The Adiyogi statue is a 34-metre tall (112 ft), 45-metre long (147 ft) and 25-metre wide (82 ft) steel statue 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 Jaggi Vasudev, it weighs around 500 tonnes (490 long tons; 550 short tons).
Adiyogi refers to Shiva (Shankar) as the first yogi. It was established to inspire people towards inner well-being through yoga.
Adiyogi Shiva Statue's Description
Adiyogi is located at the Isha Yoga Center. 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 called Yogeshwar Linga was consecrated and placed in front of the statue.
The Indian Ministry of Tourism has included the statue in its official Incredible India campaign. It is also the venue of a light and sound show on Shiva as a yogi, inaugurated by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.
Adiyogi Shiva Statue's Inauguration
Adiyogi was inaugurated on 24 February 2017 by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. He also launched a companion book Adiyogi: The Source of Yoga written by Vasudev. To mark the unveiling of the statue, the song "Adiyogi - The Source of Yoga" was released by Isha Foundation, sung by Kailash Kher, with lyrics by Prasoon Joshi.
Another 6.4-metre (21 ft) statue of Adiyogi was unveiled in Tennessee, USA, in 2015 by Isha Foundation, as part of a 2,800 m2 (30,000 sq ft) yoga studio.
Adiyogi Divya Darshanam
Adiyogi Divya Darshanam is 3D laser show, narrating story of Adiyogi and how the science of yoga was given to human beings. It was inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind on Mahashivratri in 2019. It is a 14 minute light and sound show, projected upon the Adiyogi Statue.
It occurs on weekends and other auspicious occasions. In 2020, it won the Mondo*dr EMEA & APAC Award for Technology in Entertainment in the House of Worship category.