Adiyogi statue
In picture: The Adiyogi statue that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil on Friday, February 24, 2017.Twitter

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a 112-foot Shiva statue on Maha Shivaratri at Jaggi Vasudev's Isha Foundation in Coimbatore on Friday. The curtain raiser was held on February 24, which is Maha Shivratri according to Hindu religion. The Isha Foundation was founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. 

However, some groups have been protesting against the 112-foot Shiva statue claiming that it would cause ecological damage to the area.  

7:49 pm IST: "Sadhguru has made yogis out of ordinary people," said PM Modi. 

7:47 pm IST: "Through Yoga we will create a new Yug," said PM Modi. 

7:44 pm IST:  Practicing yoga helps combat stress, chronic conditions, says PM Modi. "It is a means to wellness, freedom from disease and desisting from worldly greed." 

7:43 pm IST: "Divine status of woman is unconditional but for man it is conditional," said PM Modi. 

7:42 pm IST: "Our culture has so many godesses who are worshiped. India is home to women saints who led to social reform," said PM Modi. "Woman is the manifestation of divine." 

7:41 pm IST: "Progress of humanity is incomplete without empowerment of women," said PM Modi. 

7:35 pm IST: "Diversity is not a cause of conflict for us. We accept it and embrace it," said PM Modi. 

7:34 pm IST: "Yoga is the journey from me to we," said PM Modi. 

7:32 pm IST: "Yoga is ancient, yet modern," said PM Modi. "It is important to preserve this essence." 

7:31 pm IST: "The place where we have gathered will remind us of the inclusive spirit of Lord Shiva," said PM Modi.  

7:29 pm IST: "Longing for the divine is always the same," said PM Modi. 

7:28 pm IST: 

7:27 pm IST: "Maha Shivratri inspires us to be courageous and fight for the good," said PM Modi.  

7:25 pm IST:  "This festival is prefixed with Maha. There are many devas but only one Maha deva," said PM Modi. 

7:20 pm IST: It took eight months to make the 112-foot statue, said Sadhguru.  

7:19 pm IST: "Truth is the only authority," said Sadhguru.   

7:08 pm IST: 

7:06 pm IST:  Sadhguru talks about plan to teach Yoga to 100 million people before next Maha Shivratri. 

6:58 pm IST: 

6:45 pm IST: Tamil Nadu Governor Vidyasagar Rao also present at the event.  

6:39 pm IST: PM Modi makes a symbolic offering of 5 elements to Dhyanalinga. 

6:36 pm IST: CM of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Edappadi Palaniswami has also arrived. 

6:30 pm IST:  PM Modi enters Dhyanalinga, where SadhguruJV will conduct Pancha Bhuta Aradhana.

6:24 pm IST: PM Modi offer prayers at Suryakund in Isha Foundation in Coimbatore.  

6:21 pm IST: PM Modi arriving at Suryakund with Sadhguru.

6:00 pm IST: Thousands of people have gathered at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore.  

Also Read