The most fertile and prominent period in the history and development of Yoga is considered to be the period between 500 BC - 800 A.D. This period has been proposed by some as the Classical period. Commentaries of Vyasa on Yoga Sutras, which is widely regarded as the authoritative text on yoga, came into existence during this period.
In the yogic lore, Shiva is seen as the first yogi or Adi yogi, and the first Guru or Adi Guru. The yogic story of creation is described in the Vedas, which is a large body of ancient knowledge written in Vedic Sanskrit and originating in the Indian subcontinent. They are also known as “sruti” literature, as opposed to “smriti” literature which some religious texts are.
Eventually the essence and story of creation was condensed into poetic verses called sutras. The sutras strung Sanskrit words together into mnemonic phrases so others could tune in to the vibrations of sounds and discover for themselves the meaning locked deep in these verses.
There are four Vedas:
- Rigveda - is a collection of Vedic hymns dealing with liturgy, ritual and mystical exegesis.
- Samaveda - It is an ancient liturgical text and part of the scriptures of Hinduism and is known as the Veda of melodies and chants
- Yajurveda - It is a compilation of ritual offering formulas that were said by a priest while an individual performed ritual actions
- Atharvaveda - It is the "knowledge storehouse of the procedures for everyday life" and a late addition to the Vedic scriptures of Hinduism.
Yogis believe the universe is never ending. The lessons within each of the Vedas were preserved for centuries through a strict system where the disciples would memorize the scriptures by heart. These teachings were codified or organized Vedic texts—such as the Upanishads, Mahabharata, Yoga Sutras, Shiva Samhita, Charaka Samhita, Spanda Karikas, and Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
Traditions and Deities
Hinduism is characterized by the belief that all spiritual or religious paths will lead to the same truth and understanding of the Divine or absolute God.
In spite of the polytheism inherent in Hinduism, the belief that all of these gods are actually various forms of Brahman, the eternal, unchanging, transcendent reality, predominate.
Core Beliefs and Social Structure
The path to freedom is through realization of the Divine and the path differs according to the platform chosen. Karma Yoga advocates letting go of annihilationist and materialist philosophies but Hatha Yoga aims to do this by letting go of bodily attachments and by knowing the distinction between what is real and what is not.
Another core concept is the caste system, which initially was established to enable people to master their own dominion rather than strive for equality or mediocrity in everything.
Yoga Today
The influence of Yoga and its practices have crossed over to other geographical locations. The Oriental has always been more spiritualistic than the Occident, which has been materialistic. As Yoga made inroads into the Western psyche, its original form has changed dramatically, the ancient wisdom of the East being blended with Western influences.
Westerners have taken this ancient wisdom from the East and used it as the foundation for a sophisticated movement and exercise practice. However, it is a given that the adherence to
i. Yama
ii. Niyama
iii. Asana
iiii. Pranayama
v. Pratyahara
vi. Dharana
vii. Dhyana
viii. Samadhi
speed up the journey considerably. Today’s aspirants are motivated more by transitory physical rewards rather than the promise of moksha. Yoga’s evolution is part of a natural cycle where essential principles from the Vedic-inspired texts are carried forward to help preserve and restore spirituality and wellness in the present day.
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