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Origin of Yoga Yoga is one of the six orthodox systems of Vedic philosophy. The great saint Maharshi Pathanjali compiled the various aphorisms of Yoga and defined the eight fold paths of yoga known as 'Ashtanga Yoga' leading to salvation. The aphorisms or Yoga sutra of Pathanjali is divided into four chapters and explains the eight steps for the eternal happiness. These practices are aimed at purifying the body, restraining the senses, regulating the breath, bringing about tranquility and serenity of the mind and also attain the spiritual wisdom. The word yoga means union. According to Mahadev Desai, yoga means the yoking of all powers of the body, mind and the soul to God; it means the disciplining of the intellect, the mind, the emotions, the will which that the yoga pre supposes; it means a poise of the soul which enable one to look at life in all it's aspects evenly

Philosophy

The practice and philosophy of yoga originated in India by the saints and sages several thousand years ago. The spiritual leaders of yoga gave a rational interpretation to their own experiences of yoga and made it a most practical and scientific method within the reach of common man. In the present era the science of yoga has been accepted worldwide and is being used to suit the life style

Definition of Yoga

According to Swami Vivekananda 'Each souls is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work or worship or psychic control or philosophy - by one or more or all of these and be free.'The Yoga aphorisms of Maharshi Pathanjali define yoga as the complete cessation of the afflictions or fluctuations of consciousness or the restraint of the mental modifications.
Katopanishad - the essence of Vedas describes yoga as 'when the senses are stilled, when the mind is at rest, when the intellect wavers not - then say the wise is reached the highest stage. This steady control of the senses and mind has been defined as yoga. He who attains this is free from delusion.'
Bhagavat Gita, the doctrine of Hindu religion gives a diverse explanation about yoga. Karma yoga - the yoga of action says that the skillful action is yoga. Lord Krishna says: 'work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof. Never let the fruits of action be your motive; and never cease to work. Work in the name of the Lord, abandoning the selfish desires. Be not affected by success or failure. This equipoise is called Yoga.'
In the following chapter Krishna explains the communion between the individual soul and the universal soul. He says, 'undoubtedly the mind is restless and hard to control,. But it can be trained by constant practice (abhyasa) and by freedom from desires (vairaghya). A man who cannot control his mind will find it difficult to attain this divine communion; but the self controlled man can attain it if he tries hard and directs his energy by the right means.'
Further in Sankhya yoga Krishna says 'The Atma or the soul is unborn, eternal, permanent, and primeval. Atma is not destroyed when the body is destroyed. Atma is devoid of any feelings. It is the contact of the senses with the sense objects gives rise to feelings of heat and cold and pain and pressure. They are transitory and impermanent.' The steadiness of the consciousness as explained by Katopanishad is attained when one is completely free from all desires of the mind and is satisfied in the self by the self, when he is not attached to anything, neither elated by achieving the desires nor troubled by undesired results.
A Yogi is aware of the soul which others are unaware. He is unaware of the experiences of sense objects which others are aware.

Schools of Yoga

 

Raja Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) - Compiled by Maharshi Pathanjali
Hatha Yoga - Swatmarama
Jnana Yoga - Yoga of knowledge or wisdom
Karma Yoga - Yoga of action
Bhakti Yoga - Yoga of emotional culture

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Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga It is generally believed that Hatha yoga and Raja yoga are entirely different form of practice and that Raja yoga deals with the spiritual discipline and Hatha yoga the physical discipline. But it is not true. They compliment each other and help an aspirant to attain the liberation of the soul. The practice of Hatha yoga helps one to easily walk through the eight limbs of Raja and to conquer the mind, senses, desires, thoughts and reasons. However the main difference between Raja yoga and Hatha yoga is that Raja yoga emphasize on mental practices by controlling the passions and desires before one leads to the physical practices, whereas Hatha yoga is deals with the physical practices automatically leading to the steadiness of the mind, which is a more practical method for a common man. TOP