Coimbatore: A pastor went up to the Adi Yogi statue today to preach about Jesus. Isha Foundation volunteers caught hold of the evangelist and handed him over to the police. He was later released after a stern warning not to repeat it.
In a video circulated in social media, the pastor, Felix Jebasingh, from Ramanathapuram, is seen walking towards the Adi Yogi statue and began preaching about Jesus. He asked the devotees present there to shun yoga and embrace Christianity. He is seen saying that Yogi and the serpent will not save those present there.
Isha Foundation spokesperson, Swami Tushya said, ” It’s not about who shouted what slogan at Adi Yogi. What’s worrisome is that people who claim to be the torchbearers of secularism, liberty and tolerance, are quiet. This incident is a testimony of the all-inclusiveness that our glorious tradition stands for. Adi Yogi stands for liberation and all-inclusiveness; hence, we don’t plan to make any complaint or take action against anybody.”
According to the spokesperson, the volunteers at the Isha Foundation gave food to the hungry pastor and took him to the consecrated holy dip, the Surya Kund, after which they accompanied the pastor to the Dhyanalinga Yogic Temple.
The temple has a Sarva Dharma Sthamba at its entrance – a stone pillar with inscriptions of all religious symbols including Christianity.
The police has said that the pastor was attempting a publicity stunt by creating the video and also sharing it in social media. When homosexuality was decriminalized by the Supreme Court, the pastor had earlier shouted slogans in a Coimbatore court saying no one should support gay marriages.
The Adi Yogi statue is a 112 feet high of Lord Shiva situated in the Isha Yoga complex which houses the Dhyanalinga in Coimbatore. It is the largest bust sculpture in the world according to the Guinness World Records.
Adi Yogi was unveiled by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017 during the Maha Shivaratri night.
