In today’s world general understanding of Yoga word is often confined with Yoga Asana आसन (literary meaning seated position) which is only third step approaching towards Yoga.
The word Yoga in philosophical term means to unite (with Supreme Being). Yoga is ultimate aim given in Indian philosophy.
I am writing few lines about yoga in reference to Patanjali’s Astanga Yoga.
अष्टांग अष्ट = Asht is for eight in Sanskrit and अंग = anga means part
यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि
1. Yama (यम) Contain or Forbear
2. Niyam (नियम) principle and rules
3. Aasana (आसन) the arrangement of the body and its limbs in particular manners for physical and mental wellness
4. Pranayam (प्राणायाम) to control breath (life force)
5. Pratyahaar (प्रत्याहार) withdraw from desires
6. Dharna (धारणा) assiduousness
8. Samadhi (समाधि) State of a living self in deep meditation and different consciousness level. The state of body visibly still for others.
यम Yama: (to Contain or Forbear) self control is the first step towards Yoga. Yajnavalka Smriti gives subdivision of ten these are …
ब्रह्मचर्यं दया क्षान्तिर्दानं सत्यम कल्कता अहिंसाऽस्ते यमाधुर्ये दमश्चेति यमाः स्मृताः
याज्ञवल्क स्मृति Yājñavalkya Smṛti
1. Brahmcharya ब्रह्मचर्य celibacy
2. Daya दया Compassion
3. Kshanti क्षान्ति Fortitude/Patient (adjective)
4. Daan दान Charity
5. Satya सत्य Speaking Truth
6. Akalka अकल्क Free of extraneous elements of any kind
7. Ahimsa अहिंसा non-violence or not to harm anyone in any manner by thought(mansa), word (Vaacha), or deed (karmana)
8. Asteya अस्तेय non-stealing
9. Madhurya माधुर्य Sweetly
10 Dama दम curtail / inhibit
In Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras (Astanga Yoga) gives details of five of these Yama.
अहिंसा सत्य अस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्य अपरिग्रह यमः||
साधना पद
1. Ahimsa (अहिंसा): non-violence
2. Satya (सत्य): truth speaking
3. Asteya (अस्तेय): non stealing
4. Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): celibacy.
5. Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह): absence of desire of owning
In Hatha Yoga ten types of Yama are mentioned.
अहिंसा सत्यम् अस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यं क्षमा धृतिः।
दयार्जवं मिताहारः शौचं चैव यमा दश॥ हठ-योग-१.१७॥
1. Ahimsa (अहिंसा) non-violence
2. Satya (सत्य) truth speaking
3. Asteya (अस्तेय) non stealing
4. Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य) celibacy
5. Kshama (क्षमा) Forgiveness
6. Dhriti (धृति) assimilate
7. Daya (दया) Compassion
8. Arjava (अर्जव) innocence
9. Mitahara (मितहार) balanced consumption of food
10. Shaucha (शौच) purity
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