Ashtang Yoga – Eight components of Yoga

Maharishi Patanjali defined yoga as 'the control of the instincts of the mind'. In the Yoga Sutras, he elaborates on a path of eight-limbed yoga for complete well-being and physical, mental and spiritual purification. Ashtanga, meaning eight-limbed, yoga should not be understood as a path consisting of eight separate steps; It is an eight-dimensional path in which all eight dimensions are practiced simultaneously. These eight limbs of yoga are as follows:

1. Yama: Yam consists of five Social Moral Laws and which are as follows:-

• (a) Ahimsa (अहिंसा): - Not harming any living being by speech, thoughts and deeds.

• (b) Satya (सत्य): – To follow truthfulness with mind, word and deeds.

• (c) Asteya (अस्तेय): Non-stealing.

• (d) Brahmacharya (ब्रह्मचर्य): Chastity, marital fidelity or sexual restraint.

• (e) Aparigraha (अपरिग्रह): Non-avarice, non-possessiveness.

2. NiyamasThis is the second component of Patanjali's Yoga path is niyama, which includes virtuous habits and observances.

• (a). Shaucha (शौच): Purity, clearness of mind, speech and body.

• (b). Satisfaction (संतोष): Being satisfied with what is achieved in life and making effort for what is worth getting, not suffering for it.

• (c) Tenacity (तप): Persistence, perseverance, austerity, asceticism, self-discipline.

• (d) Svadhyaya (स्वाध्याय): Study of Vedas, study of self, self-reflection, introspection of self's thoughts, speech and actions.

• (e) Ishwar-Pranidhan (ईश्वरप्रणिधान): Dedicating all auspicious and inauspicious deeds to God with mind, words, with full devotion, full faith and loyalty, considering God as your everything, being free from fruit-seeking, doing your self-religion, Varnashram prescribed deeds.

Patanjali explains how and why each of the Niyamas helps in personal growth. Patanjali states that the virtue of contentment and acceptance of others as they are (Santosha) leads to the state where inner sources of joy matter most, and the craving for external sources of pleasure ceases.

3. Asana: Asana is the third part of the Ashtanga Anga. Maharishi Patanjali explains about asanas in Yog Darshan and says that the position of the body in which happiness is experienced while living and in that physical position one can remain stable and happy for a long time, that special position is called asana. Maharishi Patanjali has not specifically indicated how many asanas there are, but according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, there are as many types of asanas as there are creatures on this earth and most of the asanas prevalent in the present times are in the name of the living beings. Like Markatasan, Makarasan, Gomukhasan etc. How are asanas useful for health?

4. Pranayama: Pranayama means dimension of life. Means expansion of life. Maharishi Patanjali has mainly said four types of Pranayama. When we breathe, we mainly perform three actions-

5. Pratyahara (प्रत्याहार): Pratyahara empowers one to stop being controlled by the outer world, draws one's attention to seek self-knowledge and experiences an innate freedom in one's inner world. Pratyahara marks the transition of the yogic experience from the first four limbs of Patanjali's Ashtanga scheme that perfect the outer forms, to the last three limbs that perfect the yogi's inner state: from the outer realm of the body to the inner realm. The movement of the soul from outside to inside.

6. Dharana (धारणा): Dharana, as the sixth limb of yoga, is holding one's mind onto a particular inner state, subject or topic of one's mind. The mind is fixed on a mantra, or one's breath/navel/tip of tongue/any place, or an object one wants to observe, or a concept/idea in one's mind. Fixing the mind means one-pointed focus, without drifting of mind, and without jumping from one topic to another.

7. Dhyana (ध्यान) : Dhyana is contemplating, reflecting on whatever Dharana has focused on. If in the sixth limb of yoga one focused on a personal deity, Dhyana is its contemplation. If the concentration was on one object, Dhyana is non-judgmental, non-presumptuous observation of that object. If the focus was on a concept/idea, Dhyana is contemplating that concept/idea in all its aspects, forms and consequences. Dhyana is uninterrupted train of thought, current of cognition, flow of awareness.

8. Samadhi (समाधि): The higher state of meditation is called Samadhi. When the seeker is completely immersed in the meditation of the object (on which he is meditating) and has no knowledge of his existence, it is called Samadhi. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Samadhi has been described as the eighth and last stage.