Arts or Science?

Can yoga be classified according to modern criteria?

- Dr. Hansaji J. Yogendra

A few years ago, I had taken a trip to Bangalore. All heads of yoga centers were invited to take decisions on a number of issues. One in particular required attention, which was whether the subject of yoga should come under the faculty of science or arts. In fact, this controversy still continues.

Yoga is definitely a systematic, scientific phenomenon and it is connected with the research conducted in laboratories. But it is a science of philosophy, and hence comes in the faculty of arts.

So, should yoga be part of arts or science?

Much discussion went on at the Bangalore conference. The answer we gave was that yoga is a science as well as an art, as well as everything else. It is all-encompassing. Therefore, it can be put under any faculty of study or field of knowledge.

Unfortunately, somehow in the language of modern times, yoga cannot be pigeonholed, categorized or compartmentalized. It is a very vast subject that covers a wide range of topics. It talks about life. It is the science of living.

The other point is that everything has to be proven scientifically. By 'scientific' it is meant that we must get ourselves tested under scientific instruments. Even when carrying out research, our answers should be on the lines of certain parameters, otherwise it would not be accepted as scientific research.