Hello

I am Gijo Vijayan, blogger, author and entrepreneur. Om 15th Feb 2026, I participated in Shivrathri celebrations @ Isha yoga centre coimbatore. It was a great experience for me.

It was a rare experince for me. More than half a million people from across India participated in this great event.

“Jaggi” Vasudev , also known as Sadhguru, is an Indian guru and founder of the Isha Foundation, based in Coimbatore, India. The foundation, established in 1992, operates an ashram and yoga centre that carries out educational and spiritual activities. Sadhguru has been teaching yoga since 1982. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy and Karma: A Yogi’s Guide to Crafting Your Destiny, and a frequent speaker at international forums.

Sadhguru also advocates for protecting the environment against climate change, leading many initiatives like Project GreenHands (PGH), Rally for Rivers, Cauvery Calling, and the Journey to Save Soil. In 2017, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, for his contributions to spirituality and humanitarian services.

Isha Foundation:

Isha Foundation is a nonprofit spiritual and educational organization founded by Sadhguru in 1992. Based in Coimbatore, India, it offers yoga programs and social outreach initiatives rooted in classical Indian yogic traditions. The foundation has gained global visibility for promoting inner well-being and environmental sustainability.

Key facts
Founded: 1992

Founder: Sadhguru (Jaggi Vasudev)

Headquarters: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Primary focus: Yoga, spirituality, environment, education

Notable center: Isha Yoga Center and the Adiyogi Shiva statue

Mission and Philosophy
Isha Foundation aims to foster individual transformation and societal well-being through yoga and meditation. Its programs are based on Sadhguru’s teachings, emphasizing inner balance and self-awareness. The organization operates under the principle that personal growth and ecological responsibility are interconnected.

The foundation’s main hub, the Isha Yoga Center, hosts programs such as Inner Engineering, designed to align mind, body, and energy. It also includes the Dhyanalinga, a unique meditation space open to people of all faiths. Internationally, Isha operates centers in the United States, Europe, and other regions to extend its reach.

Social and Environmental Initiatives
Isha runs several large-scale projects including Project GreenHands, focused on reforestation; Action for Rural Rejuvenation, offering healthcare and community development in villages; and Isha Vidhya, which provides affordable education in rural India. These initiatives integrate spirituality with tangible social impact.

Recognition and Influence
Isha Foundation has been recognized globally for its environmental and spiritual outreach. The Adiyogi Shiva statue, unveiled in 2017, symbolizes the source of yoga and is among the world’s largest bust sculptures. The foundation’s blend of ancient wisdom with contemporary relevance has attracted millions of followers worldwide.

Key Features

Dhyanalinga: A unique, consecrated meditative space inside a large pillar-less dome, designed to support deep meditation and inner reflection.

Spanda Hall: A large meditation and program hall used for residential programs.

Adiyogi Statue: Close by is the 34-m tall Adiyogi Shiva statue — recognized as one of the world’s largest busts — symbolizing the origin of yoga.

Isha Rejuvenation Centre: Offers programs combining ancient yogic practices with health and wellness therapies.

Isha Home School: A residential school on the campus that integrates life skills with education.

🧘 Experiences & Programs

The Centre runs meditation and yoga programs, including Inner Engineering and advanced residential retreats.

People visit for self-development, meditation, silence, and spiritual practices amid serene hills and forests.

It also hosts events and celebrations like the annual Mahashivratri gathering attracting thousands of visitors and global viewers.

🛶 Visiting & Stay

Located about 30 km west of Coimbatore, which is accessible by road, rail, and air.

Accommodation is available on the campus (book through the official site), though advance booking is recommended.

Facilities on site include cafes, meditation spaces, and areas for spiritual practices.

The Adiyogi Shiva bust is a 34-metre-tall (112 ft), 45-metre-long (147 ft) and 25-metre-wide (82 ft) steel bust of Shiva with Thirunamam at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the “Largest Bust Sculpture” in the world. Designed by Sadhguru, the founder and head of the Isha Foundation, the statue weighs around 500 tonnes (490 long tons; 550 short tons).

Adiyogi refers to Shiva as the first yogi. It was established to inspire people towards inner well-being through yoga.

Description
“This face is not a deity or temple, this is an iconic inspiration. In pursuit of the divine, you don’t have to look up because it is not somewhere else. Each of the 112 possibilities is a method to experience the divine within you. You just have to pick one. The idea is not to build one more monument but to use it as a galvanizing force towards self-transformation.”

Sadhguru on the purpose of the statue.
Adiyogi is located at the Isha Yoga Centre. Its height, 112 ft, symbolizes the 112 possibilities to attain to moksha (liberation) that are mentioned in yogic culture, and also the 112 chakras in the human system. A linga named Yogeshwara Linga was consecrated and placed in front of the statue. The Indian Ministry of Tourism has included the statue in its official Incredible India tourism campaign. It is also the venue of a light and sound show about Shiva as a yogi, inaugurated by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.

My Visit to Isha Yoga Centre:

I always wanted to Visit Isha foundation, in 2023 I made my first visit along with 2 friends. In 2026 I visited the place on Feb 15, 2026 to participate in the Shivrathri celebrations @ Isha.

I have never seen such a huge gathering of people in my life anywhere. The Shivrathri celebrations were fantastic and will alst in my memory for ever. There was speeches by Sadguru, great bajans and music by reknowned singers from all over India.

It was a real great event. Following are some of the photos and videos from the Shiv rathri celebrations @ ISHA on 15th Feb 2026.

The arrangement was spectacular, huge screens were placed everywhere for people to watch the event and it was organized quite well. There were free as well as paid seating for people.

I caught a bus from Gandhipuram bus stand in Coimbatore, after reaching the ISHA foundation, I had to walk about 300m to reach the venue along with other people.

A massive crowd of people were there to participate in the event from all over India, there were many foreigners too.

Here is a poster I saw on the way to the venue.

The function was graced by our defense minister Mr.Rajnath singh, many celebrities too were present during the event at the stage with Sadguru.

Crowd walking towards the venue.

Isha foundation organises – Kaisal Manasa Sarovar pilgrimage trip, to know more contact them.

Here is a glimpse of the huge crowd inside Isha foundation grounds gathered to participate in Mahashivrathri event.

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