Maharishi Patanjali Pratipadita Ashtanga Yoga

Accurate and pure translation of Sanskrit verses of Ashtanga Yoga by Maharshi Patanjali in Gujarati language and commentary with detailed description of every part of Ashtanga Yoga.

Today, Yoga is popular globally as a form of exercise or as a part of daily workouts; but authentic Yoga has wider and deeper dimensions to it than what is commonly known.

It is known for a fact that the body affects the mind and the mind affects the body. But, the effect of the mind on the body is greater than one realizes. The role of Yoga in helping a person become resilient to face stress (a part of our modern lifestyle), without harming the body (remain healthy) is gaining new importance.

For many, Yoga is equal to Asanas; but this is only of the parts of authentic Yoga. When only Asana – the 3rd limb of Ashtanga Yoga is practiced, it would not be ‘Yoga’ by definition.

Yoga, as Patanjali famously defines it, is the “restriction of the fluctuations of consciousness.” The practice begins by sitting and calming the fluctuations of the body, breath, and senses, and then the more elusive whirlings of consciousness.

In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, the eightfold path is called ashtanga, which literally means “eight limbs” (ashta=eight, anga=limb). These eight steps, commonly known as the 8 limbs of yoga, basically act as guidelines on how to live a meaningful and purposeful life. They serve as a prescription for moral and ethical conduct and self-discipline; they direct attention toward one’s health; and they help us to acknowledge the spiritual aspects of our nature.

Patanjali has prescribed an eight-limbed process of reaching the goal known as Ashtanga Yoga. The eight limbs are Yama, Niyama, Aasan, Pranayam, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyaan and Samadhi.

You might wonder, why do we need all the 8 limbs? Here is why.

The answer rests in the arrangement of these 8 limbs itself – these are in ascending hierarchal order which means each limb leads to the next. Every limb needs to be mastered before practicing the next one. Let us know them one by one.

What are the 8 limbs of yoga?

1.     Yama

The first of the 8 limbs of yoga, yama, deals with one’s ethical standards and sense of integrity, focusing on our behavior and how we conduct ourselves in life. Yamas are universal practices that relate best to what we know as the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The five yamas are:

1.  Ahimsa          : nonviolence

2.  Satya              : truthfulness

3.  Asteya            : nonstealing

4.  Brahmacharya: continence

5.  Aparigraha   : noncovetousness

2. Niyama

Niyama, the second limb, has to do with self-discipline and spiritual observances. Regularly attending temple or church services, saying grace before meals, developing your own personal meditation practices, or making a habit of taking contemplative walks alone are all examples of niyamas in practice.

The five niyamas are:

1.  Saucha                                 : cleanliness

2.  Samtosa                    : contentment

3.  Tapas                       : heat; spiritual austerities

4.  Svadhyaya                : study of the sacred scriptures and of one’s self

5.  Isvara pranidhana   : surrender to God

3. Asana

Asanas, the postures practiced in yoga, comprise the third of the 8 limbs of yoga. In the yogic view, the body is a temple of spirit, the care of which is an important stage of our spiritual growth. Through the practice of asanas, we develop the habit of discipline and the ability to concentrate, both of which are necessary for meditation.

4. Pranayama

Generally translated as “breath control,” this fourth stage consists of techniques designed to gain mastery over the respiratory process while recognizing the connection between the breath, the mind, and the emotions. As implied by the literal translation of pranayama, “life force extension,” yogis believe that it not only rejuvenates the body but actually extends life itself. You can practice pranayama as an isolated technique (i.e., simply sitting and performing a number of breathing exercises), or integrate it into your daily hatha yoga routine.

These first four stages of Patanjali’s ashtanga yoga concentrate on refining our personalities, gaining mastery over the body, and developing an energetic awareness of ourselves, all of which prepares us for the second half of this journey, which deals with the senses, the mind, and attaining a higher state of consciousness.

5. Pratyahara

Pratyahara, the fifth of the 8 limbs of yoga, means withdrawal or sensory transcendence. It is during this stage that we make the conscious effort to draw our awareness away from the external world and outside stimuli. Keenly aware of, yet cultivating a detachment from, our senses, we direct our attention internally. The practice of pratyahara provides us with an opportunity to step back and take a look at ourselves. This withdrawal allows us to objectively observe our cravings: habits that are perhaps detrimental to our health and which likely interfere with our inner growth.

6. Dharana

As each stage prepares us for the next, the practice of pratyahara creates the setting for dharana, or concentration. Having relieved ourselves of outside distractions, we can now deal with the distractions of the mind itself. No easy task! In the practice of concentration, which precedes meditation, we learn how to slow down the thinking process by concentrating on a single mental object: a specific energetic center in the body, an image of a deity, or the silent repetition of a sound. We, of course, have already begun to develop our powers of concentration in the previous three stages of posture, breath control, and withdrawal of the senses.

In asana and pranayama, although we pay attention to our actions, our attention travels. Our focus constantly shifts as we fine-tune the many nuances of any particular posture or breathing technique. In pratyahara we become self-observant; now, in dharana, we focus our attention on a single point. Extended periods of concentration naturally lead to meditation.

7. Dhyana

As one becomes adept and Dharana intensifies, Dhyaan (7th anga) and Samadhi (8th anga) of meditation take place.

Dhyana is translated as meditation. It is a natural flow of thought or consciousness between the meditator and the object of meditation. It is a very joyous state and is compared to the flow of oil from one vessel to the next. Very natural and effortless.

In dhyana there is still duality of consciousness which is the feeling of separation between the meditator and the object of meditation. When maintained long enough this state will lead to the highest rung of the ladder of ashtanga yoga which is samadhi.

8. Samadhi

It is described “The state of consciousness where Absoluteness is experienced attended with all-knowledge and joy; Oneness; here the mind becomes identified with the object of meditation; the meditator and the meditated, thinker and thought become one in perfect absorption of the mind.”

Much practice is necessary to attain this stage. Regular (daily practice) of all these eight limbs is absolutely necessary.

When we follow these 8 limbs of Patanjali’s Yoga, positive effects are perceived on the body, mind and soul;

•       The body becomes supple, muscular coordination becomes smoother and lightness is felt.

•       Mind becomes serene; known as samyama; there may be flashes of intuition.

•       Soul i.e.chitta attains purusha i.e. consciousness and spiritual growth is seen.

Thus, to progress on the path of Yoga, all the steps are needed. Though reaching true Samadhi is difficult, when we progress from Dharana to Samadhi, there occurs a psychophysiological balance which restores the natural rhythm of the person and insulates him from the natural stress response of the body.

Ashtanga yoga is a matter of real experience.