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The meaning of the term Yama ((Samskrit: यम) is restraint. They are the “don’t dos“ of a person with virtuous life. If every person observes the Yama and Niyama, a better social life can be expected. These Yamas help the mind in progressing to the other limbs of Yoga by reducing and removing the hindrance on the path.  

The meaning of the term Yama (Sanskrit: यम:) is restraint. They are the “don’t dos“ of a person with virtuous life. If every person observes the Yama and Niyama, a better social life can be expected. These Yamas help the mind in progressing to the other limbs of Yoga by reducing and removing the hindrance on the path.  

== '''Scriptural Occurrences''' ==

== Scriptural Occurrences ==

Yama as in Yoga science is mentioned in Rigveda (Rigveda, verse 5.61.2) for the first time.

Yama as in Yoga science is mentioned in Rigveda (Rigveda, Mandala 5, Sukta 61, verse 2) for the first time.

कव वो ऽशवाः कव्र्भीशवः कथं शेक कथा यय |

कव वो ऽशवाः कव्र्भीशवः कथं शेक कथा यय |

  The 10 Yamas as per Shandilya Upanishad are as below.

  The 10 Yamas as per Shandilya Upanishad are as below.

"... ''तत्राहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यदयाजप क्षमाधृतिमिताहारशौचानि चेति यमादश''..."

"... तत्राहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यदयाजप क्षमाधृतिमिताहारशौचानि चेति यमादश..."

''".....tatrAhiMsAsatyAsteyabrahmacharyadayAjapa kShamAdhRRitimitAhArashauchAni cheti yamAdasha''..."

''".....tatrAhiMsAsatyAsteyabrahmacharyadayAjapa kShamAdhRRitimitAhArashauchAni cheti yamAdasha''..."

Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Daya, Japa,  Kshama, Dhriti, Mitahara and Aarjava are the 10 Yamas.   

Meaning : Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Daya, Japa,  Kshama, Dhriti, Mitahara and Aarjava are the 10 Yamas.   

Shandilya Upanishad Verse 1. (<nowiki>https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/shandilya.html</nowiki>)

Shandilya Upanishad Verse 1. (<nowiki>https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/shandilya.html</nowiki>)

Bhagvad Gita mentions Yamas is below verses from Chapter 17. (The Bhagavad Gita or The Song Divine. Gita Press, Gorakhpur).

Bhagvad Gita mentions Yamas is below verses from Chapter 17. (The Bhagavad Gita or The Song Divine. Gita Press, Gorakhpur).

''देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् |''

देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम् |

''ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते || १७.१४||''

ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते || १७.१४||  

''devadvijaguruprAj~napUjanaM shauchamArjavam |''

''devadvijaguruprAj~napUjanaM shauchamArjavam |''

''brahmacharyamahiMsA cha shArIraM tapa uchyate || 17.14||''

''brahmacharyamahiMsA cha shArIraM tapa uchyate || 17.14||''<blockquote>Meaning : "Worship Of gods, the Brahmanas, one's guru, elders and wise-men, purity, straightforwardness, continence and non-violence these are called penance of the body. (14) "</blockquote>अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत् |

स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते || १७.१५||  

 

 

''स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते || १७.१५||''

''anudvegakaraM vAkyaM satyaM priyahitaM cha yat |''

''anudvegakaraM vAkyaM satyaM priyahitaM cha yat |''

''svAdhyAyAbhyasanaM chaiva vA~NmayaM tapa uchyate || 17.15||''

''svAdhyAyAbhyasanaM chaiva vA~NmayaM tapa uchyate || 17.15||''<blockquote>Meaning : "Words which cause no annoyance to others and are truthful, agreeable and beneficial, as well as the study of the Vedas and other Shastras and the practice of the chanting of Divine Name this is known as penance of speech. (15) "</blockquote>Some texts interpret Yama differently hence they consider some Niyama as Yama and vice versa.  

 

Meaning : "Words which cause no annoyance to others and are truthful, agreeable and beneficial, as well as the study of the Vedas and other Shastras and the practice of the chanting of Divine Name this is known as penance of speech. (15) "

 

Some texts interpret Yama differently hence they consider some Niyama as Yama and vice versa.  

== Why Yamas are required? ==

== Why Yamas are required? ==

=== b. Below are details by Sri Aurobindo in regards to Yama. ===

=== b. Below are details by Sri Aurobindo in regards to Yama. ===

“The first are rules of moral self-control in conduct such as truth-speaking, abstinence from injury or killing, from theft etc.; but in reality these must be regarded as merely certain main indications of the general need of moral self-control and purity. Yama is, more largely, any self-discipline by which the rajasic egoism and its passions and desires in the human being are conquered and quieted into perfect cessation. The object is to create a moral calm, a void of the passions, and so prepare for the death of egoism in the rajasic human being. “

<blockquote>“The first are rules of moral self-control in conduct such as truth-speaking, abstinence from injury or killing, from theft etc.; but in reality these must be regarded as merely certain main indications of the general need of moral self-control and purity. Yama is, more largely, any self-discipline by which the rajasic egoism and its passions and desires in the human being are conquered and quieted into perfect cessation. The object is to create a moral calm, a void of the passions, and so prepare for the death of egoism in the rajasic human being. “</blockquote>Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga”, Chapter 28 - Rajayoga, page 539

 

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga”, Chapter 28 - Rajayoga, page 539

=== c. Osho also discourses about Yama in his talks. ===

=== c. Osho also discourses about Yama in his talks. ===

Discourse given on 5^th July 1975 as Osho Ashram, Pune. Osho, Patanjali Yoga Sutra - Part 3, page 85-86, 1994 edition.

Discourse given on 5^th July 1975 as Osho Ashram, Pune. Osho, Patanjali Yoga Sutra - Part 3, page 85-86, 1994 edition.<blockquote>" ‘यम’ का अर्थ अंग्रेजी में होता है सेल्फ—रेस्ट्रेट। अंग्रेजी में शब्द थोड़ा अलग हो जाता है। असल में थोड़ा अलग नहीं, ‘यम’ का सारा अर्थ ही खो जाता है। क्योंकि सेल्फ—रेस्ट्रेंट निषेध जैसा, दमन जैसा मालूम पड़ता है। और ये दो शब्द दमन और निषेध, फ्रायड के बाद बड़े भद्दे शब्द हो गए हैं, कुरूप हो गए हैं। यम दमन नहीं है। उन दिनों जब पतंजलि ने ‘यम’ शब्द का प्रयोग किया, तो उसका बिलकुल अलग ही अर्थ था। शब्द बदलते रहते हैं। अब भारत में भी संयम शब्द, जो कि ‘यम’ से आता है, उसका अर्थ नियंत्रण, दमन हो गया है। अब मूल अर्थ खो गया है।"</blockquote>

" ‘यम’ का अर्थ अंग्रेजी में होता है सेल्फ—रेस्ट्रेट। अंग्रेजी में शब्द थोड़ा अलग हो जाता है। असल में थोड़ा अलग नहीं, ‘यम’ का सारा अर्थ ही खो जाता है। क्योंकि सेल्फ—रेस्ट्रेंट निषेध जैसा, दमन जैसा मालूम पड़ता है। और ये दो शब्द दमन और निषेध, फ्रायड के बाद बड़े भद्दे शब्द हो गए हैं, कुरूप हो गए हैं। यम दमन नहीं है। उन दिनों जब पतंजलि ने ‘यम’ शब्द का प्रयोग किया, तो उसका बिलकुल अलग ही अर्थ था। शब्द बदलते रहते हैं। अब भारत में भी संयम शब्द, जो कि ‘यम’ से आता है, उसका अर्थ नियंत्रण, दमन हो गया है। अब मूल अर्थ खो गया है।"

# (Audio in voice of Swami Sivananda -  <nowiki>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfiOYaVksvE</nowiki>)  Courtesy : "Divine Life Society of South Africa" Channel.

# Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga”, Chapter 28 - Rajayoga, page 539

# Osho Ashram, Pune. Osho, Patanjali Yoga Sutra - Part 3, page 85-86, 1994 edition.