The Adiyogi Shiva bust, located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, stands 34 meters tall, 45 meters long, and 25 meters wide, weighing approximately 500 tonnes. Designed by Sadhguru, founder of the Isha Foundation, this steel statue is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's largest bust sculpture. Representing Shiva as the first yogi, Adiyogi inspires inner well-being through yoga and is part of India’s Incredible India tourism campaign.
Symbolizing 112 pathways to moksha (liberation) and the human system's chakras, Adiyogi is an iconic representation of self-transformation. It is not a deity or temple but serves as a spiritual inspiration. The Yogeshwar Linga, consecrated in front of the statue, enhances the energy field, drawing visitors worldwide. The statue’s unique light and sound show narrates Shiva's yogic journey, offering a transformative experience for seekers of inner peace.
Adiyogi was inaugurated on February 24, 2017, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Maha Shivaratri. The event also saw the launch of Adiyogi: The Source of Yoga, a companion book by Sadhguru, and the release of the song "Adiyogi – The Source of Yoga," sung by Kailash Kher. A 3D laser show called Adiyogi Divya Darshanam, introduced in 2019, further mesmerizes audiences, narrating the origins of yoga.
The vision of spreading Adiyogi across India includes statues in key locations. A 112-feet Adiyogi was inaugurated in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka, in January 2023, featuring Navagraha and Bhairavi temples. Plans for a 68-meter statue near Pura Mahadev in Uttar Pradesh are underway, emphasizing the expansion of yoga and Sanskrit learning. Internationally, a smaller Adiyogi statue in Tennessee serves as a focal point for yoga enthusiasts in the United States.