Traditions of Yoga

Dr. Parimal Devnath,

12B174-Valvan, Lonavla,

Pune-410403.

Mo:8605826882.

 

Abstract

There is perhaps nothing in India culture, religious, spiritual and social customs, and even behavioral realm which is not affected by Yoga one way or the other.

There are large number of sects and sub-sects and cults and sub-cults seen in India, most of which invariably have some religious allegiance that have sprung up and flourished over a long period of time and still in existence.  Remotely or closely all of them have borrowed something from Yoga.  Yoga has lent something invariably to enrich each one of them.

Yoga is not just well-known two piece trends such as Patanjala and Hatha.  There is again a vast spectrum of Yoga such as Tantra Yoga, Raja Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Shakta Yoga, Shaiva Yoga, Advaita Yoga — the list can be a long one indeed, may be about a hundred or more. 

(The antiquity of Yoga and its greatness cannot be contained easily.  It is perhaps the most ancient of all sciences that human beings developed and is as much valid and relevant to this day as it was when it was developed).

Here in this small write-up we shall limit ourselves only on the major traditions of Yoga.

1.  Patanjala Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali is a well-known Branch of Yoga.

2.a:  Hatha Yoga, practical Yoga laced with Vedantic world-view.

There is some Advaita Vedantic content available in Hatha texts.  For example, ambu-saindhavayoraikyam--(HP-.74) Personal self and supreme Self are one and the same.  This system of Yoga considers Advaita Bhava as the final goal of Yoga.   Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati (6^th chapter) calls this path as Siddhamata and its goal is Paramapadam —the Absolute state –indicated by unity of Atma and Paramatma.

Unlike Advaita Vedanta, Hatha suggests usage of the body-breath-mind complex as a strong medium to achieve this spiritual goal set out by Advaita.  Pranayama is considered to be one of the most efficient of all techniques.  Kevala Kumbhaka – suspension of inhalation and exhalation-- indicates to Absolute loneliness or Samadhi or oneness with the Supreme Self.  Continuation of inhalation and exhalation is sign of duality (Dvaita Bhava and the cause of all inner and outer conflicts and suffering).

2.b:  Nada Yoga or Nadanusandhana Yoga, through this process at least 10 supernatural Anahata Nadas are heard. These Nadas are powerful tools for meditation.  It is within Hatha tradition.

2.c:  Svara Yoga: it is a different tradition of Yoga which relies mostly on dominance of breath through either of the nostrils and its link to the cosmic forces such as phasing of the moon and rising and setting of the sun, seasons, time of the day and night, bodily constitutions such as Vata, Pitta  and Kapha. Due to these factors it has its unique and sublime teachings on breath and nostril pre-dominance.  It stands out as an independent science though sometimes we feel it to be a part of Hatha.

3.  Tantra Yoga (most of the Tantra texts have a chapter or two dedicated to Yoga).  Tantra is a form of Yoga though its methodology to achieve the spiritual objective of human life appears to be somewhat bizarre and odd.  We see some influence of Tantra on Yoga, particularly Hatha Yoga.  Kundalini, Chakra and Chakra Bhedana, Bija Mantra, Yantra and their deities such as Shakini-Dakini etc, Shambhavi, Avadhuta etc. give credential to this opinion.    

Perhaps kind of an extremism in Tantra has given rise to Aghori Sadhana —another distinct tradition of Yoga Sadhana.  I think that if one has not transcended the sense involvement, one may not be able to undertake or sustain this type of Yoga Sadhana.   

Vedantic Yoga:

4.a:   Advaita Yoga (20 Yogopanishads), special dimension of Yoga on Advaitic line of thought and with rare insight into the techniques of Hatha.  This tradition finds each technique to be almost equally efficient to achieve Advaita state of Brahmahood through Hatha Techniques.  It gives a little twist into the technique of Hatha so that it can result into the Advaita state of being Non-dual. 

For example,  Kshurikopanishad suggests a technique of Pranayama to completely severe relationship with the external and achieve the highest state of Oneness with Brahma and also remaining in the same forever.

4.b:  Yoga in BrahmaSutra:  BrahmaSutra of Badarayana has one full chapter devoted to Prana.  This might form the basis of the Hathayogic practice of Pranayama.  It makes an extraordinary study.

4.c:  DrigdrishyaVivekah of Bharati Tirtha or Vidyaranya Svami: (A Prakarana Grantha) (Vakya Sudha ascribed to Adi Shankara):  What is worth mentioning here is six types of Savikalpa and Nirvikalpa Samadhi explained in this text.  This has close similarity with various states of Samadhi described in Yoga Sutra of Patanjali.  I mean to say that Vedantic tradition explaining Yogic states of Samadhi.

5.  Yoga of the Gita:  so many variations of Yoga such as Karma, Jnana, Bhakti, Karma-Sannyasa Yoga and so on.  In fact each chapter speaks about a different type of Yoga as has been mentioned at the colophons.  For example,  Arjuna Vishada Yoga.  Except a couple of concepts on meditation and a process of Pranayama, familiar Yoga of Patanjali and Hatha don’t have much likeness with those of the Gita.  A different tradition indeed!

6.  Yoga of Kashmir Shaivasm (Vijnana-Bhairava) of Abhinava Gupta:  The author of Kashmir Shaivism narrates 112 techniques of meditation to attain Shiva-hood. 

7.  Yoga of Yoga-Vasishtha, it is vast, touches everything.

8.  Yoga of Alwara Yogis of Tamil Nadu.  It has close affinity to Patanjala Yoga.  

9.  In addition there is Buddhist Yoga and Tibetan Yoga linked to Buddhist Yoga.  This branch has distinct identity due to its emphasis on Dhyana or meditation.  Zen (corruption of Dhyana) is an offshoot of this tradition.  Yoga of Thailand:  not so different from Hatha Yogic Asanas. .

10.  And then there is Jaina Yoga.

11. Kriya Yoga of Mahavatar Babaji: a living tradition of Yoga.

 

Introduction

There is perhaps nothing in India cultural, religious, spiritual and social customs, and even behavioral realm which is not affected by Yoga in one way or the other.

There is large number of sects, sub-sects, cults and sub-cults seen in India, most of which invariably have some religious allegiance that have sprung up and flourished over a long period of time and are still in existence.  Remotely or closely all of them have borrowed something from Yoga.  Yoga has lent something or the other to enrich each one of them.

Hence Yoga works as a common string that binds all these pearls in one beautiful garland.  Yoga is just like the spirit that vibrates and shines in each one of them.  Yoga is a binding force.    

Yoga is not just well-known two piece trends such as Patanjala and Hatha.  There is a vast spectrum of Yoga: Tantra Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Shakta Yoga, Shaiva Yoga, Advaita Yoga — the list can be a long, may be about a hundred or so. 

(The antiquity of Yoga and its greatness cannot be contained easily.  It is perhaps the most ancient of all sciences that human beings developed and is as much valid and relevant to this day as it was when it was developed).

Here in this small write-up we shall limit ourselves only on the major traditions of Yoga.

a)  Patanjala Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali.

b)  Hatha Yoga, the practical Yoga laced with Vedantic world-view. 

Tantra Yoga (most of the Tantra texts have a chapter or two dedicated to Yoga)

Advaita Yoga (20 Yogopanishads), special dimension of Yoga on Advaitic line of thought and with rare insight.

Yoga of Adi Shankaracharya  or Yoga in BrahmaSutra on Prana and the seed of Pranayama or the six distinct techniques of meditation in Drigdrishya Vivekah.

Yoga of the Gita, so many variations of Yoga, in fact each chapter is a different Yoga as has been mentioned at the colophons.

Yoga of Yoga-Vasishtha,

Yoga of Kashmir Shaivasm (Vijnana-Bhairava, 112 techniques of meditation)

Yoga of Alwara Yogis of Tamil Nadu.  A classical text is available in published form which is close to Patanjala Yoga. 

Svara Yoga, it is an offshoot of Hatha practice, yet it has its unique and sublime teachings on breath and nostril pre-dominance.  Shiva Svarodaya speaks about this special branch of Yoga.

Nada Yoga or Nadanusandhana Yoga, through this process at least 10 supernatural Anahata Nadas are heard. It is a part of Hatha Yoga.

In addition there are Buddhist Yoga, Tibbetan Yoga linked to Buddhist Yoga which are more inclined to Dhyana or meditation and then Jaina Yoga.

Kriya Yoga of Mahavatar Babaji is another tradition of Yoga which is a living one.  It generally is centered around breathing in a special was accompanying certain Mudras.  It gives importance to meditation.