Now-a-days, we find many people talking about yoga and yogic postures, but not many of them really know about the rich history of yoga. They only limit their thinking with a belief that yoga is nothing but a mere exercise and really nothing to do with a systematic understanding. Yoga is a way to move towards spiritual destination. Yoga aids us in a 3-fold pattern. It improves our physical health, mental health and spiritual health.
Although there are a wide numbers of controversies concerning the accurate time period of evolution of yogic philosophy, the history of yoga primarily evolves around 4000-8000 years back to the current time. Except only a few disagree, but most of the researchers claim that Indus Valley civilization is the birth place of yoga. Originated as an integral segment of Hindu Philosophy, the discussion of yoga was found in Jain and Buddhist scriptures in later times followed by a considerable adaptation into materialistic life in the shade of modern coloring.
Needless to say but the application of yoga still stands straight even today. In this post, we will understand yoga as it was constituted in different time line.
Pre-Vedic Phase (ca. 6000BCE-3000BCE) & Vedic Phase (ca. 2000BCE-1500BCE)
While some researchers sincerely believe that the actual origin of yoga was rooted into Vedic age, some strongly believe that it has some more ancient roots, that is, pre-Vedic phase. Pre-Vedic phase implies that the actual origin of yoga was untouched by Aryans as explained by Vedic shastras. In truth, the advocators of this hypothesis emphasize on the pre-Vedic scriptures in support of their claim.
On the other hand, several researchers such as David Frawley disagree with this fact that yoga has any pre-Vedic root, rather he claimed that Vedic shastras had been illustrated with a proven fact of the Vedic root for yoga's existence. The later group of people believes that the history of yoga began not before than 4000 years back and this group of researchers puts a special emphasis over Rig Veda to trace back to the evolvement of yogic cultures and practices.
Upanishadic Phase (ca. 800-100BCE)
The clear picture of yogic culture and yogic practices took their appropriate shape during the age of Upanishada. As described in Maitrayaniya Upanishad, developed between ca. 200BCE and 300BCE, Yoga of that time characteristically refers to Shadanga, sub-divided under six correlated but distinctive segments – Pranayama (deep breathing), Pratyahara (reticence of sensory organs), Dharana (center of attention), Dhyana (meditation, Tarka (argumentative investigation) and Samadhi (blissful state).
As illustrated in the Katha Upanishad, the development of yogic practices largely relies on the combination of five tools of wisdom in relation to the mind control and intellectual attainment of the Supreme State of Consciousness. Throughout the time-line of history of yoga, the practice of yoga makes it certain that the controlling the senses is directed towards the understanding of the law of nature with a deep understanding of the universal force.
The Classical Phase (cs. 200CE): Patanjali Yoga Sutras
In the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, the manifestation of yogic cultures and yogic practices is primarily included in the form of Raja Yoga. The codification of Patanjali Yoga Sutras was happened between 2nd and 3rd century BC, when the implementation of 8 disciplines had been noticed. During this time period, it gave birth of Ashtanga yoga as an intrinsic manifestation of mind soothing in relation to alignment with the infinite force of nature power.
The idea or manifestation of these 8 disciplines was not limited to the understanding of the rigid ethical principles illustrated in Bhagavad-Gita, but it extended with an addition of detailed principles of Raja yoga. In the western culture, Hatha yoga is one of the most appreciated forms of yoga, which was advocated by Swami Swatamarama around 15th century, India.
Yoga in Modern Days
During early 20th century, yogic practices and yogic cultures took a new shape, a concept quite uncommon to the traditional history of yoga. Practically, traditional yogic practice had a strong cultural and social influence which does not have any similarity with the current tradition. The traditional way demands a life long devotion with a higher level spiritual understanding along with authoritarian sacrifices, which may seem to be impossible in the current scenario, especially such a materialistic world. This is why modern day yoga practices require holistic approach in order to strengthen physical and mental health.
Although there are a wide numbers of controversies concerning the accurate time period of evolution of yogic philosophy, the history of yoga primarily evolves around 4000-8000 years back to the current time. Except only a few disagree, but most of the researchers claim that Indus Valley civilization is the birth place of yoga. Originated as an integral segment of Hindu Philosophy, the discussion of yoga was found in Jain and Buddhist scriptures in later times followed by a considerable adaptation into materialistic life in the shade of modern coloring.
Needless to say but the application of yoga still stands straight even today. In this post, we will understand yoga as it was constituted in different time line.
Pre-Vedic Phase (ca. 6000BCE-3000BCE) & Vedic Phase (ca. 2000BCE-1500BCE)
While some researchers sincerely believe that the actual origin of yoga was rooted into Vedic age, some strongly believe that it has some more ancient roots, that is, pre-Vedic phase. Pre-Vedic phase implies that the actual origin of yoga was untouched by Aryans as explained by Vedic shastras. In truth, the advocators of this hypothesis emphasize on the pre-Vedic scriptures in support of their claim.
On the other hand, several researchers such as David Frawley disagree with this fact that yoga has any pre-Vedic root, rather he claimed that Vedic shastras had been illustrated with a proven fact of the Vedic root for yoga's existence. The later group of people believes that the history of yoga began not before than 4000 years back and this group of researchers puts a special emphasis over Rig Veda to trace back to the evolvement of yogic cultures and practices.
Upanishadic Phase (ca. 800-100BCE)
The clear picture of yogic culture and yogic practices took their appropriate shape during the age of Upanishada. As described in Maitrayaniya Upanishad, developed between ca. 200BCE and 300BCE, Yoga of that time characteristically refers to Shadanga, sub-divided under six correlated but distinctive segments – Pranayama (deep breathing), Pratyahara (reticence of sensory organs), Dharana (center of attention), Dhyana (meditation, Tarka (argumentative investigation) and Samadhi (blissful state).
As illustrated in the Katha Upanishad, the development of yogic practices largely relies on the combination of five tools of wisdom in relation to the mind control and intellectual attainment of the Supreme State of Consciousness. Throughout the time-line of history of yoga, the practice of yoga makes it certain that the controlling the senses is directed towards the understanding of the law of nature with a deep understanding of the universal force.
The Classical Phase (cs. 200CE): Patanjali Yoga Sutras
In the Patanjali Yoga Sutras, the manifestation of yogic cultures and yogic practices is primarily included in the form of Raja Yoga. The codification of Patanjali Yoga Sutras was happened between 2nd and 3rd century BC, when the implementation of 8 disciplines had been noticed. During this time period, it gave birth of Ashtanga yoga as an intrinsic manifestation of mind soothing in relation to alignment with the infinite force of nature power.
The idea or manifestation of these 8 disciplines was not limited to the understanding of the rigid ethical principles illustrated in Bhagavad-Gita, but it extended with an addition of detailed principles of Raja yoga. In the western culture, Hatha yoga is one of the most appreciated forms of yoga, which was advocated by Swami Swatamarama around 15th century, India.
Yoga in Modern Days
During early 20th century, yogic practices and yogic cultures took a new shape, a concept quite uncommon to the traditional history of yoga. Practically, traditional yogic practice had a strong cultural and social influence which does not have any similarity with the current tradition. The traditional way demands a life long devotion with a higher level spiritual understanding along with authoritarian sacrifices, which may seem to be impossible in the current scenario, especially such a materialistic world. This is why modern day yoga practices require holistic approach in order to strengthen physical and mental health.
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