HATHA
YOGA
Hatha yoga is a very ancient
and resonant limb of Indian Spiritual Traditions. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras defines
Hatha Yoga as the first four rungs of the eight-limbed yoga system of
Raja Yoga (astanga) and is essentially the most effective way to keep body and
mind strong and free from disease. The word "Hatha"
comes from the root words hakaram, meaning "sun" and thakaram,
meaning "moon." "Yoga” means to join or unite,
so "Hatha yoga" is the union of the sun and moon. In other words it
helps to balance active and passive energies within the body and mind. Hatha
yoga is a discipline that harnesses and combines different currents of the
body to invoke the all- powerful Kundalini force. Thus, the journey of
Hatha yoga from physical to the subtlest form is covered systematically step
by step. Hatha yoga combines posture, breath control, seals, and locks as a
means to bodily immortality and supernatural power.
It consists of four main physical practices shatkriya,
asana, pranayama, and mudra. Shatkriyas are the six
cleansing practices; the neti, or nasal
wash; nauli, abdominal churning; dhauti, a group
of techniques for cleansing the digestive tract: basti, the
lower wash or cleansing of the colon; kapala bhati, the cleansing
breath; ami trataka, gazing at an object. Asana comes
from me root axan, which means easy. The 12 main asana
postures help the body to become flexible, strong and relaxed. Pranayama means
to control the Prana or the subtle energy of the
vital breath. Pranayama cleanses the nadis (channels through
which prana circulates) and strengthens the nervous system. It is
the link between body and mind. Mudra means
"seal" or "sign" and is mentioned in
the Hatha Pradipika and other Hatha
yoga texts, when combined with bandhas or locks and specific pranayama
techniques they can create powerful currents of energy within the
body. Hatha Yoga has developed that not only include postures
(asana) and cleansing techniques (Shaucha), but also
breath control (pranayama). Hatha yoga begins the journey by purifying
and toning the body. A well-toned body is said to be the prerequisite
for further enhancements to delve deeper
in our inner being. The stages
of supreme concentration and meditation ultimately summons
the state of Samadhi. This samadhi leads us to know and unite with our supreme
and pure self.
In contemporary scenario, people and experts are viewing the amazing
hatha techniques to master body as the way to healthy lifestyle and efficient
living. Different postures combined with pranayama relieve
the mind and body of the many stressful agents and
tones them towards a common goal of balanced
life. Hatha-yoga is immensely and unfathomably powerful technique, harboring
the potential to radically transform the human being on all conceivable
(and inconceivable) levels. For those who wish only to enhance their
physical fitness and to prolong their life in the physical body, hatha
may be approached on this level. For those who wish to go deeper, the hatha
system comprises of ethical, gross-physical, subtle-physical and mental disciplines,
uniting them in a complementary fashion and in a way that
is clearly directed towards the Final goal of Self-realisation.
Yoga is the theory- practice union, which requires unwavering dedication and
faith in the ancient knowledge of Rishis. Thus, Hatha
yoga is no different from the other spiritual practices of India.
Origni of Hatah Yoga:- The principal systematic treatises
of hatha-yoga, such as the Hath yoga Pradipika, Siva-Samhita and Gheranda-Samhita,
are presented, not as innovative documents,
but as more-or-less precise renderings of a traditional
doctrine that stretches far back into the ancient past, being
set within an elaborate mythological framework.
The central figure in hatha mythology
is all powerful-Shiva and the philosophical concept of Shiva
Shakti. It is said, that the Siva-Samhita is presented as though spoken by
Siva. The Maha yogi (Supreme yogi) and other hatha manuals invariably begin
with a laudatory dedication to Shiva, each claiming to offer the
authentic teaching of hatha-yoga as first given to Parvati by her divine consort.
The mythic story concerning Parvati`s initiation by
Shiva has several variant forms, but most agree that it
took place near to the coast of a remote island. A common version has
it that Parvati fell asleep during the lesson,
and that Siva`s words were overheard by a powerful sage named Loke Svaraz
(`Lord of the world`), who had transformed himself into a Fish and was
hiding in the sea. Siva then acknowledged the greatness of Lokesvara,
who subsequently became known as Matsyendra or Matsyendranatha
(`Lord of fish`), and granted him the authority
to perpetuate the hatha doctrine. Matsyendra then initiated his disciple Goraksa,
who in turn initiated his own disciples, and so the ancient
lineage began. This story of origin of Hatha has been repeatedly conveyed
from generation to generation and in the revered text as
the truth. But nevertheless it signifies the
powerful influence of Shiva in this ancient branch
of yoga. Shiva represents the transcendent Self (Paramatman),
who, according to yoga philosophy, is every individual`s ultimate
identity. Parvati also symbolizes the Jivatman- "The living self".
If we take Parvati to stand for each individual self, then the fact that she
falls asleep in the story of hatha-yoga`s origin
suggests that, ordinarily, we are not awake enough to hear or comprehend the
voice of our true Self. And hatha yoga is all about achieving glory
and ultimate achievement for those who cherish it.
