The Origins of Yoga

Yoga is one of the 6 major systems on orthodox (aastika) Vedic philosophy — Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga, Mīmāṃsā and Vedanta. The other five major schools are of the non-orthodox or heterodox (naastika) systems — Jain, Buddhist, Ajivika, Ajñana, and Charvaka.

Yogic practices began way back in 2700 BC. But yogic knowledge was collated and organized in the classical work Yoga Sutras of Patanjali in the 3rd or 2nd BCE. The work comprises of concise 196 aphorisms from which originate the vast works and knowledge of Yoga that we have today.

The word Yoga came from the Sanskrit root word yuj meaning to yoke. Yoking is the way to connect and harness 2 animals while ploughing a field. To yoke therefore means to harmonize or to create a union. Yoga is a way to make the yogic practitioner aware of the identity of the self (Atman) and that of the higher self (Brahman). It seeks to realize that the Atman is one with the Brahman. The Brahman coming from the Sanskrit root brh meaning to expand or grow – being the Higher Consciousness or Ultimate Reality that is infinite and unchanging.

In the yogic tradition Shiva is the patron God of Yoga – he is said to be the first Yogi, also known as Adiyogi. He is known to have appeared 15000 years ago in the upper regions of the Himalayas. According to lore no one knew where he came from. People were attracted to his intense ecstatic dance on the mountains. They gathered to watch this amazing phenomenon. Most people waited and scattered away, but 7 of them persisted. These seekers wanted to learn his techniques, but Shiva ignored them. After a long wait of 84 years Shiva decided to teach them – to become a Guru. It was a full moon day – and is celebrated till date as Guru Poornima, when the first Guru was born.

Shiva took the 7 students to Kanti Sarovar (above Kedarnath temple) and began propagating the science of Yoga in a systematic manner. He taught the mechanics of life – not just intellectually but experientially. He brought forth knowledge of yoga which could be used by any human for self-evolution. This transmission of knowledge lasted many years – at the end of this 7 enlightened beings emerged. They are celebrated today as the Sapta Rishis or the 7 enlightened ones.

Shiva sent these 7 rishis to different parts of the world to propagate the knowledge of Yoga. One of them went to the southern peninsula of India. He was Agastya Muni. He was the most effective in bringing the spiritual process into the practical life. It was due to his efforts that yoga found the fullest strength and foothold in India. Sage Agastya crafted the culture of Self-realization to overcome suffering.

The techniques used in yoga involve a combination of postures, breath controls, meditation and contemplation. The early yoga text Goraksha Sataka observes that there are as many as 8,400,000 postures matching with the number of species in the world. Shiva designed one posture for every 1,000,000 species – thus reducing the number to 84 postures.

We begin our Yoga series with the powerful practice of the Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskaar. This practice incorporates a series of 12 postures in a sequence combining with a focus on the breath.