Yoga In India

Introduction to Yoga: Yogasana:

The aim of Yogasana (Yoga Posture) is to attain transquility of the body. It is the first step in yoga, as it leads to transquility of body and mind. Before doing Yogasana's we should first look into the concept of Asana in the eyes of Patanjali. He says "stira sukhamasanam". Asana should be firm and comfirtable. Based on this aphorism we should move in to the practice of Asanas. According to some scriptures there are only eighty four Asanas. Some says there are eighty four lac Asanas. They mean Asanas are countless.

Authorative scripture on Yogasana, Hathayoga Pradipike lists only few Asanas and proceeds to Pranayama and other practices. Sage Patanjali in his Patanjala Yoga Darshana gives only three sutras (Aphorisms) for Asana.

First Sutra on Asana is "stira sukhamasanam".
Second Sutra on Asana is "prayatnasheythilyaananta samapattibhyam". And
Third Sutra on Asana is "tato dvandvaanabhighataha".

On the first sutra, great commentaror Vyasa says "That which is firm and comfirtable is Asana. He says some Asanas, they are, Padmasana (Lotus posture), Virasana, Bhadrasana, Swastikasana, Dandasana, Paryankaasana, Krounchanishadaasana, Hastinishadana, Ushtranishadana and Samasamsthaana.

On second Sutra he comments, you get success in doing Asanas by minimizing your efforts and meditating on Anantha or infinity. Anantha is also God serpents. It is a customary practice in Yoga to begin practice by soluting the God Anantha.

On the third Sutra he says when one succeeds in doing Asanas he will not be affected by opposites i.e., cold or heat and other things.

The view of Patanjali is very much different from ordinary physical culture. In his view Asana is an aid to advanced practices of Yoga. Body is the foundation for all spiritual practices. It should help one in doing meditations for long time. Patanjali gives only broad outlines for doing yogasana. He does not prescribe a particular Asana, how much one should breath, whether in right or left nostril etc. Asana is the first step in the sadhana of getting into subtle realms of mind through body.

In the next sutra Patanjali tells a wonderful thing. Success in Asana comes by minimizing the effort. This will look absurd to modern mind. How success can be achieved by lessening the effort? How is it possible? Modern mind is filled with the idea that more effort leads to quick success. But the eastern mind thinks the other way. Yoga should not be done as in body building exercises. In these physical exercises increase in efforts leads in increase in body size and strength. Understand the subtlity of this Sutra. Patanjali says to minimize the efort while doing Asana. He means Asanas should not be done forcibly. Persistent and minimized effort will lead in quick success in Asanas. Hard and forcible practices should be avoided. Patanjali advocates a smoother and body friendly method of doing Yogasana.

In the second part of the second aphorism on Yogasana Patanjali says Asana will be achieved by meditating on Anantha, "prayatnasheythilyaananta samapattibhyam". What is Anantha? According to some Anantha is the King of Serpents. Anantha is the name of infinity also. One meaning of this Sutra is by meditating on the infinite Asana will be achieved. According to Vysa meditating on Lord Anantha Yogasana becomes easy by the grace of Lord Anantha. Patanjali's greatness is that, he deduced these Sutras as mathematical formulas. He is more of a mathematician than a seer.

All great personolities like Buddha, Christ, Mahavira; although they were enlightened they become emotional at some point. Patanjali differs from them at this point. At no point in his Sutras he becomes emotional. He does not advocate a theory or dogmas. He shows a way which is logical and mathematical. He gives you methods by which you can realize the truth yourself.

Then in the third Sutra he says after the Asana is achieved the practitioner will not be affected by the opposites, such as cold or heat. When practitioner is stabilized in Asana he will not experience cold or heat. Even extreme cold or extreme heat cannot affect him. This is a very important step in the long journey of Yoga Sadhana. Patanjali tells the Sadhaka to proceed to Pranayama after achieving success in Asana.