On Monday, October 27, 2025, the official inauguration of the PoornaYoga Program in Germany took place at Yoga Vidya Ashram Bad Meinberg.
This forward-looking initiative brings traditional and cross-cultural yoga philosophy and practice into everyday life – through a free online training program that anyone can complete at their own pace and receive a certification upon completion.
Event Details
The ceremony was held in the honorable presence of Mr. Abhishek Dubey, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Berlin, along with numerous dignitaries, spiritual teachers, and representatives of Hindu communities from all over Germany.
Participants experienced inspiring speeches, the ceremonial unveiling of the PoornaYoga textbooks, and the presentation of a short film offering vivid insights into the program.
The event marked a significant milestone in spreading authentic yogic culture throughout Germany and Europe – supported by a spirit of community, mindfulness, and deep spiritual connection.
👉 The event was broadcast live starting at 2 p.m:
Agenda
- 13.30 – Arrival of guests at main entrance & Introduction to Gita Vidya room
- 14.00 – Welcoming the guests with Kirtan in Sivananda hall
- 14.30 – Invocation and Welcome speech in the Sivananda hall
- 14.45 – Inauguration of the PoornaYoga program by unveiling the books
- 15.00 – Inaugural Speech by His Excellency Mr Abhishek Dubey
- 15.15 – Greetings and remarks by the dignitaries
- 16.00 – Vote of thanks and Closing
The launch of the PoornaYoga program for Germany
We are pleased to announce the inauguration of the PoornaYoga program at the Gita Vidya Center in Yoga Vidya Ashram in the presence of eminent dignitaries and delegates arriving from different parts of Germany. The inaugural ceremony took place in the graceful presence of the Mr. Abhishek Dubey, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Germany on Monday 27th October 2025 from 14.00hrs to 16.00hrs at the Yoga Vidya Ashram Bad Meinberg.
About the PoornaYoga Program
The PoornaYoga Program imparts principles and techniques that bring body, mind, and soul into harmonious unity. Developed by Shri Gopi Venkateswara Prasad, the program conveys the wisdom of classical Indian scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali through selected verses and aphorisms in a modern, visual format.
In 22 lessons, it highlights values such as peace, mindfulness, compassion, and ethical conduct. It emphasizes a healthy relationship with oneself, others, and the environment, as well as concentration and focus. The goal is understanding and exploring these timeless teachings of yoga and applying them directly in daily life. These are qualities and skills that may be more important today than ever before. They matter for our society, for our children, and for the future.
Structure and Content of the Program
Interested participants can complete the training program entirely free of charge online. Regular learning and progress checks ensure completion, certification, and the authorization to share the program with others. It consists of the following four courses, which are compiled into a single textbook:
- DEHA (Body)
- GNANA (Knowledge)
- YOGA (Practice)
- JEEVA (Life Force)
The textbook provides an introduction to the theory as well as access to the e-learning videos. Each course has its own workbook, which supports learners in their understanding and progress through practical exercises and project work. Upon successful completion of the tasks and projects, participants receive the official PoornaYoga Course Completion Certificate from the Gita Vidya Peetam.
You are warmly invited to take part – whether out of personal interest, as part of a teacher training, as continuing education for certified yoga teachers, for people in social or educational professions, or simply for anyone curious to learn. Just register and select your preferred language.
PoornaYoga is a training program that founder Shri Gopi Venkateswara Prasad has already successfully implemented in India. 250 teachers were trained and are now teaching it at more than 50 schools. It is Shri Gopi’s heartfelt wish that this concept also finds its way into schools in Germany, as he is deeply convinced of both its positive impact and the need for such a program for individuals and for society as a whole.
Video Introduction to PoornaYoga Program
About the Author Gopi V. Prasad
Sri Gopi Venkateswara Prasad is the founder President of Gita Vidya Peetam and president of the Hindu Forum Germany. He designed and developed the “PoornaYoga Program” to offer a broad understanding of Yoga, through graphic interpretation of 140 Gita-shlokas and 96 Yoga-sutras under 22 thematic lessons. Each lesson is structured with three components of learning namely Sadhana, Sodhana and Vaadana, to enable students understand, explore and apply the wisdom of Yoga in daily life.
Gopi studied Yoga in its various forms since his childhood. His lifelong interest in Yoga Shastra led to the foundation of PoornaYoga Program in India, Europe and America. His experience in the field of Education has led to the creation of the G-Education model, which is applied in the development and dissemination of structured learning programs such as this one. Gopi has an ‘MBA in Global Management’ from Germany and a ‘Diploma in Physical Education’ from India. His interests include poetry, singing and spiritual art.
Dignitaries and delegates
We were privileged and honored to have the enriching presence of the following dignitaries and delegates for the launch of the Poorna Yoga program:
- Shri. Abhishek Dubey, honorable Deputy Ambassador of India in Germany.
- Shri Shiva Arumugam gurukul, Founder and head priest of Sri Kamakshi Amma temple
- Shri. Pramod Kumar, honorable politician from Hamburg
- Swami Kurunandha, honorable swamiji from the Bhakti Marga Ashram
- Shri. Sushrut Lugani, President of Manva Bharati temple, Dusseldorf
- Shri. Dirk Sellhorn, Director of the Afghan Hindu Mandir, Hamburg
- Shri. Vaidyanath Das, Vice President of the ISKCON temple, Hamburg and the Managing director of the Hindu Forum Germany.
- Shri. Anil Sharma, Founder President of the Hindu Dharma temple, Elmshorn.
- Shri. Sukadev, Founder President of Yoga Vidya Ashram
- Shri. Gopi Venkateswara Prasad, Founder President of the Gita Vidya Peetam and the President of the Hindu Forum Germany.
- Srmt. Soumya, Vice President of Gita Vidya Peetam and the Director of the Hindu Forum Germany.
- Mr. Partha, Director, Bhakti Marga Ashram, Germany.
Abhishek Dubey
A career diplomat, Mr. Abhishek Dubey joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2011 and had handled the Germany and EU desk at the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi from 2014-2017. He served at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu from 2017-2020 and was First Secretary at the Embassy of India in Brussels from 2020-2022. From 2022 to 2025, he served as the Regional Passport Officer for Delhi and the National Capital Region. In March 2025, Mr. Dubey assumed charge as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Berlin.
Mr. Dubey holds Bachelor Science, LL.B, LL.M. degrees. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, he taught law at the Delhi University. He is married to Mrs. Shuchita Kishore who is also a career diplomat.
Sri Siva Arumugam Paskarakurukkal
Founder and Chief Priest of Kamalakshi Temple in Hamm and of the Hindu Community Germany (Public Corporation K.d.ö.R.)
He has led several large celebrations at Yoga Vidya and also inaugurated the colorful Ganesha Temple on the ashram grounds.
He has been living in Germany for over 30 years, after having to leave his homeland Sri Lanka in 1985 due to civil war and subsequently training as a temple priest in India.
Parmod Kumar
Mr. Parmod Kumar is a member of the district assembly and a committed representative of his home district of Bergedorf, where he lives with his wife and two sons. As a member of the culture committee, he is particularly committed to cultural diversity and social cohesion in Hamburg.
In addition to his political work, Mr Kumar has been a successful independent entrepreneur for decades. With his family-run Rindock’s group of companies, he operates several restaurants in northern Germany and is also active in wholesale. His entrepreneurial work is characterised by drive, a sense of responsibility and a desire to bring people together – whether over a meal or in social gatherings.
But Parmod Kumar is not only an entrepreneur and politician, he is also a person with a big heart. With his own association, he is actively committed to helping people in need in our society. Every week, he organises a food bank where he distributes food free of charge to those in need.
In addition, the promotion of culture and the integration of young people are particularly close to his heart. Through his diverse initiatives, he builds bridges between people of different origins and promotes respectful and communal coexistence in Hamburg.
Parmod Kumar stands for commitment, responsibility and humanity – both in politics and in everyday life.
Swami Kurunandha
“Re-establishing the love relationship with the Lord is the greatest goal — and the deepest secret — of life.” — Swami Kurunandha
Swami Kurunandha inspires people to live with deeper purpose, meaning, and fulfilment through his distinctive and heartfelt way of teaching. His guidance helps individuals reconnect with their inner selves, awakening self-awareness and opening the door to profound personal growth and transformation.
He met his spiritual master, Paramahamsa Vishwananda, in Switzerland in 1998 at the age of 31, and was initiated as a Swami into the Hari Bhakta Sampradāya in 2008. Since then, he has dedicated his life to sharing his Satguru’s teachings with sincerity and devotion, helping countless people around the world discover their own spiritual path and dharma.
Before embracing monastic life, Swami Kurunandha was an entrepreneur who founded several successful companies in the fields of technology and communications, beginning at just 20 years old.
