removing the denigrating Yoga-beer concept from your website, which is not in accordance with Hinduism.

We stress that our aim in bringing up these points is to educate and ensure that Hindu Deities and Hinduism gets accurately represented in society. Hinduism has been misrepresented and misappropriated at many levels. Though it is an ancient tradition, Hinduism has a lot to offer the modern world and we want children and adults alike to be able to understand and study it without it being misrepresented or misappropriated. You can take one step towards ensuring that Hindu Deities and Hinduism does not get disrespected by removing the denigrating concept and stop promoting them.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) is a registered NGO in India doing social, Hindu Dharma related and national welfare work. The Samiti is also active throughout the world, educating people about Hindu Dharma in a scientific way, campaigning against malpractices done as Hindu Dharma related practices and solving problems related to the misrepresentation of Hindu Dharma. For further details, please refer to our website www.HinduJagruti.org.

Awaiting your prompt action and reply.

Sincerely,
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti