Yoga, one of the oldest spiritual and physical disciplines in the world, has its roots deeply embedded in ancient India. To answer the question “where and when did yoga originate,” historians and scholars trace its beginnings back more than 5,000 years ago in the Indus-Sarasvati civilization, located in what is now modern-day northern India and Pakistan. Archaeological findings, such as stone seals depicting figures in meditative postures, provide evidence that yoga was practiced as early as 3000 BCE. The earliest written references to yoga appear in the sacred Hindu scriptures known as the Rig Veda, which contain hymns and rituals that laid the foundation for spiritual practices in India. Over time, the philosophy of yoga was further developed and systematized by sages like Patanjali, who compiled the Yoga Sutras around 400 BCE, defining yoga as “Chitta Vritti Nirodha,” or the cessation of mental fluctuations. Ancient texts such as the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita also emphasize yoga as a means to unite the individual soul with the divine consciousness. Thus, yoga originated in ancient India thousands of years ago, evolving through centuries of practice and wisdom to become a holistic path that integrates body, mind, and spirit. Today, yoga’s origins in India continue to inspire millions around the world, preserving its timeless message of balance, awareness, and inner peace.