In the coming weeks I want to tell you more about yoga and how the postures, breathing, meditation and philosophy have enormous benefits for each and every one of us. To get a true feel for yoga, I think is important to take a brief look at its history.
The origins of yoga are lost in the eons of time. Excavations in the Indus basin in the 20th century uncovered intact ceramics about five thousand years old which had yoga postures on them. Holy men in India will tell you that yoga has been a part of the nation's culture for about the last 10,000 years. For most of that time the wisdom has largely been passed on by word of mouth from teacher to student for generations.
Descriptions of yoga methods are found in the sacred ancient works of the Hindus such as the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita and the Tantras. However, it was an Indian saint called Patanjali who lived between 500 and 200 BC who finally put pen to paper and wrote a definitive guide. Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras which outline the science of yoga in four chapters and are made up of 196 sutras or aphorisms (short statements that can easily be remembered).
Sutra in Sanskrit means thread. So the sutras are like the thread that links prayer beads (japa mala) – linking each pearl of wisdom. Although the Sutras are brief, they are a bit like modern day “sound bites” you hear on the news – short, sweet and to the point. Patanjali would have been the great journalist of his time. His enormously influential work is just as relevant for yoga philosophy and practice today as it was when it was written.
The sutras or statements are quite awesome and scholars take many years to study them in detail in order to unravel the wisdom jam packed inside each one. Each sutra contains the essence of a thought but I think Patanjali intended the Sutras to be a reference manual and in order to truly understand each of them it helps to have a teacher or guru.
Like any good book, the Sutras for me, come alive when I use my imagination and put my own spin or interpretation on what the words mean. It never ceases to amaze me how these sutras are just as relevant in today’s life as they were when Patanjali wrote them long before the birth of Christ.
Who was Patanjali? How did he come to write the Sutras? It’s a wonderful story, so I hope you are sitting comfortably…
Legend has it that he was the incarnation of Adishesha a great King Cobra whose body was a seat for Lord Vishnu (the god of preservation). One day Lord Vishnu and other dignitaries were invited to see a famous dance called the Tandava Nritya. When the dance started Lord Vishnu became totally absorbed with it and his entire body began to vibrate, he felt as if he was doing the dance himself. As he become more engrossed with the dance his body become very heavy. The King Cobra struggled under the increasing heavy weight of Lord Vishnu and started gasping for breath. As soon as the dance was over Lord Vishnu became light again. The Cobra wanted to learn this dance himself but he was told that he would have to wait as he had be chosen for a special assignment on earth, however once there he would also be given the opportunity to learn this magnificent dance.
While he waited to be given his task on earth, the King Cobra learned the art writing and grammar. Meanwhile, on earth a clever, devout and loving woman called Gonika knew her life on earth was soon to end and wanted to pass on her knowledge but no one suitable had come to her. So she took some water in her hands and closed her eyes as she prayed to the rising Sun and asked for the knowledge to be returned to whence it came. As she opened her eyes she saw a tiny snake in the folded palms of her hands which immediately took a human form. She took the baby and called it Patanjali (pata means fallen) and (anjali means palms folded in an offering).
Gonika was a wonderful mother and she loved the child and gave him all the knowledge and wisdom she had learned. Through her guidance he learned various other disciplines including the great dance. He grew up to be an extraordinary person famed for his learning and wisdom.
Patanjali wrote 3 classical books
1. Mahabhashya on Sanskrit Grammar
2. Charaka Samhita on Ayurveda
3. Patanjali Yoga Darshana on Yoga.
Yoga teaches unity of all life and sets out a programme of practical exercises to show us how to achieve it. Absolutely anyone and everyone can benefit from yoga. Next time I shall tell you more about some of the benefits of yoga. Take this thought with you; yoga is like a dance – the great dance of life.
Don’t forget to check out my website: www.loveandwisdom.net
Wow this blog is so interesting! I just started a wonderful Yoga Program that combines a variety of breathing techniques, but I don't get the history like I do at your blog. Thanks!
Posted by: Michelle | Friday, 20 April 2007 at 01:35 AM