Jain Journal 2012 07

Author(s): Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 10

Sagarmal Jain: The Historical Development of Jaina-Joga-System
yoga system. Patañjali's eight-fold yoga system has the following steps of Yogic practices---
1. Yama (vows) 2. Niyama (supporting vows) 3. Āsana (bodily postures) 4. Prāņāyāma (controlling of respiration) 5. Pratyāhāra (controlling of sense organs) 6. Dhāraņā (controlling of mental activities) 7. Dhyāna (concertation of mind) and 8. Samādhi (equanimity of mind or ceasation of mind).
In Jain canonical works we also find these eight limbs of Yogic Sādhanā, but in some different names, Ācārya Ātmārāmaji of Sthanakavāsi Jaina sect has made a comparative study of these eight limbs of Patañjali's yoga system with Jaina system of sādhanā in his book namely Jaina āgamom mem aștānga yoga. According to his comparative statements five yamas of Patañjali are also acceptable to Jainas in the name of five Mahāvratas. The names of five mahavratas are also the same and one as in Patañjali's yoga-sutra. In Jaina canon these five mahāvratas are : - 1. Ahimsā (Non-violence), 2. Satya (Truthfulness), 3. Asteya (Non-stealing), 4. Brahmacarya (Celebacy) and 5. Aparigraha (Non-possession). Patañjali in his Yoga-sūtra also mentioned these five Yamas in the name of five mahavratas.
2. Niyama : The second step of yogic-sādhanā is Niyama. In Patanjali's Yogasūtra these five niyamas are prescribed as following1. sauca (piousness), 2. Santoșa (satisfaction), 3. Tapas (penance), 4. Svādhyāya (study of the scriptures), and 5. īśvara pranidhāna (meditation of the nature of god or pure self). In Jain scriptures these five niyamas are also accepted in some different names. In Bhagawatisūtra Lard Mahavīra explains to Somila that my life style is of six types i.e. 1. Tapas, 2. Niyama, 3. Samyama, 4. Swādhyāya, 5. Dhyāna and 6. Observance of essential duties with self awareness (Āvasyaka).? In these, tapas and swadhyaya are mentioned in the same