Yoga Darshana (योगदर्शनम्)
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Yoga Darshana (Samskrit: योगदर्शनम्) is one of the six astika darshanas; an important branch of Indian philosophy. From the point of view of the tattvajnana or philosophical construct, it is often paired with the Samkhya school of thought. The article explores the importance, history, techniques and the basics of Yoga Darshana, one of the ancient-most traditions of Bharatiya tattvajnana.
परिचयः ॥ Introduction
Yoga is an ancient spiritual science that seeks to bring the mind, body and spirit in balance. The word 'Yoga' is derived from the sanskrit root 'Yuj' which means to attach, join, harness or yoke. Practising different Yoga techniques leads to the development of good health, relaxation and inner fulfillment that in turn help in meeting different challenges of life with greater ease and confidence.
Yoga is observed to nurture cooperation and compassion instead of opposition. Therefore, getting introduced to Yoga at an early age encourages confidence and awareness to undertake life's activities in a non-competitive manner.
The purpose of yoga is an inner cleansing of the individuals' thoughts, emotions and feelings. Infact, Yoga lays claim to many benefits. Physically, it enhances flexibility, strength, coordination and body awareness. In addition, it also promotes concentration and a sense of calmness and relaxation. While doing yoga, there is deeper connection with the inner self and an enriching relationship with the natural surrounding is developed.
Yogic activities energize the body, giving it vitality and improve individuals' capacity. It also helps in expanding adaptability, muscle quality and body tone. It improves breathing and vitality. And more importantly, Yoga helps build inner strength that is vital in the journey of life.[1]
योगदर्शनस्य महत्त्वम् ॥ Importance of Yoga
Thousands of years ago, the ancient Rishis lived in the forest, mountains and the caves of Bharata. They observed the environment and saw how the animals and nature moved in perfect harmony. This was probably the inspiration for the creation of a wonderful technique called Yoga that helps to inculcate healthy habits and adopt a healthy lifestyle to achieve good health.
Teaching yoga at the school level will help to encourage a positive and healthy lifestyle for better physical, mental and emotional health of children. At the physical level, the practice of yoga will help in the development of strength, stamina, endurance and high energy in children. At the mental level, it will empower them with increased concentration, calm, peace and contentment, leading to inner and outer harmony.
Other forms of physical exercises, like aerobics, assure only physical well-being. They have little to do with the development of the spiritual or astral body. However, Yoga is a way of living that aims towards a healthy mind in a healthy body.
Yogic exercises are important in
- Attainment of perfect equilibrium and harmony
- Self-healing
- Removing negative blocks from the mind and toxins from the body
- Enhancing personal power
- Living with greater awareness
- Developing attention, focus and concentration, especially for children
- Reducing stress and tension
- Improving your posture and flexibility
- Building better relationships
- Improving your self-confidence
- Improving your memory and concentration
- Gaining better sleep
- Aiding good digestion[1]
Structure
- Meaning and Definition
- Importance of Yoga - holistic personality development
- Laukik and Adhyatmik benefits of Yoga
- Myths and Facts of Yoga
- Yoga’s Mula Pravakta - Hiranyagarbha
योगदर्शनस्य इतिहासः ॥ History of Yoga
The science of Yoga has its origin thousands of years ago. In the yogic tradition, Shiva is regarded as the first Yogi (Adiyogi) and the first Guru (Adi Guru). Number of seals and fossil remains discovered in the Indus Saraswati valley civilization show yogic activities and figures performing Yoga, suggesting the presence of Yoga in ancient Bharata. The seals excavated from the Mohenjodaro site show Pashupati (Lord Shiva) in yogic posture (Bhadrasana). Seated cross-legged with arms outstretched, the pose was of meditative state. Thus, it may be said that the history of Yoga is approximately over 5000 years old, starting from the pre-vedic era and continuing till date.
The History of Yoga can be divided into five main periods:
- Vedic Age
- Upanishadic Age
- The Age of Patanjali
- The Age of Hatha Yoga
- Modern Age[1]
वैदिककालः ॥ Vedic Age
Vedic Yoga, traced back to the period of Rigveda, portrays ritualistic ceremonies which require yoga practitioners to transcend the boundaries of the mind. Great explorers of early yoga are Vasishtha, Yajnavalkya etc.[1]
औपनिषदिककालः ॥ Upanishadic Age
Upanishadic texts are the main source for the documented information about Yoga practices and related literature of this period. It is said that the Rishis slowly refined and developed Yoga and documented their practices and beliefs in the Upanishads.[1]
पतञ्जलेः कालः ॥ The Age of Patanjali
The central period in the history of Yoga is defined by Maharshi Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the first systematic presentation of Yoga.[1] Many associate this work with Patanjali who wrote the Mahabhashya for Panini's Grammar. That leads to the dating of this work to the 2nd century BCE.[2]
This text describes the path of Raja Yoga. Maharshi Patanjali organized the practice of Yoga into an ‘eight limbed path’ (Ashtanga Yoga) containing the steps and stages towards obtaining Samadhi. And is considered the father of Yoga. His Yoga sutras still strongly influence most styles of even modern yoga.[1]
हठयोगस्य कालः ॥ The Age of Hatha Yoga
A few centuries after Maharshi Patanjali, many Yoga masters have created a system of practices designed to rejuvenate the body and prolong life which is known as Hatha Yoga. Few of the Hatha Yoga Texts include,
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika
- Gheranda Samhita
- Hatha Ratnavali
- Shiva Samhita
Hatha Yoga was strongly promoted in India by the intensive work of Shri. T.Krishnamacharya, Swami Sivananda and other yogis practicing Hatha Yoga.[1]
अर्वाचीनकालः ॥ Modern Age
In the modern period, Swami Vivekananda spread the wisdom of Yoga to the world, especially in the west. He classified the Yoga into four, namely:
- Karma Yoga
- Raja Yoga
- Bhakti Yoga
- Jnana Yoga[1]
योगस्य आशयाः ॥ Objectives of Yoga
It has already been emphasized that Yoga at an early age shapes young minds and bodies, giving tools that will enhance and support children to be balanced, creative and tension free individuals. It also promotes self esteem, concentration and body awareness and the ability to steer smoothly through life's challenges. Physically, Yoga enhances body coordination, it has a powerful effect on brain development and leads to heightened focus.
In an overstressed world, Yoga is a tool that teaches healthy ways to release stress and bring the body back into equilibrium. It also builds strength, confidence and resilience. Moreover, a strong body is able to digest food better, breathe better and withstand stress. Thus, the practice of yoga helps to self regulate besides being a wonderful aid to promote mental health and combat attention disorders.
The aims and objectives of Yoga education at an early age, in brief, are:
- To enable good health
- To facilitate mental hygiene
- To develop emotional stability
- To integrate moral values
- To attain higher level of consciousness
Yoga helps to achieve all these objectives in an integrated manner. Regular practice of Yoga also helps
- In encouraging self esteem and body awareness
- In maintaining flexibility and strengthening the growing body
- In enhancing concentration, memory and IQ
- In anger management
- In building present moment awareness
- In promoting relaxation of body and mind
- In managing anxiety and stress
- In developing creativity
- In developing cordial peer and social interactions
- In developing discipline and responsibility[1]
योगस्य मूलघटकाः ॥ Basics of Yoga
To overcome pain and achieve happiness has been the fundamental drive in all humans. Happiness is what directs lives. Yoga is a very ancient science that helps to develop not only flexibility and strength in our bodies, but happiness and peace of mind also. It believes in happiness as the natural state of living beings. But when the body and mind are out of balance, this happiness cannot be experienced. With the help of Yoga poses, breathing exercises, focusing within and meditation, the harmony of body and mind can be brought back and the natural state of happiness can be achieved. There are five basic principles at the core of Yoga practice. They are,
- Proper exercise
- Breathing
- Relaxation
- Diet
- Meditation
व्यायामः ॥ Exercise
Body is the physical manifestation of a being. And the practice of Yoga has beneficial effects to every part of the body - muscles, joints, ligaments, blood circulation, digestion, etc.
Diet
We are what we eat. A proper diet should accompany a yoga practice to maintain a healthy physical body. A diet of purely fresh, locally grown, and organic ingredients is recommended.
Breathing
Central to a yoga is proper breathing. Yoga emphasizes attention to breath, and taking long, deep inhalations that begin in the lower abdomen and fill up the entire chest cavity. This increases lung capacity and oxygen flow throughout the body, which clears and cleanses the mind.
Relaxation
One can achieve inner peace through proper relaxation leading to spiritual cleansing.
Meditation
The final but most important aspect of the yoga philosophy is positive thinking and meditation. Meditation allows one a way to ease the constant chatter of the mind, and control it.
The basics of yoga according to the Upnishads :
Our Upanishads says that our natural state is state of silence where our minds stops chattering. It is the state free of all thoughts or a state of peace.
When your mind is free of thoughts it is a state of BLISS,
KNOWLEDGE and CREATIVITY.
Peace is important for all those who:
• are in search of greater and more permanent happiness and bliss,
• seek knowledge,
• want to be totally free, and
• aspire to become more and more creative.
An ideal society is one in which the above features are found. It is constructed by setting up and observing the prescribrd social norms and value system (Yamas and Niyamas) habits, customs, manners, etiquettes, etc. These will help us to move in the direction of peace.
India for centuries has stood for such a social setup.You need to create such a environment where all individuals progress towards their goal of peace and the achievement of the required social values.
You must work towards the creation of an Spiritualit Inclined Environment. With such a spiritual background, you are free from over stimulation, unhealthy competition, comparison, stress and pressure to achieve unrealistic targets. Each soul is potentially divine as Swami Vivekananda puts it, every child is differently gifted. Through yogic practices we should calm down our mind and nurture our area of interest and talent to achieve our potential.
• The importance of yoga
o Attainment of perfect equilibrium and harmony
o Self-healing
o Removing negative blocks from the mind and toxins
from the body
o Enhancing personal power
o Living with greater awareness
o Developing attention, focus and concentration
o Reducing stress and tension
o Improving your posture and flexibility
o Building better relationships
o Improving your self-confidence
o Improving your memory and concentration
o Helping you sleep better
o Aiding good digestion
• The history of yoga
o The Vedic Age
o The Pre-classical Age or Epic Age
o The Classical Age
o The Post Classical Age
o Modern Age
• The objectives of yoga
o Enable all to have good health
o Practice mental hygiene
o Possess emotional stability
o Integrate moral values
o Attain higher level of consciousness
• The basis of yoga
o Proper exercise,
o Breathing
o Relaxation
o Diet and
o Meditation
After studying this lesson you will be able to:
• explain the importance of yoga;
• trace the history of yoga;
• list different techniques of yoga; and
• describe the basics of yoga.