Yogayajnavalkya

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The Yogayajnavalkya (Sanskrit: yogayājñavalkya n. ) Is a yoga book from the 13th century, which stands out from the other yoga scriptures of the time. Its structure is based on the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali and describes various practices from Hatha Yoga .

author

The author of the Yogayajnavalkya is unknown; The style and content of the work point to Southeast India, where the surviving copies were found. The author was a Vishnuit and a Bhakta , as his first advice to the student Gargi makes clear:

Narayana is master of all,
dwelling in the heart of all living beings;
the robe of the world is Vasudeva:
All yogis should meditate on him - so to speak!
He is bliss, immortality, eternity,
the highest soul, God!
Constantly meditate on Vishnukrishna in your heart
and with your spirit! Yy I, 12f.

The author refers repeatedly to the Vedas , the Vedanta and the Brahmanic tradition. In this, too, it differs significantly from the other Hathayoga scriptures, which focus on Shiva and Shakti in a tantric way .

Tradition and philosophy

The Yogayajnavalkya with its twelve chapters is based on the eight-part yoga of Patanjali and eight chapters are named after its levels. Of the older yoga works, it is closest to Yogavashishtha (8th century). It is loosely related to Patanjali 's Yoga Sutra and the various Hatha Yoga scriptures and also shows clear deviations from the classical works.

The work is named after the Vedic seer Yajnavalkya , who appears as a teacher in the book. He is asked about yoga by his wife Gargi , who can be equated with Maitreyi . The book is aimed at all people. It is expressly stated that instead of being in the forest, a hut in a village or, if need be, even in a town can be chosen. The seemingly modern openness towards all people is also expressed by the fact that the work gives special advice in some places for women, Brahmins , Kshatriyas , Vaishyas and also Shudras .

content

I. Yama

In the first chapter, Yajnavalkya says that he got his knowledge directly from Brahma . This is remarkable, all the more otherwise Shiva is considered the first guru of yoga! Yajnavalkya defines yoga as the union (samyoga) of the personal soul ( jivatman ) with the oversoul ( paramatman ):

It is said that yoga is the union of the Jivatman with the Paramatman! Yy. I, 44 .

Then the eight stages of Ashtanga Yoga are listed as they are known from the Yoga Sutra. This is followed by a list of the ten Yamas, as they are also known from Hatha Yoga works: non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), not stealing (asteya), chastity (brahmacarya), benevolence (daya), honesty ( arjava), patience (kshama), firmness (dhriti), moderation in eating (annatpurusha) and purity (shauca). The difference with Patanjali is obvious.

II. Niyama

As with the Yamas, Yogayajnavalkya has ten Niyamas, namely: asceticism (tapas), frugality (santosha), trust (astikya), permissiveness (dana), god worship (ishvarapujana), scripture study (siddhantashravana), shame (hri), determination (mati) ), Mantra recitation (japa) and word keeping (vrata).

III. Asana

The work describes eight asanas: Svastikasana, Gomukhasana, Padmasana , Virasana, Simhasana, Bhadrasana, Muktasana and Mayurasana. Although the words in the work are addressed to Gargi, the asanas are described in detail for men with variants depending on whether he lives in complete chastity or not.

IV. Shariravyavacchedavidya

This chapter describes the subtle body. The inner fire (agni, matarishvan) is triangular in humans and lies between anus and penis. The kanda is egg-shaped and lies at the navel in humans. The Kundali sleeping immediately below it and has eight-fold nature - it is so localized differently and described as in the current literature! In addition, the chakras are neither described systematically nor named; a certain prior knowledge is required from the reader.

14 nadis emanate from the chakra at the navel to the eyes, ears, nostrils, toes, tongue, penis, anus, stomach and Kundali. As in other scriptures, the ten are called Vayus.

V. Nadishodhana

This chapter begins the description of the actual practice and deals particularly with its preparation. The aspirant should build a hermit cell “in a lovely, windless location”. The requirements are precisely described and follow Brahmanic custom with Veda recitation, study of Vedanta, worship of the Guru and God (ishtadeva), looking east or north, etc.

VI. Pranayama

Here, for the time being, the alternating breathing is explained, whereby one should meditate on the sounds of the sacred syllable Om . The Gayatri is also recommended. Only a few are named Siddhis, like the inner sound, victory over illness or physical ease.

VII. Pratyahara

Eighteen points of concentration (marmasthana) on the body are mentioned here, on which the yogi should concentrate in turn while inhaling into them.

VIII. Dharana

To strengthen the spirit, the five elements - earth, water, fire, air and ether - are recommended as meditation objects, with the corresponding deities and bijas . It is noticeable that the allocation of the elements in the body does not follow the arrangement of the current chakra teaching.

IX. Dhyana

The meditation is divided into six types. The best is the unqualified (nirguna), where one meditates on the absolute. The other five are quality mediations (saguna) and relate to the subtle body, such as the heart lotus where Hari Narayana resides or the middle of the brow and Shiva or sun meditation (dhyanasaura).

X. Samadhi

While the previous chapters follow the Tantric tradition, the author here explicitly refers again to the Vedas and the Brahmins. In contrast to the classical yoga tradition, Yogayajnavalkya only knows one form of samadhi , which is described as the harmony between Jivatman and Paratman.

XI. Nirbija

This short chapter looks at the effects and eradication of karma .

XII. Rahasya

The last chapter describes the awakening of the Kundali and their movement through the centers of the subtle body. It is noticeable that after the Yogayajnavalkya the Kundali has to be burned until it wakes up and escapes into the Nadis.

Meaning, translation

The Yogayajnavalkya is little known and had only a small influence on later yoga scriptures, this can be seen most clearly in the Jabaladarshana Upanishad and in the Shandilya Upanishad .

Since the Yogayajnavalkya is only available in English and French translation so far, it is hardly known in western yoga circles.

Books

  • Shri Prahlad Divanji: Yoga Yajnavalkya: a Treatise on Yoga as Taught by Yogi Yajnavalkya . Bombay (1954)
  • Philippe Geenens: Yogayajnavalkyam: Corps et âme, le yoga selon Yajnavalkya . Gallimard (2000). ISBN 2-07-075996-2 . (Translated into French and commented on by Philippe Geenens.)
  • TKV Desikachar : Yogayajnavalkya Samhita - The Yoga Treatise of Yajnavalkya Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (2004). ISBN 81-87847-08-5 . (Translated into English and commented on by TKV Desikachar.)