Yoga Science is a gem in the ocean of Vedic knowledge. The word ‘Yoga’ means the union of the individual soul with the supreme soul, the union of devotee and God. Thus, the practice of yoga is named for the liberation from the snare of creation and savoring the essence of the self, i.e., immersion in the supreme soul.
Our country’s yoga scripture is divided into two streams. One stream is Raja Yoga and the other is Hatha Yoga. There is an extensive description of Raja Yoga in Patanjali’s Yoga Philosophy. Patanjali’s philosophy is divided into four chapters or sections – Samadhi Pada, Sadhana Pada, Vibhuti Pada, and Kaivalya Pada.
“Yogas Citta Vritti Nirodha” – When the modifications of the mind are controlled, the mind along with intellect becomes stable and calm, and only then, achieving the state of Samadhi, self-realization becomes possible. To attain the state of Samadhi, the practitioner must struggle with various obstacles, the description of which we find in this Samadhi Pada. In Sadhana Pada, we find the description of practices. It is not possible to control the modifications of the mind just by wishing. Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, etc., are parts of the practice. Without mastering these practices for purification of the self and mind, self-realization is not achieved.
By mastering the mind through practice, we can become possessors of various supernatural powers, understand the mysteries of creation. We can wander in higher realms at will, become invisible at will, and understand others’ thoughts. The procedure for mastering various supernatural powers is described in this Vibhuti Pada. The process of transcending the kingdom of mind and intellect to rest in the nature of the self, to be situated in the nature of the divine, is described in Kaivalya Pada. Thus, Raja Yoga particularly emphasizes the practice of mental purification.
But, Hatha Yoga specifically emphasizes the practice of physical purification. Without achieving physical purification, mental purification cannot be fully accomplished – this is the view of Hatha Yoga. “The body is indeed the means of performing righteous deeds” – the body is the foundation for practice. If this foundation is strong, then on this basis, building a high life tower, a sky-high tower of divine life becomes possible. Therefore, according to Hatha Yoga, the body is a machine, and the soul in the form of a mechanic operates it. The body and the mind, intellect, and ego residing in the body are manifestations or powers of this soul. The play of these powers is ongoing day and night within the body machine. If the functioning of the nerves, muscles, and glands within the body remains natural and free from defects, then the divine nature, the divine disposition of the soul will emerge within this body machine. And if there is a defect in this body machine, then the body-mind will become a playground of animalistic tendencies. For example, if the liver function is not normal, a person becomes irritable, their behavior rough, harsh. If the sex gland is not normal, overactive or underactive, a person becomes excessively lustful and selfish. If the thymus gland is defective, a person becomes a thief, robber, or murderer. If the pituitary gland is defective, a person becomes petty-minded, fault-finding, merciless, bribe-taker, involved in black marketing. For this reason, without body purification, if the body is not disease-free and flawless, mental purification is not possible, becoming the possessor of divine mind is not possible. For this reason, Hatha Yoga loudly declares – no human on Earth is bad, those whom we consider bad – even if they are inclined towards corruption, are not bad; their body machine, the functioning of glands etc., within the body are defective, leading to bad deeds and bad thoughts through them. With faultless diet and the help of yoga practices, these defects in the body machine can easily be corrected, making them good. For this reason, Hatha Yoga especially emphasizes physical purification. If the body is purified, then the mind will also be purified. This pure mind is the helper in realizing the nature of the self.
Hatha Yoga has two more branches. And one of them is named Swara Yoga. One is named Laya Yoga. In Laya Yoga, there are various joyous and easy methods to concentrate the mind. We will discuss these easy methods of controlling the modifications of the mind extensively in our book named Dhyana Yoga.
The goal of Swara Yoga is to extend mastery over breathing. If dominance is established over Ida and Pingala, by controlling the breath of Ida and Pingala at will, we can keep the body free from disease forever. If our control power is established over Sushumna, by concentrating the mind at will, we can ascend to the high ground of meditation, we can transform our earthly mind into a divine mind. By relying on Sushumna, raising the Kundalini power located at Muladhara to Sahasrara, the practitioner tastes the infinite nature of the soul, the blissful nature.
By determining the time of travel according to the rules of Swara Yoga, protection from all kinds of accidents is possible. With the help of this Swara Yoga, obtaining virtuous sons and daughters is possible; news of death can be known beforehand.
[The detailed description of this Swara Yoga has been published in the 2nd volume of our Easy Yogic Exercises book.]
“Prakriti Sarvam Iti Prakritih” – She who creates everything, from whom all creation originates, is Prakriti. According to Tantra, she is the Chinmoyi Maya Shakti and according to Sankhya, she is the inert Prakriti power. She is endowed with the three qualities – Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. The state of equilibrium of these three qualities is the unmanifest state, creation springs forth due to the disturbance or imbalance of these three qualities. Thus, with the help of these three qualities or powers, Prakriti creates all entities of creation, both sentient and insentient.
Sattva quality is self-illuminating in nature. In simpler terms, Sattva quality can be called the main vibration of soul power. The word ‘Buddha’ means power. Thus, Rajas quality can be called the main vibration of action power. This action power creates and destroys creation. In the language of Western philosophy, it can be called the Becoming or Mutative principle. The form-creating impulse or the action form of formless power is called Tamas quality.
From this aspect of Tamas, the origin of the five subtle elements (Source of Five Elements) occurs. From these five subtle elements, first, the space element, which is the cause of creation, emerged. “From space comes air” – from this space, air or the great life force originated. “From the combination of space and air comes fire” – from this combination of space and air, fire or the great light appeared. “From the combination of space, air, and fire comes water” – from the combination of space, air, and fire, the primordial water or the cause of water emerged. “From the combination of space, air, fire, and water comes earth” – from the combination of space, air, fire, and water, the seed form of the gross universe or the earth element was created. Thus, from these five subtle elements, the subtle five great elements or the subtle great universe emerged. This subtle five great elements, becoming mature, emerged as the gross material world, i.e., billions of nebulae, billions of galaxies, billions of solar systems, with the play of these five elements and Maya and the three powers of Sattva, Rajas, Tamas at the root of every atom and molecule organization, at the root of every vibration of creation.
According to Sankhya, the first creation of nature is Mahat or collective intelligence (Universal Intelligence). According to the Vedas, the original deity of creation is called Hiranyagarbha. ‘Hiranya’ means divine consciousness, divine light. He who holds this divine consciousness and self-illuminating Sattva quality is Hiranyagarbha. “Hiranyagarbha was born in the beginning, he alone was the lord of the born universe,” – from this divine consciousness, the emergence of creation. Thus, Hiranyagarbha is the original progenitor of creation, he is the world arranger, he is the total consciousness (Sum total of Consciousness).
The second creation of nature is ego (Universal Will-power). The third creation of nature is the five subtle elements (sound, touch, form, taste, and smell subtle elements; these five subtle elements in combination and relation with the five material elements of earth, etc., as their qualities) and the material world, i.e., his will power’s action form is infinite universes. The stability-establishing power is Tamas quality or Tamas power. With the help of this Tamas power, the five-elemental universes have been constructed. Thus, creation is broadly divided into seven layers – Mahat, ego, and the five subtle elements or the five great elements. These seven layers or seven principles are the reflections of the seven worlds or seven universes in the Vedas and Puranas – Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svah, Mahah, Janah, Tapah, and Satya. These seven worlds are briefly called the three worlds – Bhuloka, Antarikshaloka, and Dyuloka. [For a detailed description of this subject, see our commentary on the Isha Upanishad].
Yogis say – “Whatever exists in the three worlds, all that is within our body.” Our body is a mini-universe. The primordial element of the five elements, space (Eternal Time & Space), with the help of the Sattva quality, holds the infinite universe. The space element within the body is the holder of the body universe. The special quality of space is sound. The auditory sense organ is the holder of the power to perceive sound. Centered around this auditory sense organ, the activity of the space element is manifested. All the spaces or cavities in the body, i.e., the pores, veins, arteries, nerves, marrow, etc., the gaps or holes are originated from this space element.
In the air element, the expression of Sattva and Rajas power. The special quality of the air element – touch, the inherited quality – sound. This air brings the experience of pleasure to our touch sense organ. This air is the creator of life force, life seed, and life cell in the body. This air directs all the machines of the body, the sap-blood throughout the body.
In the fire element or light element, the expression of Rajas power. The special quality of this fire element – form. The inherited qualities – sound and touch. In the body, this fire element has specially manifested itself centered around the power of sight or the ability to enjoy form. This fire is our body’s energy and strength. This fire, as digestive fire in the body, digests food substances, produces sap-blood in the body, maintains the body’s heat, nourishes and grows the body.
In the water element or liquid element, the expression of Rajas and Tamas power. The main quality of the water element – taste. The inherited qualities – sound, touch, and form. The activity of this water element or liquid element, i.e., the power to taste flavors, also manifests itself centered around the tongue. All the sap substances in the body, i.e., sap, blood, semen, etc., all liquid substances are originated from this water element.
In the earth element or solid element, the expression of Tamas power. The special quality of the earth element – smell; the inherited qualities – sound, touch, form, and taste. Centered around the olfactory sense organ, the special manifestation of the activity of the earth element. All the solid substances in the body, i.e., bone, skin, flesh, marrow, etc., are originated from this earth element.
In Yoga science, the ruler or lord of the space element is named Indra. “By his influence, the five elements have been ignited and activated.” His form of space and sky in the body is adorned with a thousand eyes. Through the administration of these thousand eyes, he governs the entire creation efficiently. For this reason, he has another name, the thousand-eyed person. The supreme lord of the air element or wind element is named Vayu or Matarishva. He is the universal life force. This air, entering the cosmic play, emerges as life in the individual basis. The lord of the light element is named Agni. He knows the entire creation, for this reason, he has another name, Jataveda. “Form upon form, he shapes every object” – he shapes the formless creation. He is the form of power. He, as the base of the energy flow of the universe and Piu (individual body), constructs them. The lord of the water element or cause of water is named Varuna. The stream of joy, the stream of essence is the root flow of all life manifestation. Therefore, in the Vedas, Varuna is called “Asura.” “Asu” means life; he is the base of the great life play manifestation, he is the form of essence, the form of nectar.
Even on this very gross Earth of ours, the activity of the space element is not perceptible to our senses. Air is not as subtle as space but is subtle; for this reason, we do not see air with our eyes, but we feel the touch of air. Fire is not as subtle as space and air, nor as gross as water and earth. Lightning, light, luminosity, etc., all forms of fire are directly perceived by our sight sense organ. Thus, the nature of fire is between gross and subtle. The form of the water element is not as gross as soil-stones, semi-solid; in the earth element, the special expression of Tamas aspect or inertness. The expression of power is also stagnant in the earth element, for this reason, we consider soil-stones as powerless inert substances. Due to extreme Sattva, due to extreme subtlety, the activity of the space element also remains unmanifested to us. Across the world, spreading throughout the entire sky, we specifically observe the play of these three deities or three powers as storm, lightning, and cloud in the form of Vayu, Agni, and Varuna. In our body-world also, these three powers or three deities have special predominance.