ASHTANGA YOGA OF PATANJALI -INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY - JUNE, 21st, 2020

ASHTANGA YOGA

OF

PATANJALI

Today is International Yoga Day. The theme for this year is "Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family”

The Corona factor has taken the whole world into its grip and has changed life everywhere. Corona is wildly spreading to people with the mere touch of an affected person or even with the touch of any surface which a corona positive patient has touched. So, all nations have adopted the principle of STAY HOME, STAY SAFE, until Corona is fully conquered.

For this year’s International yoga day therefore, the theme is - Yoga at home and yoga with family.

Yoga is a way of life, which makes us immune to most deceases and keeps us healthy and happy. It is a necessity for human beings at all times. It is a priority which must come just after food and sleep.

Ancient Indians had realized its importance long, long ago. Therefore, today, yoga is the Greatest Gift of India to the world. Its possibilities are immense. Its Potentialities are infinite.

When did Yoga start. There is no way to tell. 

Ancient Indian folklore says that – while the supreme divine principle is just one, three divine principles  were created by it to rule over the world. These are (i) Brahma – the creator principle (ii) Vishnu the sustenance principle and (iii) Siva, the dissolution principle. All the three are always in some Yogic posture and in Yoga Samadhi. Our ancients believed that Yoga gives them their infinite powers for creation, sustenance and dissolution.

For this reason, Siva is called Yogeeswara, or the lord of all Yogis. Vishnu is called Yogeswara, or the lord of Yoga. Brahma is called Yoga Brahma. You can call them the most ancient Yogis.

Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu, says, I taught Yoga to the SUN God first. From Sun, it spread to many kings in his clan. 

Siva is said to have taught Yoga to Parvati and to Sapta Rishis. 

Vasishta taught Yoga to Lord Rama and Sita.

Thus, the entire universe - its creation, sustenance and dissolution are said to arise from the powers of yoga.

The Sapta rishis are said to be immortals through their yogic powers. We see them as stars in the high skies, travelling together.

OK. These are unverifiable folklore stories. But, these folklore stories are several millennia old and show that Yoga was well known and practiced for several millennia, at the least. This last statement is a verifiable, observable fact.

The writings available on Yoga are (i) Yogasutras – of Patanjali Maharshi (ii) Yoga vasishta – as told by Vasishta to Rama and Sita and (iii) Bhagavad Geeta – as told by Lord Krishna to Arjuna and written down by Veda Vyasa. 

Bhagavad Geetha is also called Yoga Sasthra – and  every chapter in it is called a Yoga. The last sloka of each chaper says, this is Geethopanishad and it contains Yoga sasthra within Brahmavidya. 

Many types of Yoga are described in Bhagavad Geetha but in a summarized manner. Bhagavad Geetha is at least 5,500 years old.

Patanjali Maharshi wrote the Yoga sutras and taught them to his disciples in a systematic, scientific manner. There are many folklore stories around Patanjali too. It is difficult to pin down a date on him too. I have dealt with this point in my book, Comprehensive Treatise on Patanjali Yoga Sutras.

I am not much interested in these unverifiable folklore and pre historic data – simply because, these are not verifiable.

But, Yoga, as it stands today, is of extraordinary importance to us.

My 740 page book titled " Comprehensive Treatise on Patanjali Yoga Sutras " deals with all aspects of what Patanjali taught, in his Yoga sutras.

Patanjali’s path is called Ashtanga Yoga – as it comprises  eight limbs or eight steps.

It does not deal with certain aspects of Yoga called Hata Yoga etc.

For Patanjali – Yoga is control of all mind functions and nothing more. 

Why should we control the mind?

Because, Mind is the seat of all thoughts and emotions.

Mind is the seat of happiness, joy, compassion, love, wisdom, intelligence and all other positive emotions. 

Mind is also the seat of all desires, anger, greed, misunderstandings, delusions, pride, enmities, fears and all other negative emotions.

In fact, you live your whole life not in your body but in your mind. Body is the instrument through which mind functions. Therefore, mind control is the only way to success in life.

Mind enables you to see the real worth of everything around you. Mind enables you to take care of your body, your health and all other aspects of our life efficiently. In short, there is nothing you can do well without mind control. You can accomplish everything well, when your mind is under control.

This is what Lord Krishna also says in his Bhagavad Geeta.

Human Minds have certain peculiar characteristics. We pick up certain habits and over a period of time, we become slave to them. Your religion, your language, your food, your friends, your enemies – all are picked up as habits. Some of them become your addictions. Smoking, drinking etc are habits turned into addictions.

We need to be very conscious and cautious in making our  habits. 

Patanjali says – you must be your own Drashta, (or Sakshi)  always.  If you are observing your mind, your mind understands that you are the Master and it is your faithful servant.

If you are not consciously observing your mind and making course corrections frequently, your mind will drag you into wrong paths, wrong habits and wrong addictions very easily.

Your happiness and health therefore depend largely on how you control your mind and steer it away from wrong paths.

One word of caution here. Our external environment is not much under our control at any time. We need to adjust to it. Our internal environment, within our mind, can be potentially under our control. That mind control is called Yoga.

Mind control starts with mind observation. As you observe the mind, as its Sakshi, it automatically, becomes your best friend and most faithful servant. Patanjali Yoga sutras lay down the detailed path for this Mind control.

Patanjali divides his Yoga practices into 8 limbs. He calls them (i) Yama, (ii) Niyama, (iii) Asana, (iv) Pranayama, (v) Pratyahara, (vi) Dharana, (vii) Dhyana and (viii) Samadhi.

Yama consists of certain purificatory processes for the mind – like non violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, Brahmacharya and generosity (not being greedy). 

Niyama consists of ideal living practices like cleanliness of body, acceptance of what is or contentment, discipline or Tapas, study of scriptures and self study and devotion to the divine principle. 

Asana is the real, first action step. It is the way to sit for further practice of Yoga steps like pranayama. There are no hard and fast rules. 

What Asana one chooses depends upon one’s comfort level. The asanas suggested are – Sahajasana or Siddhasana. Padmasana is preferable if you can really sit in it for reasonable time. Adopt whatever is comfortable to you. If you can’t sit on the floor, you can sit on a chair or cot also. Sit on a Yoga Mat preferably.

Pranayama practices include –(i) Anulom-Vilom, (ii) Kapal bhati, (iii) Bhramari (iv) Bhastrika etc. Kapal Bhati is to be performed on reasonably empty stomach only. Learn Asanas and Pranayamas either under a Guru, or, if that is not possible, through some excellent videos of great Indian Yoga masters, available on YouTube.

Pratyahara is the turning away of the mind inwards into itself. You must forget the world and focus on the mind itself.

Dharana – Once mind turns inwards, next step is to keep the focus the mind on some worthwhile objective selected by yourself.

Dhyana – Dharana continued for a reasonable time results in Dhyana. Mind becomes calm and remains on the selected, worthwhile objective. It would be a great experience to stay fixed on an objective for such reasonable length of time.

Samadhi – Dharana becomes Dhyana after some time and Dhyana becomes Samadhi when mind gets into deeper stages. The three combined is also called Samyama. Different Samyama practices are extensively dealt with by Patanjali in the last two chapters of Yoga sutras.

I assume that your are an enthusiastic starter of Ashtanga Yoga. Find a Good Guru. If that is not possible, study the YouTube videos of Great Indian Gurus – on Asanas and Pranayamas several times. Then, start practicing easy Asanas and easy Pranayamas.

Never go for difficult Asanas and difficult Pranayamas. They are unnecessary for Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi steps.

As your Yoga practices become consistent and time bound, you will find a gradual change in your life style. Make your talks softer and pleasant. The world will respond with more pleasant communications towards you. Your patience level increase. Your mind makes yoga as the best ever habit of your life. Your health and resistance to diceases will improve.

Read good books on Yoga and listen to great videos of Great Indian Masters. All of them will give you new insights into Yoga.

When will you start your Yoga journey? Now. Today. That is what Patanjali says. Do not postpone.You will not regret this one decision in your life ever.

I wish you all success, all happiness and a long and healthy life.

God bless you

V.VIJAYAMOHAN