YOGA

Yoga is an ancient science which depicts freedom from bondage. Nobody knows its origin. Lord SHIVA is described as the first great Yogi. He is also known as the Lord of the Yogis. Lord Krishna has preached a lot about Yoga in Bhagwat Gita (an ancient Indian religious text book). He is formerly known as the Lord of Yoga. Its roots are deep into the cultural and religious heritage of India. The great saints or “seers” talked about the great path of Yoga and all left behind the footsteps to follow as per their experiences and achievements. One of such great saint who is respected worldwide as the founder of Yoga is SAGE PATANJALI. He defined yoga in eight limbs as Ashtang Yoga, where moral values and discipline formed the base of study of the subject. This eight fold system of spiritual yogic practice for achieving the goal of self-realization is categorized as follows:

1. Yamas or restraints or Controls - To avoid unrighteous behavior and to follow the five moral commandments of:-

a. Ahimsa or non-violence (Not to hurt anyone through thoughts, words or deeds)
b. Satya or truthfulness (not telling lies in any situation/circumstance to attain freedom)
c. Brahamcharya or celibacy (sublimation of sexual energy by not indulging in it)
d. Asteya or non-stealing (no comparison and not stealing anyone’s belonging)
e. Aprigraha or non covetousness (non-possessiveness/not accepting gifts/bribes)

2. Niyama or rules and regulations or being in discipline by accepting the five observances

a. Saucha or Cleanliness - Maintaining cleanliness in body & speech through Kriyas and mediation.
b. Santosha or contentment i.e. no likes/dislikes and physical, mental & emotional satisfaction.
c. Tapas or performance of austerities by fasting, japa, rituals, homas, ceremonies etc.
d. Swadhyaya or study of religious scripture to purify the mind and inner self.
e. Ishwara Pranidhana or surrender to the universal spirit.

3. Asanas or steady pose or bodily postures where the body takes a particular angle/position to benefit the internal organs and still the mind thereby following

Sthira (stability) leads to Shoonya (trance) leads to sukham (bliss).

4. Pranayam or breath control exercises or discipline of breath “prana” meaning life force/vital energy/ breath “ayama” means controlling or sustaining where we control and store the vital energy to withstand the intensive sadhna by purifying the nerves and astral channels through a particular breath pattern.

5. Pratyahaar or detachment or withdrawal of five senses and five organ of action form the material things and fruits of action.

6. Dharana or concentration or unbroken contemplation on any one thing living/non living, external or internal, moving or non-moving, subtle or gross to bring seclusion of thoughts.

7. Dhyana or meditation where “dhee” means mind/intellect and “ayan” mean to control or direct the energies of body and mind to be one pointed and to silence/extend the gap between two thoughts to experience bliss/ trance/ vacuum state of mind.

8. Samadhi or super conscious stage or mergence or self realization by elevating selves beyond space & time, dualities of life.

Yoga evolved itself from generations to decades as the need of the hour. As the divine is within us, so, there are different pathways to reach the divine. A layman would think of yoga as a means of being physically fit and some others would quote it for the elderly people. Through the passage of time this sacred science revealed its benefits to not only those who are mentally stressed but also to those who look for spiritual attainment. It is becoming the craze among the youth due to its challenges it throws in the form of attainting certain postures to a means to stay in shape or loose weight. A larger group of society is indebted to it for the benefits they derived from the therapeutic effects of certain postures and breathing patterns.