Control of Mind - Part 5 ( Role of Yoga)

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Dear Bhagavatas:

Presented below is Part 5 on Control of Mind (Role of Yoga)

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy

Control of Mind - Part 5 (Role of Yoga)

There are several Mudras adopted in Yoga as well as in Natya Sastra (Dance)

like

Abhaya mudra (Protection from fear),

Anjali mudra (Reverential submission),

Chin mudra (Transmission of Knowledge),

Dhyana mudra (Meditative),

Gokarna mudra (Ear of the cow),

Surabhi mudra (linking of specified fingers in specified ways to resemble the

udder of a cow),

Grasa mudra (stretching out the Index and little fingers rolling back the

other fingers of the right hand)

and many more.

In Hata Yoga there are certain weird mudras practiced by Kundalini enthusiasts

like

Khecharimudra (lengthening the tongue),

Vipareetakarani mudra (an exercise of keeping the head down and legs up

dangling in the air),

Pasini mudra (wrapping legs around the neck like a neck tie),

Kaka mudra (contracting lips and trying to imitate a crow).

 

The votaries of Hata Yoga draw inspiration from quite a number of authorities

and quite a lot of adherents have extolled the virtues of such Hatayoga as

conferring steadiness and control of the senses as well as the mind and the

intellect, which when attained make an individual completely faultless and

unoffending. It is believed that in yoga, vortices penetrate the body and the

body's aura and are the conduits through which various energies including the

universal life-force are received, transformed and distributed throughout the

body.

 

SVETASWATARA UPANISHAD II 12 AND 13 says: Yogi's body shines with the fire of

yoga.

 

YOGA VASISHTA(VI), A POEM OF 50 STORIES TOLD IN 29,000 VERSES BY SAGE VALMIKI

in the form of a dialog between Sri RAMA and his Guru, Vasishta describes Yoga

as a device that helps in reaching the other shore of the stream of sorrow.

 

PATANJALI'S YOGASUTRA I.2 describes yoga as a state in which there is complete

elimination of the thoughts and modifications of the mind.

 

GHERANDA SAMHITA an authoritative text on Hatayoga and

HATAYOGA PRADEEPIKA claim that Asanas bring mental and physical steadiness and

make for perfect health and suppleness of the body.

 

While all these claims are not without foundation, Yoga has to be practiced

with utmost caution. An incorrect practice or one that involves more strain

that what an individual could bear will not only neutralize the benefits but

will prove to be positively counter productive. Hatayoga is claimed to be

'forceful yoga ' but actually, it is yoga 'by force.'

 

The futility of such Yoga is well explained in

JNANESWARA'S ANUBHAVAMRUTHA IX-27 and

MAITREYI UPANISHAD II-32.

 

Those who practice Hata Yoga specializing in Kundalini seem to develop a

'holier than thou' attitude quite unjustifiably not knowing that it is a

double edged weapon with some advantages if followed within prescribed limits

under proper guidance and positively harmful when practiced indiscriminately.

Kundalini is a dangerous exercise for one who is not adequately initiated or

supervised by an adept.

 

IF ONE MEDDLES WITH IT, IT WILL BE A SHORT CUT TO A MENTAL HOSPITAL BUT WHAT

IS WORSE IS THE KIND OF DAMAGE THEY CAN CAUSE TO THEMSELVES AND TO OTHERS

BEFORE ACTUALLY LANDING UP THERE. ALSO, IN THE HANDS OF THE UNSCRUPULOUS,

THESE TARTAR TECHNIQUES CAN TURN OUT TO BE 'BLACK MAGIC' (AABHICHARA).

(To Continue)