Jain Center Minnesota MN 2007 07 Pratishtha

Author(s): Jain Center Minnesota USA
Publisher: USA Jain Center Minnesota

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Bhartiya Yog Vidhya-Ashtang Yog
by Kirtichandraji Maharaj
The science of Yog was developed in India's thousands of years ago and it is part of India's ancient heritage. Over the past centuries, hundreds Indian Rishis and teachers have dedicated their entire lives to the study, research and development of the science of Yog. Our ancestors in India told their children accounts of the wonders of Yog science and of the sages of Himalayas who contributed to these wonders.
In the past few decades, part of Europe and America has come to know a little about this great science of India. What has become known as “What has become known as "yoga" in the west consists of physical exercises and postures which drives from just one of the components, namely, the third component of the total eight components of the science of Yog. In other wards, seven of the eight components of Indian science of Yog are totally unknown to the West.
In order to understand the original and true science of Indian Yog, it is necessary to know and understand the Ashtang (Eight fold) Yog. The learned texts on Yog expound on the manner of achieving physical, mental, spiritual and social development through climbing the eight steps of the eight-fold Yog. Anyone wishing to develop in all these directions is well served by studying and applying this Ashtang (eight -fold) Yog. A number of great Jain Acharyas such as Srimad Haribhadra Surji, Srimad Hemchandracharya, Srimad Yashovijayji, Srimad Budhishari Suri and others have written extensively on this subject and have left us with scholarly works to guide us on the path of dedications to Ashtang Yog from Jain perspective.
• "Yogdrasti Sammuchaya” in Sanskrit by Haribhandra Suriji • "Yog Shasta" by Hemchandracharya • "Yog Sutra Vrich" and "Yog Batrisio” by Upadhyaya Yashovijayji • "Dhyar Mala" in Gujarati by Shravak Nemidas Ramji Shah • “Adhyatma Anubhav Yog Prakash” (Hindi) by Chidanandji
: Maharshi Patanjali wrote the classic text book on Yog in Sanskrit, known as Patanjali Yog Sutra. The
subject of Ashtang Yog has been dealt with and presented with great lucidity in this masterpiece work. We shall now proceed to briefly examine the eight components of Ashtang Yog: Yam, Niyam, Asan, Pranayam, Pratyahar, Dharna, Dhyan and Samadhi.
1. YAM. This is the first component and constitutes five disciplines, namely:
Ahimsa (non-violence) • Satya (truth)
Achourya (rejecting unjust enrichment) • Bramcharya (celibacy) • Aparigraha (rejecting accumulation and hoarding) One who aspires to become an yogi and wishes to master the science of Yog must exert all efforts and remove every last trace of violence, untruth, unjust-enrichment, sensual indulgence and hoarding from his or her life style. The above five disciplines, in their full and strict observance, are known as the Panch Maha Vrata (the five major vows). Those who do not renounce the world and yet wish to become Yogi must substantially, if not fully, observe these five disciplines.
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