Yoga, even though it originated in India, does not belong to the country anymore and became India's gift to the world when the UN proclaimed the International Day of Yoga, renowned spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev has said.


"We must understand that yoga is not an Indian (thing). If you want to call yoga Indian, then you must call gravity European," Sadhguru said at a panel discussion organised here yesterday by India's Permanent Mission to the UN on the eve of the second International Yoga Day.


Sadhguru said even though the idea of commemorating the International Yoga Day was mooted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was "almost like the world was waiting for it" when 177 nations supported the UN resolution proclaiming June 21 as International Day of Yoga.


"Yoga is "not about you versus me. This is why I said yoga is not Indian because a science cannot be Indian. Yes, yoga originated from India and as Indians we are proud of it but it does not belong to India," he said during the panel discussion 'Conversation with Yoga Masters' that also featured Tao Porchon-Lynch, 97-year-old Yoga Master and activist.