The eight limbs of yoga.

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Om Namah Sivaya Selvaratnam Selvakumar. The Science of Raja-Yoga is a vast subject. It is eight-limbed, that is of eight parts; and is known as Ashtanga Yogas. The secret of Yoga was revealed by Lord Siva initially to the four sages, Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanatkumara and Sanantana. He also revealed this Yoga directly to Sivayoga Muni, Patanjali, Vyaghrapada and Tirumular. Patanjali Maharishi wroteYoga Sutras for the benefit of Mankind in Sanskrit. Rishi Tirumular revealed this Yoga to Mankind in Tamil. Tirumantirum by Rishi Tirumular ( verse 552): Eight Limbs of Yoga Yama, Niyama, and Asana numberlessPranayama wholesome and Pratyahara

alike,Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi to triumphThese eight are the steely limbs of Yoga. 1) Yama (Restraints) ; Right conduct, moral discipline. This helps us to overcome our instinctive nature. They are i) Noninjury ii) Truthfulness iii) Nonstealing iv) Divine Conduct (Brahmacharya) v) Patience vi) Steadfastness vii) Compassion viii) Honesty ix) Moderate Appetite and x) Purity . 2) Niyama (Practices) ; i) Remorse ii) Contentment iii) Giving iv) Faith v) worship vi) Scriptural Listening vii) Cognition viii) Scared Vows (Vrata) ix) Recitation (Japa) and x) Austerity (Tapas). Please note that 1) & 2) relate to Chariya (Karma Yoga) and Kriya (Bakhti Yoga) steps in our spiritual evolution. The Yama and Niyama are very important steps, without these no practice of Yoga will succeed. When you become established

in these two, you will begin to realise the fruits of you practice; without these it will never bear fruit. A Yogi must not think of injuring anyone, by thought, word, or deed. Mercy shall not be for men alone, but shall go beyond, and embrace the whole world. The more time you spend in the first two steps (Yama and Niyama), the less will be the time needed to attain perfection in meditation 3) Asana = firm, comfortable meditative posture 4) Pranayama ; the regulation of the Vital Force Very useful link : http://www.dlshq.org/download/pranayama.htm 5) Pratyahara ; Withdrawing the mind from the objects of the senses and looking inward. This should be practised step by step. 6) Dharana ; Concentration (fixing you mind on a spot) 7) Dhyana ( Meditation) ; Dhyana is born out of perfection of Dharana; that is when the five elements, the five senses, and the internal organs are contained, dhyana is born. 8) Samadhi (Superconscious state); The Final Goal of Ashtanga Yoga. On the top of the centre spinal column is a habitat. It has three compartments (spheres of sun, moon and fire) and four doors (the cavities where the three nadis, ida, pingala and sushumna, end and the fourth cavity of Brahmarandra, or the final entrance to Sahasrara). In samadhi the Yogi visions the vast Space through the forth door. In Samadhi, with breath halted, the Yogi becomes one with Siva. Sivaya Namah "Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest of life by the power of the spirit." - Aurobindo.

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