Origin Of Yoga

Introduction

Yoga is the Universal, Eternal, and All-Encompassing principle, the most effective spiritual science; which is based on valid and authoritative knowledge or Vedas. Yoga is both the means and the end; in it is embedded the well-being of the entire human race. Yoga is for the well-being of all. The various technique useful in Sadhana to imbibe the essence and teachings of all religions [ Sampradaya ] , which is called Dharma, is Yoga.

The Vedas are the primary source of Dharma. Darshana is the vision through which one understands Dharma; the acceptance of various faiths for the understanding of the subtleties of Dharma are the various Sampradayas. The basic principles of Yoga and spirituality remain unaffected in all conditions. Various Sampradayas merely explain those aspects of Yoga which they understand and in which they are interested.

In the book ‘Yoga: Concepts, Origin, Development & History‘ Prema Mysore writes that, ‘The tradition of Yogashastra is a single tradition, unmitigated or undisturbed with the passage of time! Through Yogashastra the internal faculties of man are independently and progressively developed in stages, and even if some help is required from other traditions, it can be drawn from the same, since Yoga is never in conflict with other faiths.’

Several Yoga techniques get merged into the teachings of the various Sampradayas; and thus are developed Jaina Yoga, Bauddha Yoga, Shaiva Yoga, etc.

There are many schools or groups of people practicing Yoga and various related techniques, from the ancient as well as medieval times. From ancient times there are many Sampradayas such as Shaiva, Natha, Vaishnava, Shakta, Sannyasi, Kapalika, Aghora, Bauddha, Jain, etc., and many others who have accepted the teachings of Yogashastra.

Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Samatva Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, and other streams of Yoga help the aspirants in their own way and enable them to pursue their own Yogic or Rishi path of liberation according to their practices, spiritual progress, and inclinations!

 

Origin Of Yoga

Yoga tradition is very ancient! Upon research and further analysis of the rich ancient literature of Indian tradition, the source is identified. According to the Brihat Yogayajnavalkya Smriti XII.5, none other than Hiranyagarbha is the founder of Yoga and Paravidya [ The Highest Knowledge ]. Through the teachings of Hiranyagarbha – Agni, Vayu, Aditya, and Angira experienced the higher stages of Samadhi and became the first four Seers of this present creation. In the Rigveda X.121.1; Yajurveda XIII.14, it is stated that before the creation of the world, there came into being an incomparable divine fetus Hiranyagarbha – the preceptor of all the ancient preceptors, known to be all-pervading, endowed with Universal Consciousness that is unborn or Aja, from which came into being the lustrous bodies such as the Sun, Moon, Stars, etc.; that alone is the ancient master of the entire creation. There is no one older than him.

Hiranyagarbha is accepted as the first propounder of Yoga in the Mahabharata.

In the Adbhuta Ramayana V.6, it is stated that Hiranyagarbha is the indweller of the world.

Lord Krishna states to Arjuna, while expounding the teachings of Yoga that skill in action in the context of Yoga is that Yoga which is described by Lord Hiranyagarbha, in the Bhagavata Purana. Thus, the origins of Yoga tradition begin with Lord Hiranyagarbha, who alone is the first and the eternal preceptor of Yoga.

Ahirbudhnya Samhita and other such ancient texts clearly establish the unbroken tradition of Yoga as being started by Hiranyagarbha.

The most ancient literature of the world, the Vedas contains ample references to Yoga as the only source of liberation. The Vedic hymns directly or indirectly expound on the subtleties of Yoga. These hymns attract our attention which has the seeds of the techniques relating to the control of the mind, regulation of Prana, and the various stages of Yoga. The excellence of Yoga is described in the eleventh chapter of the Yajurveda where the Seer prays that the five Pranas contained in the body be nourished.

One entire hymn of the Atharvaveda contains an exposition of Pranavidya. It is stated in the Atharvaveda that a wise person being endowed with discriminative knowledge regulates the Prana in his entire body and attains the Divine Abode.

In this context, it is worth noting that the information of Yogashastra is found scattered in the Vedas and the Upanishads as per the theme contained therein.

Hierarchy Of Transmission Of Yogic Knowledge [ As Per Satyartha Prakash Saptam Sammulasa ]

• • Hiranyagarbha

1- Agni [Rigveda] > Rishi Brahma.
2- Vayu [Yajurveda] > Rishi Brahma.
3- Aditya [Samaveda] > Rishi Brahma.
4- Angira [Atharvaveda] > Rishi Brahma.

• • Rishi Brahma = Narayan (Vishnu), Bharga (Shiva), Vasishtha, Maitravaruno, Vishvamitrogathinah, Agastyo, Maitravarunah, Munr Vaivasvatah, Yajnavalakya, Narada.

It is evident that the Yoga tradition was developed through the Rishi and Guru-Shishya tradition, which originally was initiated from Hiranyagarbha.

An important reference to the Guru-Shishya tradition of Yoga is found in the Mundaka Upanishad.

Hierarchy Of Transmission Of Yogic Knowledge

• • Hiranyagarbha > Brahma > Atharvan > Angirasa > Bharadvaja Satyavahi

The tradition was orally carried on. Sage Angirasa says to Shaunaka, “I am fully satisfied with this Yogavidya which you now learn from me.”

Due to the differences in capacities of the Yoga aspirants, this eternal Yoga further developed into two branches – Brahmayoga [ also knowns as Rajayoga ] and Karmayoga. The Rishis having a pure mind, Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana, Kapila, Asuri, Vodhu, Panchashikha became the followers of Brahmayoga.

This Brahmayoga became known in later times by various names Samkhyayoga, Jnanayoga, Rajayoga, Ashtangayoga, Samadhiyoga, and Adhyatmayoga.

The other branch of Yoga propounded by Hiranyagarbha is the tradition of Karmayoga, [ Chandogya Upanishad ], which is for the one who cannot renounce all types of worldly activities. As a karmayogi, one can perform one’s own duties and offer its fruits to God; thus becoming one of a balanced mind he attains perfection. He can then realize the nature of Atman. In this tradition, the Rajarshis- Vivasvan, Ikshvaku, Manu, performing their worldly duties with a detached mind, progressed on the path of Yoga. In this lineage, there is a long list of Rajarshis, the followers of the Karmayoga tradition. Lord Rama also belongs to the Ikshvaku tradition.

Hierarchy Of Transmission Of Yogic Knowledge [ As Per Shrimad Bhagavad Gita ]

• • Paramatama > Agni, Vayu, Adtiya, And Angira > Vivasvan > Manu > Ikshvaku

Maharshi Patanjali synthesized all the knowledge about the Yogashastra scattered in the Vedas, Upanishads, Samkhya tradition, etc., and presented them in Sutra form in a logical order, at some places expounding the Yoga concepts literally and at some other places with a slight verbal variation.

From those times, the luminous Patanjala Yoga tradition was propagated profusely and it has now reached to us in modern times!. Yogasutra of Maharishi Patanjali is the first systematic text available on Yoga.

 

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