Ashtottaram 5

 

 

5) OṀ YOGA BHŨMYAINAMAH:

 

       OṀ (AUM) - YO' - GA - BHOO- MYAI- NA--MA- HA

 

    (Yoga: means “to unite”, “perfect concentration of mind”)

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are many meanings for the word “yoga” in Sanskrit. In Sanskrit yujsamadhau means perfect concentration of mind. If derived from another root, yujuryoge means to unite. Combining these two senses one can say that it stands for concentration of mind which helps the spiritual aspirant to ultimately unite his individual soul (jīvatman) with the Supreme Soul (Paramātman). Yoga is a science however, without understanding its true meaning  this word is often used very loosely for any spiritual discipline, especially in the western world. The yoga sūtras of Sage Patanjali (200 BCE) are world renounced. Based on Svetasvatara Upanishad, Kaivalya Upanishad, and Sānkhya by Kapila, Ramayana, Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita of Lord Sri Krishna and Uddhava Gīta-the Yoga Śastra was written by Sage Patanjali. These are “Ashstānga Yoga”- eight limbs of Yoga. These are 1) Yama 2) Niyama 3) Āsana 4) Prāṇayāma 5) Pratyāhāra 6) Dhyāna 7) Dhāraṇa, and 8) Samādhi.

 

There are many varieties of yogas. For example: a) Abhavayoga b) Amanaskayoga c) Ashtangayoga d) Bhaktiyoga e) Bhavayoga f) Buddhiyoga g) Dhyanayoga h) Hathayogai) Jnanayoga j) Karmayoga k) Kriyayoga l) Kundaliniyoga m) Layayoga n) Mahayoga o) Mantrayoga p) Nadayoga q) Rajayoga r) Sivayoga s) Sparsayoga t) Tantrayoga u) Tarakayoga and many more. In Hindu astrology, the word yoga is used in a technical sense to indicate the fourth limb of the panchanga or almanac.

 

Looking at these, we can realize how old and advanced yoga sastra in our land is. When foreigners especially westerners are learning how to make fire and wrapping animal skins around their loins, Hindus were far advanced in the science of yoga.

The land which taught the science of yoga to the humanity is deserved to be called “Yoga Bhūmi”.