Yoga is primarily a spiritual discipline, in which the whole essence of the lifestyle has been imbibed. The word “Yoga” itself is like a complete science which unites the body, mind, soul and the universe. The word “yoga” means “union”. The history of yoga is about 5000 years old, which is known in ancient Indian philosophy as the practice of mind and body.
Benefits of Yoga :
There are various benefits of Performing Yoga Asana Practices :
- Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility.
- Yoga can mean more energy and brighter moods.
- Yoga promotes better self-care.
- Improved blood circulation, which improves skin quality and texture
- Reduces stress
- Improves immunity
- Delays overall ageing and is therapeutic by nature
- Enhances fertility and reproductive health
- Good for gut health and improved digestion
- Improves physical stamina
- Yoga benefits heart health.
Types of Yoga :
Jnana Yoga (The Yoga of Wisdom)
Jnana (ज्ञान योग ) means ‘knowledge’ in its literal sense. Through Jnana yoga, a yogi seeks to achieve the ultimate goal of yoga by acquiring knowledge through scriptures and experiences of real life.
It is considered to be the most difficult path to attain self-realization because Jnana yogi requires to have an intense spiritual practice and discipline. Through meditation, self-inquiry, and contemplation, the yogi can attain wisdom about the true reality of self and be liberated from the Maya (illusions).
Jnana Yoga is also called the Yoga of Intellect as it is through knowledge of scriptures and self-study, one can unify the Atman(inner self) to the Brahman(ultimate reality). Through techniques of self-inquiry, conscious illumination, and reflection, defined in the Four Pillars of Knowledge, it requires the mind to move beyond intellect and seek the absolute truth.
“Jnana Yoga, or the science of the Self, is not a subject that can be understood and realized through mere intellectual study, reasoning, discussion or arguments. It is the most difficult of all sciences.” — Swami Sivananda
The Four Pillars of Jnana Yoga
Before embarking on the journey to self-realization, you must follow the Sadhana Chatushtaya or Four Pillars of Knowledge. These steps should be practised in a sequence as they are built upon each other. These pillars will provide spiritual insight and understanding and also aid in reducing the suffering and dissatisfaction in life.
1. Viveka — This Sanskrit word means discrimination and discernment. One should continuously and deliberately make an intellectual effort to distinguish between the Self and not-Self, the real and the unreal. Constant association with saints and continuous study of Vedic literature can help you develop Viveka to the maximum degree.
2. Vairagya — It means detachment and dispassion. A Jnana yogi should be non-attached to the pleasures of the world and heaven. However, it doesn’t mean that you should leave everything and live a life of solitude in the Himalayas. You should be detached mentally from worldly possessions while carrying their duties and responsibilities. A long-lasting Vairagya can be achieved with a successful Viveka.
3. Shatsampat — They are the six virtues of mental practice to balance the mind and invoke discipline. The six mental practices are:
- Sama — serenity or tranquility of mind brought by diminishing any desires.
- Dama — restrain of control of the senses to be used as instruments of mind.
- Uparati — a natural renunciation or withdrawal from all activities except one’s duty or Dharma, that will be achieved after Viveka, Vairagya, Sama and Dama.
- Titiksha — the forbearance or endurance of extreme opposite states such as hot and cold, pleasure and pain, etc.
- Shraddha — having faith and trust in the guru’s teaching, scriptures and self, through reasoning, experience and evidence.
- Samadhana — the focus and concentration of the mind on the Brahman or Self. The aspirant will enjoy a greater peace of mind and inner strength when practicing the above 5 virtues.
4. Mumukshutva — It means longing or yearning. The intense desire for liberation from the wheel of birth and death, sufferings, sorrows, delusion, old age, and diseases. If the aspirant has successfully practised the Viveka, Vairagya, Shatsampat, Mumukshutva will easily come to them. When one achieves the purity of heart and mind along with discipline, the yearning for liberation dawns by itself.
Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action)
The word Karma is derived from the Sanskrit root word “kru” which means “performing an activity” or simply “movement”. Thus, in a broader sense, every single activity (physically or mentally) that you perform in your life comes under karma.
Karma yoga is illustrated in chapter three of the Bhagavad Gita.
Krishna introduced the concept of karma yoga when Arjuna is on his chariot having the dilemma of fighting in the great Mahabharat war and asked the right and wrong of going against his family.
Krishna replies:
न कर्मणामनारम्भान् नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोऽश्नुते।
न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समधिगच्छति॥३-४॥
न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत्।
कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः॥३-५॥na karmaṇām anārambhān naiṣhkarmyaṁ puruṣho ’śhnute
na cha sannyasanād eva siddhiṁ samadhigachchhati
na hi kaśhchit kṣhaṇam api jātu tiṣhṭhatyakarma-kṛit
kāryate hyavaśhaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛiti-jair guṇaiḥTranslation — A person does not attain freedom from action by abstaining from action; nor does he attain fulfillment merely through renunciation.
Because, no one ever remains even for a moment without doing work. For all are made to work under compulsion by the gunas born of Nature.
Thus, there is no one on this earth who is not doing an action. Even when you are thinking, you are performing an action. If your thoughts are pure and you perform the service from your heart, you will be able to attain moksha.
Bhagavad Gita 3.4
In another verse, Krishna states,
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः॥३-१९॥tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ
kāryaṁ karma samācara
asakto hy ācaran karma
param āpnoti pūruṣaḥTranslation — Therefore, without being attached to the results of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.
Bhagavad Gita 3.19
Bhakti Yoga (The Path of Devotion)
Bhakti comes from bhaj, which means to worship or love God. Some people consider bhakti-yoga a way to liberate themselves from the eternal birth and death cycle. Treading this spiritual path helps unite one’s soul or ‘atman’ with Brahman or ‘true reality.’
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति ।
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मन: ।।26।।Whoever offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or a little water — that, so offered devotedly by the pure-minded, I accept ~ Bhagavad Gita 9.26
Bhakti Yoga is the oldest form of Yoga with its roots in the ancient Indian scriptures like Shvetashvatara Upanishad, Bhagavad-Gita, and Bhagavad-Purana. However, it was only after the composition of Bhagavad-Gita around 500 B.C that Bhakti Yoga was recognized as one of the paths to liberation (Moksha).
In the past, Bhakti Yoga was the focal point of the widespread Bhakti movement initiated by religious reformers of medieval India (800–1700 BCE) to revive and reconceptualize various religious practices associated with the worship of God by Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs.
Major reformers of the Bhakti movements were Shankaracharya, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Namadeva, Tukaram, and Jayadeva. Saints such as Bhagat Namdev, and Saint ‘Kabir Das’ were the supporters of this movement.
Raja Yoga (The path of the mind and meditation)
The Sanskrit word raja means king or royal. It is the King of Yogas. Raja yoga focuses on attaining enlightenment through meditation and energetics. In this form of yoga, the yogi sits in a meditative pose and silences their mind by restraining the wayward thoughts, and eventually enters into a thoughtless state.
Swami Swatmarma in Hatha Yoga Pradipika says the aim of Hatha Yoga (physical form of yoga) is to attain Raja Yoga. It means the asanas and pranayama we practice have the ultimate purpose to build a foundation for raja yoga practice.
By working through the mind, the practice of Raja Yoga paves a way to discipline, self-control, concentration, mental peace, and inner joy. It is a unique form of yoga where one doesn’t need any mantras or rituals to be followed and can be practised anytime and anywhere. Raja Yoga was popularized by Swami Vivekananda who put it at par with Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It is noteworthy to mention here that Raja Yoga has been mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita as one of the paths to enlightenment but has been used as another name for enlightenment. But over time, with the efforts of some notable scholars, Raja Yoga got recognition as a separate path and is now counted as one of the 4 paths of yoga.
Also Read : What is Yoga ? & History of Yoga .
