Chennai, Feb 22 (IANS): Vice President M.Venkaiah Naidu on Friday called for efforts towards a cultural renaissance, to promoting the country's rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

He also appealed to the youth to fight against the poison of social evils such as corruption, casteism, illiteracy and poverty inflicting modern day society.

Speaking at the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore, about 500 km from here, on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, Naidu said India is the only country that believes in 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', the principle of the whole world as one family.

He said there is the need to pass on the wisdom of ancient sages that guided the people to the next generations.

Mentioning the twelve Jyotirlingas spread all over the India, the Vice President said that this exemplifies that India has always been a single cultural entity since ancient times.

Naidu said in this competitive world people are increasingly turning to yoga for better health and also for gaining inner peace.

Yoga is an art and science and should not be viewed from any political or religious prism.

"I appreciate the noble efforts for yoga promotion by Sadhguru and other great sages of India," he said.