YOGA

1. Yama
Balance with the society

8. Samadhi
Achieving union

7. Dhyana
Attaining contemplation

3. Asana
Work on the body

4. Pranayama
Work on the breath

5. Prathyahara
Work on the mind

6. Dharana
Adopting concentration

2. Niyama
Balance with the self

  • 1
    Yama
    Balance with the society
  • 2
    Niyama
    Balance with the self
  • 3
    Asana
    Work on the body
  • 4
    Pranayama
    Work on the breath
  • 5
    Prathyahara
    Work on the mind
  • 6
    Dharana
    Adopting concentration
  • 7
    Dhyana
    Attaining contemplation
  • 8
    Samadhi
    Achieving union
Limb
Process
Effect
Yama
Balance with the society
Better character and conduct
Niyama
Balance with the self
Better hygiene and dedication
Asana
Work on the body
Better health and strength
Pranayama
Energetic Control
Experience the life force
Pratyahara
Sensory control
Focusing the conscious mind
Dharana
Internal concentration
Control of memory recall
Dhyana
Total contemplation
Stoppage of thoughts
Samadhi
Dissolution of the ego
Realization of the self

The 18 chapters of Shreemadbhagavadgeetha

अर्जुनविषादयोग

साङ्ख्ययोग

कर्मयोग

ज्ञानकर्मसन्यासयोग

कर्मसन्न्यासयोग

आत्मसंयमयोग

ज्ञानविज्ञानयोग

अक्षरब्रह्मयोग

राजविद्याराजगुह्ययोग

विभूतियोग

विश्वरूपदर्शनयोग

भक्तियोग

क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञविभागयोग

गुणत्रयविभागयोग

पुरुषोत्तमयोग

दैवासुरसम्पद्विभागयोग

श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोग

मोक्षसन्यासयोग

॥ योग-निरूपणा ॥

Definitions of yoga

Yujyathe anena ithi yogaH | <br><br>- The etymology of the word "yoga".<br>The one, through which union happens, is you
1. युज्यते अनेन इति योगः ।
"योग" शब्दस्य व्युत्पत्तिः

Yujyathe anena ithi yogaH |

- The etymology of the word "yoga".
The one, through which union happens, is you

YogaH chiththavrththiH nirodhaH |<br>- Yogasoothra of Pathanjali 1-2<br><br>Yoga is the restraint of the activity of the memory
2. योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः ।
पातञ्जल योगसूत्र १-२

YogaH chiththavrththiH nirodhaH |
- Yogasoothra of Pathanjali 1-2

Yoga is the restraint of the activity of the memory

ManaH prashamanaH upAyaH yogaH ithi abhidheeyathe |<br>- YogavAsiShTha<br><br>The strategy to make the mind pacified is called as yoga.
3. मनः प्रशमनोपायः योग इत्यभिधीयते ।
योगवासिष्ठ

ManaH prashamanaH upAyaH yogaH ithi abhidheeyathe |
- YogavAsiShTha

The strategy to make the mind pacified is called as yoga.

YogasthaH kuru karmANi sangam thyakthwA dhananjaya | Siddhi-asiddhyaH samaH bhoothwA samathwam yoga uchyathe ||<br><br>-BhagavadgeethA of VedavyAsa 2-48<br><br>Hey Dhananjaya, remaining equalized in between the accomplishments and the non-accomplishments, renouncing the association, perform the actions, you being remained in yoga.<br>Equanimity is yoga.
4. योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय ।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥ भगवद्गीता २-४८

YogasthaH kuru karmANi sangam thyakthwA dhananjaya | Siddhi-asiddhyaH samaH bhoothwA samathwam yoga uchyathe ||

-BhagavadgeethA of VedavyAsa 2-48

Hey Dhananjaya, remaining equalized in between the accomplishments and the non-accomplishments, renouncing the association, perform the actions, you being remained in yoga.
Equanimity is yoga.

BuddhiyukthaH jahAthi iha ubhe sukrtha-dushkrthe |<br>ThasmAth yogAya yujyaswa yogaH karmasu koushalam ||<br>- BhagavadgeethA of VedavyAsa 2-50<br><br>The intellectual one relinquishes here, both the good actions and the bad actions. Therefore, unite yourself to yoga. Skillfulness in actions is yoga.
5. बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते ।
तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् ॥
भगवद्गीता २-५०

BuddhiyukthaH jahAthi iha ubhe sukrtha-dushkrthe |
ThasmAth yogAya yujyaswa yogaH karmasu koushalam ||
- BhagavadgeethA of VedavyAsa 2-50

The intellectual one relinquishes here, both the good actions and the bad actions. Therefore, unite yourself to yoga. Skillfulness in actions is yoga.

JnAnendriyANi sarvANi nigrhya manasa saha |<br>Ekathwa bhAvanA yogaH kshethrajna paramAthmanoH ||<br>- VishNupurANam of VedavyAsa<br><br>After restraining all of the sense organs along with the mind, the feeling of oneness with the knower of the body the absolute self, is yoga.
6. ज्ञानेन्द्रियाणि सर्वाणि निगृह्य मनसा सह ।
एकत्वभावना योगः क्षेत्रज्ञपरमात्मनोः ॥
विष्णुपुराणम्

JnAnendriyANi sarvANi nigrhya manasa saha |
Ekathwa bhAvanA yogaH kshethrajna paramAthmanoH ||
- VishNupurANam of VedavyAsa

After restraining all of the sense organs along with the mind, the feeling of oneness with the knower of the body the absolute self, is yoga.

JnAnam yogAthmakam viddhi yogaH cha ashtAngasamyutaH |<br>samyogaH yogaH ithi ukthaH jeevAthma-paramAthmanoH ||<br>Yoga yAjnavalkya 1-44<br><br>Know that the knowledge is characterized by yoga, and yoga comprises of eight limbs. The union of the living self with the absolute self is called as yoga.
7. ज्ञानं योगात्मकं विद्धि योगश्चाष्टाङ्गसंयुतः ।
संयोगः योग इत्युक्तः जीवात्म-परमात्मनोः ॥ योग याज्नवल्क्य १-४४

JnAnam yogAthmakam viddhi yogaH cha ashtAngasamyutaH |
samyogaH yogaH ithi ukthaH jeevAthma-paramAthmanoH ||
Yoga yAjnavalkya 1-44

Know that the knowledge is characterized by yoga, and yoga comprises of eight limbs. The union of the living self with the absolute self is called as yoga.

IjyAchAra-dama-ahimsA-dAna-swAdhyAya-karmaNAm |<br>Ayam thu paramaH dharmaH yath yogena Athmadarshanam ||<br>YAjnavalkya smrthiH<br><br>Out of the actions such as worshiping customs, self-restraint, non-violence, charity, study of the self, this is the best practice, yoga, through which self is realized
8. इज्याचारदमाहिंसादानस्वा ध्यायकर्मणाम् ।
अयं तु परमो धर्मो यद्योगेन आत्मदर्शनम् ॥ याज्ञवल्क्यस्मृतिः

IjyAchAra-dama-ahimsA-dAna-swAdhyAya-karmaNAm |
Ayam thu paramaH dharmaH yath yogena Athmadarshanam ||
YAjnavalkya smrthiH

Out of the actions such as worshiping customs, self-restraint, non-violence, charity, study of the self, this is the best practice, yoga, through which self is realized

YogaH samAdhiH |<br><br>- VyAsa's commentary on the yogasoothra<br>Yoga is the same as the higher one.
9. योगः समाधिः ।
व्यासभाष्य

YogaH samAdhiH |

- VyAsa's commentary on the yogasoothra
Yoga is the same as the higher one.

SamAdhiH samathA avasthA jeevAthma-paramAthmanaH |<br>- Yogathaththwa upanishath<br><br>SamAdhi is the state of equanimity in between the living self and the absolute self.
10. समाधिः समतावस्था जीवात्मपरमात्मनोः ।
योगतत्त्वोपनिषत्

SamAdhiH samathA avasthA jeevAthma-paramAthmanaH |
- Yogathaththwa upanishath

SamAdhi is the state of equanimity in between the living self and the absolute self.

Thadeva arthamAthra nirbhAsam swaroopashoonyam iva samAdhiH|<br>-Yogasoothra of Pathanjali 3-3<br><br>Only the comprehension becomes evident, as same as the form of the self becoming devoid, that itself is SamAdhi.
11. तदेवार्थमात्रनिर्भासं स्वरूपशून्यमिव समाधिः ।
पातञ्जल योगसूत्र ३-३

Thadeva arthamAthra nirbhAsam swaroopashoonyam iva samAdhiH|
-Yogasoothra of Pathanjali 3-3

Only the comprehension becomes evident, as same as the form of the self becoming devoid, that itself is SamAdhi.

JeevAthma-paramAthma aikyA avasthA thripuTee rahithA paramAnanda swaroopa shuddhachaithanya AthmikA samAdhiH |<br>-ShAnDilya upanishath<br><br>The state of unity of the living self with the absolute self, deprived of the threefold existence (knower, knowledge, known), absolute bliss form of the self, characterized by the pure consciousness, is SamAdhi.
12. जीवात्मपरमात्मैक्यावस्था त्रिपुटीरहिता परमानन्दस्वरूपा शुद्धचैतन्यात्मिका समाधिः।
शाण्डिल्योपनिषत्

JeevAthma-paramAthma aikyA avasthA thripuTee rahithA paramAnanda swaroopa shuddhachaithanya AthmikA samAdhiH |
-ShAnDilya upanishath

The state of unity of the living self with the absolute self, deprived of the threefold existence (knower, knowledge, known), absolute bliss form of the self, characterized by the pure consciousness, is SamAdhi.

Shaishave abhyastha vidyAnAm youvane vishaya eshiNAm |<br>VArdhake munivrththeenAm yogena anthe thanu thyajAm ||<br>- Raghuvamsha of KAlidAsa<br><br>The branches of knowledge should be studied in the childhood, the desires are to be fulfilled in the youth, should live like a saint in the adulthood, at the end, should leave the body by means of yoga.
13. शैशवे अभ्यस्त विद्यानां यौवने विषयैषिणाम् ।
वार्धके मुनिवृत्तीनां योगेनान्ते तनुत्यजाम् ॥ - रघुवंश

Shaishave abhyastha vidyAnAm youvane vishaya eshiNAm |
VArdhake munivrththeenAm yogena anthe thanu thyajAm ||
- Raghuvamsha of KAlidAsa

The branches of knowledge should be studied in the childhood, the desires are to be fulfilled in the youth, should live like a saint in the adulthood, at the end, should leave the body by means of yoga.

Indram mithram varuNam agnim AhuH atha divyaH saH suparNaH garuthman |<br>ekam sath viprAH bahudhA vadanthi agnim yamam matharishwAnam AhuH ||<br>Rgveda 1.164.46<br><br>Now they call Him as Indra, Mithra, Varuna, Agni, the divine One, He, the noble winged GaruthmAn. It is the One reality that the wise ones speak of in diverse ways, and tell as Agni, Yama, MAtharishwa.
14. इन्द्रं मित्रं वरुणमग्निमाहुरथो दिव्यः स सुपर्णो गरुत्मान् ।
एक सद्विप्रा बहुधा वदन्त्यग्निं यमं मातरिश्वानमाडुः ॥ ऋग्वेद १.१६४.४६

Indram mithram varuNam agnim AhuH atha divyaH saH suparNaH garuthman |
ekam sath viprAH bahudhA vadanthi agnim yamam matharishwAnam AhuH ||
Rgveda 1.164.46

Now they call Him as Indra, Mithra, Varuna, Agni, the divine One, He, the noble winged GaruthmAn. It is the One reality that the wise ones speak of in diverse ways, and tell as Agni, Yama, MAtharishwa.

7 Books which everyone must read

1. Autobiography of a yogi - Paramahamsa Yogananda
2. Living with the Himalayan Masters - Swami Rama
3. Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master - Sri M.
4. Doorways to light - Krishnananda
5. Laws of the spirit world - Khorshed Bhavanagari
6. The Third eye - Tuesday Lobsang Rampa
7. Yoga, Enlightenment and Perfection - Sri Vidyatheertha Foundation

TEXT BOOKS FOR YOGA

Bhagavadgeetha

by Maharshi Vedavyasa

Hatayogapradeepika

by Swathmarama

Yogayajnavalkya

by unknown yogi

Gherandasamhitha

by Maharshi Gheranda

Shivasamhitha

by unknown yogi

Yogashasthra

by Daththathreya

Hatarathnavalee

by Sreenivasa

Upanishads on yoga

by unknown rishi

Yogasoothra

by Maharshi Pathanjali

Yogavasishta

by unknown yogi