Patanjali yoga sutras

Patanjali yoga sutras

Yoga means communication of human soul with the supreme soul. In yoga Psycho-physiological aspect is of profound importance. Patanjali yoga sutras written 2500 years ago, which emanates in a scientific manner how to control through process which makes mind powerful enough to focus on an subject. The book is divided into four sections with 195 sutras.

1.    Samadhi pada-51 sutras

2.    Sadhana pada – 55 sutras

3.    Vibhuti pada – 55 sutras

4.    Kaivalya pada – 34 sutras

Samadhi pada deals with the aims and objectives of yoga. Sadhana pada deals with kriya yoga astanga yoga.

Astanga yoga:-  Patanjali divided Astanga yoga broadly into two categories.

1.    Bahiranga (external) 2. Antaranga (internal) for perfection of yoga.

Category-I:

1. Yama:- Abstinences 2. Niyama:- Obsences 3. Asana:- Postures 4. Pranayama- breathing techniques. The first four constitute physical hygiene.

Category-II:

5. Pratyahara:- withdrawal or control of sences.

6. Dharana:- concentration – continued attention to be object or idea.

7. Dhyana:- Meditation

8. Samadhi:- Culmination of yoga effort to sub line equanimity.

Hatha Yoga:- Hathayoga prescribes six purificatory techniques viz: Shatkarnas 1. Neti – Nasal cleaning 2. Dhouti – Internal cleaning 3. Stomach washing Basthi 4. Nauli- Abdominal cleaning 5. Trataka:-  gazing for optical nerves.

Hatha yoga :- Hathayoga prescribes six purification techniques (ie) Shat Karma viz:

1.    Neti – Nasal cleaning

2.    Dhauti – Internal cleaning

3.    Basthi:- Stomach washing

4.    Nauli – Abdominal cleaning

5.    Trataka:- Gazing for optical nerves

6.    Kaphalabati:- Purification of cranial region

1. Spinal chord and brain constitute the central nervous system it should be kept in healthy condition.

2. The proper functioning of endocrine glands and the chemical reaction in the body are considered important in yoga.

Thus Asanas, Mudras internal exercise for activity the glands and pranayama are the main techniques which are followed to keep the physical system fit and healthy.

Asanas are physical exercises which effect muscular system fatigue exhaustion, sloth etc… are avoided in yoga practices.

2.    The third section on physical powers that a yogi obtains by practicing yoga. The vibhuthi pada yoga sutras talk about how by concentrating on various subjects like Akash (sky) or various parts of body a yogi understands the laws of universe and human body and gain mastery over natural forces so that he attains super powers. He could work on water; fly in the space or enter another body at will. At the end of Vibhuti pada that has 55 sutras patanjali. It discusses the concept of space and time in to two suntras of uncanny resemblance to what Einstein talked about almost 2500 years later.

Patanjali says “ by making sanyam a combination of concentration meditation and Samadhi on a single moment and on the sequence of moment a yogi get vivek exalted knowledge so that he can comprehended all objects in the  universe simultaneously irrespective of their location and sequence of change in other words the mind of god.

Similarly there are other sutras that bear close resemblance to modern scientific theories. For example in the first section patanjali describes god as a special entity beyond time and space identified by original world sound.

According to existing scientific theories about the origin of the universe the first thing that came out was sound even before light and matter. Later commentaries on yoga sutra talk about this sound as Aum but patanjali never mentioned Aum he just mentioned that it is the original word or sound.

Again in vubhuti pada he says that by doing sanyam on the hallow throat one never comes hunger and thirst (Anil k. Rajvamshi – speaking tree T01.29.11.2016)

Vibhuti pada deals with qualified nature emancipation, attainment of meta physical world acquisition of external power self realization, jwan mukhi and salvation of death.

Spiral chord and brain constitutes the central nervous system. It should be kept in healthy conditions

The proper functioning of endocrines glands and chemical reactions in the body are considered important in Yoga

Thus Asanas mudras internal exercise for activating glands and Pranayama are the main techniques which are allowed to keep the physical system fit and healthy

Asanas are physical exercise which effect muscular system, fatigue, exhaustion, sloth tec are avoided in yoga practice. Thong 84 asanas are recorded the principle asanas are

1.Surya Namaskar

2.padmasana

3. Sarvangasana

4. Matyasana

5. Yoga mudrasana

6. Artha matyendryasana

7.Halasana

8. Bhujangasana

9. Dhanurasana

10. Ardha chakrasana

11. Mayurasana

12. Shirshasana

13. Shalabhasana

Shat Karmas (6 purification techniques)

Shatkarmas help in keeping the internal organs clean. The central nervous system alone is not important. The body also as endocrine glands like

1.    Pencal

2.      Pitutory

3.      Thyroid

4.      Para thyroid

5.      Thymus

6.      Adrenaline

These glands secrets hormones and their secretion flow into the bloodstream. It is therefore essential to keep these endocrine glands functioning properly. Mudras are symbolic hand gestures ………at revitalisation of glands and integral internal organs.

Pranayama:-

The third important technique is Pranayama which helps to keep the physical apparatus (lungs) pure and also to control regulate and channelise the mento -emotions being of man controlled and rhythmical and regular breathing in Pranayama is essential while exhaling the respiratory system takes in oxygen and exhaling it discharges carbon dioxide. Oxidation of the system makes body pure light and active. Pranayama is a technique of conservation and distribution of life forces (oxygen)

Caste system

The caste system was originally a fourfold matrix of social division based on broad generic classification of social functions intellectual rulers’ merchant class and artisans. Not birth based and more horizontal than vertical each Varna originally formed a social riche where Jatis entered and left as per the compose socio-political dynamics of Indian history

Caste based discrimination is a human rights violation.

Emergence of castes form claws of forest dwellers, professionals groups or religious sects.