YOGA ITSELF IS UNIVERSAL SANATANA HINDUISM ALBEIT SECT-/CULT-NEUTRAL

 Yoga was first expounded by Hiranyagarbha Brhama to Sankadika-s, then to Vivasvana (Surya) though archaeologists presume it to be some 5000 years old comprising of Brhama-Yoga and Karma-Yoga. Brhama-Yoga was laid down by Sanak, Sanandana, Sanatana, Maharsi Kapil etc. which later came to known as Jnana-, Adhyatma- and Samkhya-Yoga too. Karma-Yoga was elucidated by Vivasvana to Manu, by Manu to Iksvaku and by Iksvaku to other Rsi-s and Maharsi-s as elucidated in Veda-s, oldest scriptures of human civilisation. Yoga Sutra-s were authored by Maharsi Patanjali in 200 BC based on Veda-s, BhagvadGita, Hathyoga Pradipika, Siva-Samhita, Vijnana Bhairava Tantra etc. Out of scores of Bhasya-s authored by many, Vyasa-Bhasya authored during 200-400 BC and Yogavartika by Vijnana Bhiksu are regarded as authentic ones. To attain liberation from sufferings born of ignorance, Maharsi Patanjali composed Yogasutra-s based on his own personal forays into mystical, subtle worlds. In just four chapters, rising from the most basic level of personal disciplines, he reveals the way how to attain the highest plane of existence i.e. Kaivalya. First chapter of Samadhipada pertains to resolution of ones Cetana on an object to cease and desist innumerable mental modifications leading to attainment of the ultimate state i.e. Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Second chapter of Sadhanapada dwells on various techniques i.e. Kriyayoga, on how to attain the state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. It is third chapter of Vibhutipada that dwells deep into the domain of mysticism of various Siddhi-s, extra-ordinary faculties and capabilities which happens to be the subject of this article. Fourth chapter of Kaivalyapada deals with the supreme, infinite and immortal state of existence just in close proximity of Param Brhamatma.  

Yoga is integrated into Vedic wisdom as ‘Tapas’ implying intense asceticism. Upanisad-s mention Yoga variously –

Mahanarayana Upanisad in its entire section dedicated to Tapah Prashamsa i.e. (Glory of Penance) describes Tapas variously as Rta (the Cosmic Order), truth, peace, self-restraint upholding glory of Sannyasa Yoga i.e. Yoga of Renunciation.

ऋतं तपः सत्यं तपः श्रुतं तपः शान्तं तपो दमस्तपः शमस्तपो दानं तपो यज्ञं तपो भूर्भुवः
सुवर्ब्रह्मैतदुपास्वैतत्तपः || (Mahanarayana Upanishad, 10^th Anuvaka)
Kathopanisad expounds nature of and relationship between Atma, organs of cognition, mind and intellect -

आत्मानं रथिनं विद्धि शरीरं रथमेव तु। बुद्धिं तु सारथिं विद्धि मनः प्रगहमेव च ॥

Self is the charioteer, body the chariot and intellect the driver, mind as reins and senses, horses.

Mandukya Upanisad expounds meaning and nature of Yoga as states of Jagrat (wakeful), Svapna (dream), Susupti (deep sleep) and Turiya (state of pure consciousness). Entire Brihadaranyaka Upanisad is indeed an exposition of Moksa Yoga or the Yoga of Liberation. Aitareya Brhamana mentions Brhamarandhra or the Gateway of Bliss located at the center of skull i.e. Sahasrara Chakra of Kundalini Yoga. Other Upanisad-s refer to Yoga in terms of Sravana (concentrated listening), Manana (reflection), and Nidhidhyasana (intense contemplation on learnt) and all essential qualities that an aspirant of Vedanta ought to possess.

Yoga Vasistha attributed to Maharsi Valmiki, author of Ramayana, is a conversation between Sri Rama and Maharsi Vasistha and the main text of Sanatana Hindu philosophy. Srimad BhagvadGita is finally the finest example with copious references to Yoga. All that underscores a fundamental axiom, a few thousand verses on Yoga authored over several centuries occurred before Patanjali systematized Yoga as an independent school of Sanatana Hindu philosophy. Scholars, philosophers, saints and savants of Sanatana Dharma interpreted Yoga Sutra-s in the realm of Vedanta. Bhoja, Vijnanabhiksu, Adi Sankara, Sadasiva Brhamendra and Ramana Maharsi are prominent examples. 

Yoga is one of six Darsana-s of Sanatana Dharma – Nyaya, Vaisesika, Mimansa, Samkhya, Vedanta and Yoga. Eight-fold Astangayoga enunciated by Maharsi Patanjali is a unique step-wise treatise on how to move forward on path to the ultimate liberation and related experiences at every level of enlightenment. In brief, eight constituents of the Yoga are herein as under – 

Yamaniyamasanapranayampratyaharadharanadhyanasamadhyoasta Vangani I (II/29)

Yama (Restraint), Niyama (Observance), Asana (Posture), Pranayama (Regulation of Breath), Pratyahara (Withholding of Senses), Dharana (Fixity of Mind), Dhyana (Meditation) and Samadhi (Perfect Concentration) are eight means of attaining Yoga.

Ahimsasatyasteyabrahmacaryaparigrha Yamah I (II/30)

Ahimsa (Non-Injury), Satya (Truth), Asteya (Abstention from Stealing) Brhamacarya (Continence) and Aparigraha (Abstinence from avariciousness) are five Yama-s.

Saucasantosatapah Svadhyayesvarapranidhanani Niyamah I (II/32)

Sauca (Cleanliness), Santosa (Contentment), Tapa (Austerity of mental and physical discipline), Svadhyaya (Study of scriptures and Japa) and Isvarapranidhana (Devotion to the Supreme) are Niyama-s.

Sthirasukhamasanam I (II/46)

Asana is motionless and agreeable form of staying in the posture.

Tasmin Sati Svasprasvasyorgativicchedah Pranayamah I (II/49)

Asana having been perfected, regulation of flow of inhalation and exhalation is Pranayama.

Svavisayasamprayoge Cittasya Svarupanukar Ivendriyanam Pratyaharah I (II/54)

When separated from their corresponding objects, organs follow, as it were, nature of the mind, that is called Pratyahara (restraining organs).

Desbandhaschittasya Dharana I (III/1)

Dharana is minds fixation on a particular point in space.

Tatta Pratyayaiktanata Dhyanam I (III/2)

In that Dharana, continuous flow of similar mental modifications is called Dhyana (meditation).

Tadevarthamatranirbhasam Svarupasunyamiva Samadhih I (III/3)

When the object of meditation only shines forth in mind as though devoid of the thought of even self (who is meditating), that state is called Samadhi or concentration.

Tapa of Pranayama is Tapa of the highest order, known to humanity. It is the surest, fastest, faith-neutral and the most benign way to purify oneself, be rendered eligible to attain the supreme glory – Moksa, the Ultimate Salvation. Kriya, Bandha, Mudra and Yogic postures are all included in Yoga, none independent of eight elements. All Yoga-s are derived from the basic six i.e. Raj-Yoga, Hatha-Yoga, Laya-Yoga, Jnana-Yoga, Karma-Yoga and Bhakti-Yoga. Prominent Asana-s number 85 while Pranayama 49 over five types of Prana Vayu-s. 112 types of Dhyana, two orders of Samadhi-s i.e. Samprajnata (Vitarka, Vicara, Ananda and Asmitanugata) and Asamprajnata while six orders of Moksa (Sastri, Salokya, Sarupya, Samipya, Samya and Sayujya) as well as 70 Mudra-s contribute to richness of Yoga. 

Yoga is the only way to salvation.

A mountaineer intending to arrive at Mount Radhanath Sikdar (wrongly known as Everest) may come from any corner of the world yet he/she shall have to report at the Base-Camp before embarking on the heroism of summiting. Cosmic journey from the base-camp to the summit constitutes Astangayoga wherein the base-camp is 'Yama' while the summit is 'Samadhi'. Journeys from various corners of the world to base-camp are indeed sects i.e. Islam, Christianity, Judaism, so on and so forth. Marvel of Yoga lies in its complete and absolute objectivity, based on unedited and unadulterated cosmic realities. So much so that even a Muslim-fanatic may dub it as Allah Yoga or a diehard harvester of faith, a Christian-Benedict as Christ/Jesus Yoga !!!  Ultimate salvation is altogether a different proposition which no other pursuit can attain. Ardent pursuit of even Hinduism as a mere religion cannot attain salvation, leave alone Islam or Christianity. 

When Prime Minister Modi launched International Yoga Day on every June 21 massively endorsed by UN members, it led to proliferation of an army of Yoga-preneurs self-baptised as Yoga Guru-s who raised their studios and launched training of Yoga as if discovered by them only. Objective of Yoga-preneurs has been merely to earn US $$ as Fitness-instructers who liberally floated terms like ‘superconsciousness’, ‘quantum’, ‘meditation’, ‘cosmic energy’ etc. as subterfuge to lure innocent ignoramuses. Large numbers in west have adopted Yoga not to attain Adhyatmika advancement leave alone salvation but to be healthier so as to pursue carnal desires more and more. Additionally, a herd of Christian missionaries extensively engaged themselves first in carping at Yoga then seriously attempting to prove complete disconnect between Yoga and Hinduism when the first move embarrassingly failed. They have been zealously pursuing their mission to decimate Sanatana Hinduism so as ensure Bharata be a Christian country. They prefer to address Paranayama as ‘breathing exercise’ and Asana-s as postures to pander to their whims of denying superiority of Sanatana Hinduism over Chriatianity otherwise their sinister agenda of proselytization would collapse into smithereens. They all deserve proceeds of the ancient proverb - || कृतघ्नस्य न निष्कृति: || There is no atonement for the ungrateful. 

Pursuit of Yoga leads to ones advancement on all planes of existence, upgradation of health, disenchantment from the monotony of carnal desires and superior vision of the infinitude. It is Sanatana Hinduism alone that presents Yoga in all its right perspectives. Without that it is reduced to the level of a mere refresher, shallow and insipid. Yoga is the divine gift to the world from Sanatana Hinduism, an undeniable and imperishable axiom.