Ashtanga Yoga This is commonly know as classical yoga contributed by the Father of Yoga, Sage Pathanjali. Through his 8limbs (Ashtanga Yoga) he has given a complete frame work to the Indian yoga than all Previous yoga concepts in terms of 196 Sutra or aphorisms in his great yoga text YOGA SUTRA. Yoga sutra mainly deals with spiritua discipline, You can also call Raja yoga(Royal Yoga) because it is mastery of the Mind and self. Ashtanga Yoga consists of Bahiranga Yoga (Indirect Method) and Antarang Yoga (Direct Method). Bahiranga Yoga or external Yoga has five components: Yama (DON’Ts), Niyama (Do’s), Asana(Posture), Pranayama(Breath Regulation) and Pratyahara (Mastery over senses) Antaranga Yoga has three components : Dharna(intense concentration), Dhyana (Meditation) and Samadhi (State of Super Consciousness). All these explained as below:
There are five
Sanskrit Explanations:
Niyama are also five:
Sanskrit explanation
Sthira Sukham Asanam ( Posture shold be stable and relaxed) Prayatna Saithilya Ananta Samapatibhyam ( (Relax it) by withdrawing the effort and attuning to infinity) Tath Dvandwa Ana-abhi-Gatah ( Then freedom from the pairs of opposite)
Tasmin sati svasa prasvasyoh gati vicchedah pranayama(II-49) After mastering posture, one must practice control of the prana(pranayama) by stopping the motions of inhalation and exhalation. The breath may be stopped externally, or internally, or checked in mid-motion, and regulated according to place, time and a fixed number of moments, so that the stoppage is either protracted or brief
(withdrawal of sense organs “Jnana Indriyas and Karma Indriyas(action organs) SWAVISHAYASAMPRAYOGE CHITHASWAROPANUKARA IVENDRIYANAM PRATYAHARAH When the mind is withdrawn from sense-objects, the sense-organs also withdraw themselves from their objects and are said to imitate the mind. This is known as pratyahara. TATAH PARAMA VASHAYATHENDRIYANAMRA Thence arises complete mastery over the senses
DESHA BANDHA CHITTASYA DHARANA Holding the ‘mind’ at one point is Dharana
TATRA PRATYAYA EKA-TANATA DHYANAM (In the state of meditation) the ‘object’ is retained continuously ( un-interrupted) ( in mind) (Un-interrupted flow of consciousness towards the object)
TADEVA ARTHA MATRA NIRBHASAM, SWARUPA SUNYAM IVA SAMADHI (When) the same object only shines, as if(you) are not there, it is Samadhi ( In the state of samadhi only the object remains, the self is, as if, not there) This is called Triputi bhanga i.e, the merger of the Seer ( Subject), process of seeing and Seen ( Object)