PATANJALI
YOGASUTRAS
CHAPTER.3.
VIBHUTI PAADHA
Vs.27
Bhuvana Jnanam Surye Samyamaath
Ø bhuvana = universe, worlds,
planets
Ø jnanam = knowledge (of)
Ø surye = (on) the sun
Ø samyamaath = By
performance of samyama on
By performance of Samyama on the Sun, the Sadhaka
attains the knowledge of the worlds (or Universe). How does one do Samyama on
Sun?
One view is - that Sun in this sutra - is that
part of our body / consciousness which is identified with Sun and is more under
influence of the Sun.
Some identify it with Sex organs, or muladhara
Chakra, or with Suryanadi (or Pingala)controlling the right nostril breathing.
Surya Nadi and Chandra Nadi start at Muladhara.
From there, they criss-cross all over the body, meet at all the intermediate
chakras and finally converging at the Ajna Chakra.
At Nostril level, the right nostril is associated
with the Sun, or Suryanadi, which controls its functioning. Slightly hotter air
flows through it, compared to left nostril.
Pranayamas focusing only on breathing through either
one of the nostrils (closing the other nostril) thus gives benefits associated
with it. Pranayama on Surya or Chandra nadi independently – should not be done for
too much time, in one go. About a minute or two are enough. Then, there should
be a gap of time. This is a safety precaution for pranayama on Surya / Chandra
nadi done independently. Up to this time level, its benefits are excellent.
Pranayama with only the right nostril heats up the body – and is recommended
when there is chillness around.
Pingala Nadi (corresponds to Surya nadi) travels
on right side of body and is the flow of male energy in the body. Ida,
corresponding to Chandra nadi, travels on left side and controls female energy.
But, both cross each other at each major chakra point.
Surya Meditation is built into various regular practices.
At Brahma muhurtha in early morning hours, Sadhaka must perform his dhyana,
which is basically Sun Meditation. It is done facing East, and concentrating on
the first rays of the sun, with closed eyes. Many Yogis are said to attain the capability to live without
food and water –doing this surya meditation, which comes very effortlessly to
many.
In recent past, one meditator by name Prahlad
Jani, was in the news. He was tested in labs – and is found to survive without food, water,
urination and defecation for a long time. He claims that – he has been
surviving without food and water for several decades now.
From the description of what he says – he is evidently performing
surya meditation effectively. This routine practice ends with Surya Namaskara
in the early morning hours, a physical practice which gives enormous
flexibility to all body organs. A recital of Aditya hridayam, a hymn dedicated
to Sun, also is a part of this.
The question arises – is Patanjali referring to
all this, or, to something else. My strong conviction is – he is referring to
all this – AND SOME THING MORE. Patanjali’s
Samyama is absolute consciousness on a single object – in this case, the Sun.
Whether you concentrate on external sun or internal sun – is not material.
Ultimately, all concentration happens in mind – and not outside. Samyama
happens inside mind. And, once the threshold of Meditation passes a certain
level, every cell of the body participates in meditation – and becomes one with
the object of meditation.
Body consciousness is totally displaced by
meditation consciousness. The object of Meditation gradually loses its
significance and then – only the consciousness remains, with all qualities of
the object. As we saw in previous Samyamas, when Sadhaka does Samyama on elephant,
its whole strength becomes his. Every cell of him responds like an elephant –
not just the mind.
Samyama is just that. Involve your totality in
the Meditation – and then, it happens. Don’t seek the result. Involve totally
and become that.
Now – when we do Samyama on Sun –Our
consciousness travels along with Sun’s rays. Wherever Sun’s rays go – our consciousness
and knowledge extends to it. Actually, we don’t know Sun at all; we only know Sun’s
rays. We do Samyama on the rays of Sun – and thereby gain the knowledge of all
worlds to which the Sun’s rays travel. Meditation in Brahma Muhurtha makes it
instantly clear.
Vs.28
Chandre Taaraa vyooha Jnanam
Ø chandre = On the Moon
Ø taaraa = of
stars
Ø vyuha = System, their arrangement (vis a vis each
other)
Ø jnanam = knowledge
When
Sadhaka performs Samyama on Moon, his knowledge extends to the arrangement
of stars.
Moon
is so near and so small. Stars are so far but so big. So, how does Samyama on
Moon who is so near lead to knowledge of arrangement of stars which are so far?
Is Patanjali ignorant of these distances and sizes?
Yogi’s
botheration is not with externalities, distances and sizes. He meditates on his
perceptions only. He starts with what his five senses and mind tell him. Only
that imprint of what he sees and perceives - is available to his mind. It is good enough
for the meditation.
Second
point is – all that is outside us, is also inside us, in miniature form. We are
a replica of the Universe in a miniature
form. All human beings are inside us. All animals are inside us. All planets
and stars are inside us. We see them inside us only.
We
do not see the stars, planets or human beings outside. We see only their
miniature forms, their images - inside us.
Vs.29
Dhruve thath gati jnanam
Ø dhruve = By Samyama on the Pole star
Ø thath = their
Ø gati = movement
Ø jnanam = knowledge
Pole star is a significant star. It is visible at
a single place always – and gives us guidance about movement of other stars. Even
routine examination of the sky and relative positions of other stars with
reference to Pole star – gives us huge knowledge about their movements.
Many persons are capable of telling the time
correctly at night by looking at the star positions, relative to Pole star.
Samyama is nothing but extending the attention /
concentration on the Pole star some more and doing Samyama on it. The Samyama
will reveal to the Sadhaka about the trajectories of various other stars in the
sky.
Vs.30
Naabhi Chakre kaaya vyooha jnanam
Ø naabhi = navel point
Ø chakre = the chakra (doing Samyama on )
Ø kaaya = of the body
Ø vyooha = systematic arrangement
Ø jnanam = knowledge
Navel centre is special in our body. It was at
this centre – that we were connected with the mother – for all of our needs –
until we were born. In many ways, it is the centre of the body. It has all the
intelligence about the systemic arrangement of the Sadhaka’s body.
When Sadhaka does Samyama - on his navel centre – all the knowledge about
the systemic arrangement of his body – is revealed to him.
The chakra at the navel point is called Manipura
chakra. The sound “ram” (rum) – activates this chakra. The chakra meditation on
Manipura is performed with chanting of this sound in a particular way.
Samyama is done – not as chakra dhyana but with
dharana on the navel chakra – proceeding further into dhyana and Samadhi.
In yogic parlance, Manipura Chakra is depicted as
a ten-petalled circular chakra – with an inverted triangle in the middle. Prana
Sakthi from it is radiated to all directions by “Samana” vayu, which is said to
stabilize and regulate the prana sakthi in all organs. Samana – means equilibrium;
vayu means the air which carries it. One can see the Yogic posture of Buddha
and other yogis, who meditate with Palms pressing on manipura chakra.
Samana vayu is always active in carrying
equilibrium power to all organs. Sadhaka follows the path of this chakra in his Dharana
and Dhyana – and acquires deep knowledge of how all organs in the body work.
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