INTRODUCTION TO RAJA YOGA AND ASHTANGA YOGA
Raja Yoga is the king of all
Yogas. It concerns directly with the mind. In this Yoga, there is no struggling
with Prana or physical body. There are no Hatha Yogic Kriyas. The Yogi sits at
ease, watches his mind and silences the bubbling thoughts.
Patanjali Maharshi is the
exponent of Yoga Philosophy. Now Patanjali is regarded as the last of the
Avataras. You will find in Yajnavalkya Smriti that Hiranyagarbha was the
original teacher of Yoga.
Patanjali Maharshi is only a
compiler or explainer of the Yogic precepts, doctrines and tenets taught by
Hiranyagarbha.
According to Raja Yoga, there are
three types of aspirants - Uttama, Madhyama and Adhama Adhikaris.
To three classes of aspirants Raja Yoga prescribes three kinds of
Sadhana.
To the Uttama Adhikari (first-class aspirant) Raja
Yoga prescribes Abhyasa and Vairagya. He practices meditation on the
Self;
To the Madhyama
Adhikari (middling
aspirant) Raja Yoga prescribes the Kriya Yoga - Tapas, Svadhyaya and Ishvarapranidhana.
Tapas is austerity. Egolessness
and selfless service are the greatest forms of Tapas. Humility and desirelessness are the greatest forms of austerity.
Svadhyaya is study of spiritual
literature and also Japa of your Ishta Mantra.
Ishvarapranidhana is
self-surrender to the Lord and doing all actions as Ishvararpana, as offering
unto the Lord.
To the Adhama
Adhikari, aspirant in early
stage, Raja Yoga prescribes Ashtanga Yoga or the eightfold Sadhana - Yama,
Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.
Patanjali's Raja Yoga is
generally termed the Ashtanga Yoga or the Yoga of Eight Limbs, through the
practice of which freedom is achieved. These eight limbs are:
1. Yama or Eternal Vows:
·
Ahimsa (non-violence)
·
Satya (truth)
·
Asteya (non-stealing)
·
Brahmacharya (continence) and
·
Aparigraha (non-avariciousness);
2. Niyama or Observances:
·
Saucha (purity)
·
Santosha (contentment)
·
Tapas (austerities)
·
Svadhyaya (study) and
·
Ishvarapranidhana (surrender to God);
3. Asana (firm, comfortable
meditative posture);
4. Pranayama (the regulation of the
Vital Force);
6. Dharana (concentration);
7.
Dhyana (meditation); and
8. Samadhi (super conscious state or
trance)
These eight limbs have been
scientifically arranged and dealt with. They are the natural steps in the
ladder which takes man from his human to the real divine nature.
It is enough to know this much,
before entering into the Upadesa Saram verses on Ashtanga Yoga from
tomorrow.
Love.
