Elements of Yoga as mentioned in Vedas
Yoga is derived from Sanskrit which means ” to unite or be with everything and everyone”. Shiva also referred to Adiyoga in the Yogic culture is considered to be the originator of Yoga. Lord Shiva was seen doing things that were unknown to the people and everyone was interested to know more about it. A lot of people wanted to know about it out of curiosity and only seven of them managed to stay back. The seven of them were ignored by Lord Shiva but they were insistent about what they wanted to learn. It was said that Lord Shiva ignored them despite their begging and told them it requires a lot of preparation and dedication.
The Saptarishis started preparing and after eighty-four years of preparation and Sadhana during the Dakshinayana, Shiva saw them as shining receptacles of knowing. Shiva then transformed into a guru also known as the first Adi-Guru and taught the Yogic Vidhya to the seven of them on the banks of Kanti Sarovar. The seven of them became the basic forms of Yoga which are followed to date by people worldwide.
The Elements of Yoga as mentioned in Rig Veda
“YogahaKarmasuKoushalam” is mentioned in Bhagwat Gita which means attaining excellence in the work we are entitled to do. The Rigveda mentions the elements of Yoga and is also considered as one of the oldest of all the Vedas. The great Gayatri Mantra which is known by each SanatanDharmik is derived from Rig Veda. The Rig Veda consists of a combination of hymns and mantras which is believed to stabilize the mind, body, and soul from within. The word Yoga and its meaning first originated in Rig Veda as it is one of the oldest Vedas. The hymns and mantras are used during meditation which is considered to be very effective.
8 Elements of Yoga
The eight important elements of yoga are Yama, Niyam, Asanas, Pranayams, Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.
- The Yamas are the moral requirements of how we stay in our society. The non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, and self-restraint are explained in Yama.
- The Niyamas refers to self-discipline which makes us better human beings. The duties towards our body and mind make us clear about our needs and results in the feeling of being wholesome.
- The Asanas help us to meditate and pay attention to our surroundings. The body is considered as the temple of the spirit ad it should be trained well to detoxify from within to attain purity.
- The Pranayama refers to the respiratory exercises that help us rejuvenate our body and helps to live a healthy life.
- The Pratyahara refers to observing our cravings and letting them dissolve in thin air. The withdrawal will help us to look at ourselves realistically and start a journey from within.
- The Dharana refers to deeply focusing our thoughts and it precedes Dhyana. The Dharana is a psychological focus that specializes in the single sound factor.
- The Dhyana refers to meditation which is a fully uninterrupted focus with quiet or nonetheless thoughts.
- The Samadhi refers to the state of being fully conscious about our surroundings and is often referred to as a state of bliss or ecstasy.
Conclusion:
Yoga is widely known for the magic that it holds within it. One who practices Yoga is often considered to be calm and composed by nature and is mentally in a better state of mind. The benefits of Yoga cannot be explained in words and can only be felt by the ones who do it religiously every single day.