Yogmarg-Path of yoga
Yoga is a spiritual science.
योगश्चित्तवृत्ति निरोधः
yogaścittavr̥tti nirodhaḥ
"Yoga is a science to control the mind", as mind is the only source to free us or to bind us.
The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word yoga (Devanagari: योग ISO15919: yoga) is union. So union of a jeev with Brahma-Supreme God is yoga.
संयोगो योग इत्युक्तो जीवात्म परमात्मनोः
saṁyogo yoga ityukto jīvātma paramātmanoḥ
This philosophy is depicted in the Vedas and Tantras as well, Yet, the greatest expounder of philosophy of Yoga is Maharshi Patanjali. He revealed a scripture on Yoga Patanjali Yoga Shastra, in which he described the 8-fold spiritual practices to get control on mind.
That is called ashtang yoga (Devanagari: अष्टांग योग ISO15919: aṣṭāṁga yoga). There are 8 limbs, which gradually help to get hold on that mind, which is perpetually moving towards the world in the hope of attaining happiness. These 8 limbs are mentioned below -
Eight Limbs of Yoga
Yam
1. Practice of yoga begins with yama (Devanagari: यम ISO15919: yama). Mind is always aimlessly racing around in the world. Principles of yama are meant to slow down the speed of mind and help it focus. The yamas are twelve;
- Ahimsa (Devanagari: अहिंसा ISO15919: ahiṁsā) - non-violence
- Satya (Devanagari: सत्य ISO15919: satya) - truthfulness
- Asteya (Devanagari: अस्तेय ISO15919: Iasteya) - not stealing,
- Brahmcharya (Devanagari: ब्रह्मचर्य ISO15919: brahmcarya) - vow of celibacy
- Aparigraha (Devanagari: अपरिग्रह ISO15919: aparigraha) - non possessiveness
- Maun (Devanagari: मौन ISO15919: mauna) – Observance of the rule of silence to cultivate more energy in order to assimilate the philosophy of yoga
- Lajja (Devanagari: लज्जा ISO15919: lajjā) – Inhibition in performing any action, which does not lead towards God.
- Chhama (Devanagari: क्षमा ISO15919: kṣamā) – forgiveness.
- Abhaya (Devanagari: अभय ISO15919: abhaya) - fearlessness
- Astikata (Devanagari: आस्तिकता ISO15919: āstikatā) - faith in God
- Asangta (Devanagari: असंगता ISO15919: asaṁgatā) - detachment from material objects and beings
- Sthirata (Devanagari: स्थिरता ISO15919: sthiratā) – Stability
Niyam
2. Twelve rules are also recommended in Yoga to maintain self-discipline. These are called niyam (Devanagari: नियम ISO15919: niyama). These are proposed since it is impossible to achieve anything worth attaining without observing discipline. These rules are
- Cheshta (Devanagari: चेष्टा ISO15919: ceṣṭā) – putting in effort to attain the goal
- Shouch (Devanagari: शौच ISO15919: śauca) – purity of mind and body
- Santosh (Devanagari: संतोष ISO15919: saṁtoṣa) – contentment
- Japa (Devanagari: जप ISO15919:Ijapa ) – chanting
- Tapa (Devanagari: तप ISO15919: tapa) – endurance
- Shraddha (Devanagari: श्रद्धा ISO15919: śraddhā) - complete faith
- Atithi seva (Devanagari: अतिथि सेवा ISO15919: atithi sevā) – hospitality
- Yagya (Devanagari: यज्ञ ISO15919: yajña) - Fire sacrifices
- Hari pooja (Devanagari: हरी पूजा ISO15919: hari pūjā) – worship
- Teertha Yatra (Devanagari: तीर्थ यात्रा ISO15919: tīrtha yātrā) – pilgrimage
- Paropkar (Devanagari: परोपकार ISO15919: paropakāra) – benevolence
Asana
3. Exercises to keep body healthy are called asana (Devanagari: आसन ISO15919: āsana). It is important to maintain a healthy body in order to further enable the mind to meditate for longer hours.
Pratyahar
4. The practice of withdrawing the senses from material matters to help the mind to meditate on God is called pratyahaar (Devanagari: प्रत्याहार ISO15919: pratyāhār).
Pranayam
5. Exercises the promote control over the panch pran (5 types of air in the body that controls the bodily functions) are called pranayam (Devanagari: प्राणायाम ISO15919: prāṇāyāma).
Dhyana
6. Trying to focus on the divine form of God is called dhyana (Devanagari: ध्यान ISO15919: dhyāna).
Aspirants following the path of yoga meditate in 2 different ways
Sagarbh Dhyan
Sagarbha Dhyan (Devanagari: सगर्भ ध्यान ISO15919: sagarbha dhyāna) is when yogi meditates upon the divine form of Maha Vishnu in mind.
Nirgarbh Dhyan
Nirgarbha Dhyan (Devanagari: निर्गर्भ ध्यान ISO15919: nirgarbha dhyāna) is when yogi meditates upon the divine form of Maha Vishnu in Kchheer Sagar.
Dharana
7. When mind can easily focus on God it is called dharana (Devanagari: धारणा ISO15919: dhāraṇā). In this stage the yogi finds stability in meditation.
Samadhi
8. Deep meditation, wherein the practitioner gets totally engrossed in divine thoughts being oblivious to the external world or even their own physical presence is called samadhi (Devanagari: समाधि ISO15919: samādhi).
There are two kinds of samadhi of a yogi
Samapragyat Samadhi
In samapragyat samadhi (Devanagari: संप्रज्ञात समाधि ISO15919: saṁprajñāta samādhi) the seeds of sanskars (impact of deeds performed in past lives) still remain.
Asamapragyat Samadhi
Whereas in asampragyat samadhi (Devanagari: असंप्रज्ञात समाधि ISO15919: asaṁprajñāta samādhi) all the seeds of past impression burn eternally.
The attainment
Those who pursue the path of Gyan desire to merge in Nirakar Brahm called attaining sayujjya mukti. Unlike the gyanis yogis do not aspire to become one with God. They worship Lord MahaVishnu and attain the divine bliss and divine abode Vaikunth of Maha Vishnu.
Types of Yogis
In both sagarbh and nigarbha categories there are three subcategories each. Thus, altogether there are six types of yogis.
- Yogarurukchhu (Devanagari: योगारुरुक्षु ISO15919: yogārurukṣu) - Who are practicing yoga to attain perfection. This is the starting state.
- yogaroorh (Devanagari: योगारूढ़ ISO15919: yogārūṛh) which means those who have achieved perfection in their practice of yoga
- Sagarbh or nirgarbh prapta siddhi. Sagarbh Dhyan culminates into Sagarbh prapta siddhi (Devanagari: सगर्भ प्राप्त सिद्धि ISO15919: sagarbha prāpta siddhi). Nirgarbh Dhyan culminates into nirgarbh prapta siddhi (Devanagari: निर्गर्भ प्राप्त सिद्धि ISO15919: nirgarbha prāpta siddhi). These yogis realize God and are eternally free from Maya.
Modern Age Yoga
In modern age, there are several misconceptions about yoga. Some of those misconceptions are:
• Yoga is merely a science to keep body healthy in a natural way without medicines.
• Yoga is a way to maintain attractive lean body.
This cannot be farther from the truth.
Yoga has proven to benefit mental and physical health. Yet, Yoga is much more than breathing exercises, meditation, and poses.
The authentic practice of Yoga starts with the yam and niyam. A precursor to stepping on the path of yoga is to control the mind and senses. This is a spiritual science to attain a spiritual result which is to become free from Maya and realize the Brahm - Supreme God. Yoga is NOT confined to the performing simple to really complicated asana (postures) only.
The first five steps are about controlling the mind and senses to detach mind from the allurements of this mundane world. Last three i.e. dhyan, dharana, samadhi are purely related to the practice of realization of God.
Practicing yoga without following all the eight steps of Yog-Shastra does not lead to spiritual upliftment.
Several people go all out in their practice of yoga but to no avail due to lack of proper knowledge of this spiritual science. All this is due to the fact the teachers of yoga also do not have adequate knowledge of yoga, its precepts and purpose.
LEARN MORE