By Monidipa Dey,
Over the previous couple of decades, Yoga, an ancient Indian practice dating back to the Harappan instances or maybe even earlier, has develop into a element of the day-to-day lives of several living in the western societies, turning it into a multibillion-dollar company commodity. Like several other Indian cultural heritages that the West has embraced, the western perspectives on Indian yoga also have a tendency to stay foggy, exactly where it is viewed as an ancient tradition with specific wellness rewards, and linked with the imagery of old Vedic sages seated in padmasana. The very same views and imagery are reflected on the glossy covers of different Lifestyle magazines, exactly where we locate glamorous icons in different aesthetically pleasing yoga postures. While persons who grace these covers are performing a fantastic job of rising awareness about the wellness rewards derived from day-to-day Yoga, it is also time the world and India take a deeper look at this ancient practice.
What is Yoga?
The word “Yoga” is rooted in the Sanskrit Bija “Yuj” which signifies “to join together,” therefore signifying union. Here, it signifies Union of the yogin with the Paramatma or the Supreme Consciousness, which is Moksha. To obtain this ultimate Union or Moksha, a yogin or a bhakt (devotee) ought to stick to a distinct method more than a period of time, which entails different types of rigorous mental, physical, and intellectual workout routines, which he or she ought to carry out as signifies to obtain the final release or Moksha. So Yoga is not merely a physical wellness routine or a batch of workout routines. It’s alternatively a lengthy term method that entails manage more than thoughts and body, with the chief objective of reaching Moksha and be liberated from the cycle of life and death to develop into one with the Supreme Consciousness or Brahman. Since all living beings have originated from this Supreme Consciousness, Yoga is also a method of Re-Union.
Yoga started primarily with the concept of Dhyan or meditation, where ascetics seeking moksha would discipline their minds (manas or citta) in order to undertake the inward journey into their inner consciousness (manas teertha). It is for this reason the early Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist scriptures lay emphasis on bhavana-dhyan-yoga, where Samadhi is the last stage in this process of meditation before gaining moksha. However, over the centuries with the mainstreaming of Yoga, it slowly evolved, and training the physical body (along with mind control) also became a part of it. Among the various forms of Yoga that have developed over the centuries the noteworthy ones are dhyan –yoga, gyan- yoga, karma –yoga, bhakti yoga, and deva-yoga.
Yoga in art and sculptures
The most famous sculpture that first comes to mind in the context of a Yoga murti is the monolithic Narsimha in Hampi with a yogapatta around his knees. Known as Lakshmi-Narsimha, the original sculpture had a small murti of devi Lakshmi sitting on his lap. However when Vijayanagara was attacked in 1565 CE by the combined Sultanate armies, the Lakshmi murti was destroyed, and without the devi, the murti is also sometimes referred to as Yoga-Narsimha. This murti of Narsimha sitting cross legged with a yogapatta is popular in south India, and can be found referenced in Bhagavat Purana where Sri Vishnu teaches his devotee Prahlad the art of Bhakti-Yoga in that posture. Bhakti-yoga is a form of yoga where the devotee seeks union through pure and unwavering devotion towards his deity. In Badrinath temple the chief deity Sri Narayana is seen seated in dhyan mudra, performing the Dhyan-Yoga. A similar Yoga Narayana murti is seen in the National Museum Delhi, which is of the 10th c. CE from Khajuraho and belongs to the Chandella art.
In Shaivism Shiva is regarded the Adi Yogi and the Adi Guru, who had taught seven rishis the secrets of Yoga in a systematic manner, exactly where he had explained the whole mechanics of life, and brought forth Gyaan-yoga as a signifies by which a human can evolve himself into a greater becoming. These seven rishis (sapta rishis) had been then sent to seven components of the world to share this ultimate wisdom or expertise with the widespread persons so that they can seek moksha by means of gyaan yoga. In south Indian temples this type of Shiva is represented as Dakshinamurti, exactly where Shiva as the Adi Guru is shown imparting the ultimate wisdom by means of gyaan –yoga.
In another interesting relief work at Mahabalipuram known as Arjuna’s penance/ Ganga’s descent, there is seen a figure (Arjuna or alternatively Bhagiratha) standing in the vriksh-asana or tree posture, as a way to meditate and gain Shiva’s divine blessings. Both Buddhism and Jainism also have Yoga as an integral part of their religion, and the various meditative murtis of the tirthankaras and Buddha stand as testimony to it. The fasting murti of an emancipated Buddha in a meditation posture kept at the Lahore museum is among the more famous yoga murtis in Buddhism.
Besides the deities in yoga, the Hindu temples across India frequently depict various yoga postures by ascetics and other figures on the temple walls. This is because a Hindu temple, which is also a point of union of the devotee with the Brahman through the main deity in the sanctum, is in complete sync with the ultimate goal of Yoga, which is Moksha.
(The author is a well-known travel, heritage and history writer. Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of the TheSpuzz Online.)