Patanjali Yoga Sutra — यम नियमासन प्राणायाम प्रत्याहार धारणा ध्यान समाधयो’ष्टावङ्गानि॥॥2.29॥
yama niyamāsana prāṇāyāma pratyāhāra dhāraṇā dhyāna samādhayo’ṣṭāvaṅgāni॥
The eight components of yoga are: yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi.
These are the eight gears long-established assembly of yoga capable of bringing forth the spiritual purity in the life of sādhaka, hence called as aṣṭāṅgayoga. Every limb has deeper and subtler dimensions to be understood. Given just the definition for each of these limbs would not make us understand those subtler aspects. Very balanced and insightful open mind can reveal such subtler aspects.
Some yogis have wonderfully compared this aṣṭāṅgayoga model of yoga to the Vedic Dictum ‘Tat tvaṃ Asi’ — ‘You are That’. The first two limbs namely Yama and Niyama describe ‘tvaṃ’, the next three limbs namely āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra describe ‘Tat’ and the last three limbs namely dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi deal with ‘Asi’, which describes the unity of jīva and brahma.
If Patañjali’s approach is the attainment of purification through sādhana of aṣṭāṅgayoga, Bhagavān Śrīkr̥ṣṇa’s approach is, besides Rājayoga, achieving purification through three more forms of yoga namely:
- Karmayoga (Yoga of work)
- Bhaktiyoga (Yoga of worship)
- jñānayoga (Yoga of wisdom)
Following three important ślokas would emphasize the opinion of Bhagavān Śrīkr̥ṣṇa.
- Karmayoga (Yoga of work):
यस्त्विन्द्रियाणि मनसा नियम्यारभतेऽर्जुन।
कर्मेन्द्रियैः कर्मयोगमसक्तः स विशिष्यते॥गीता ३.०७॥
yastvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate’rjuna.
karmendriyaiḥ karmayogamasaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate॥Gītā 3.7॥
One who controls the sense organs by chitiśakti (power of the mind), and does karmayoga through disinterested karmendriyas, is superior and would stand out.
- Bhaktiyoga (Yoga of worship, intense love for the Supreme):
मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासाते।
श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मताः॥गीता १२.०२॥
mayyāveśya mano ye māṁ nityayuktā upāsāte.
śraddhayā parayopetāste me yuktatamā matāḥ ॥Gītā 12.2॥
One whose mind is fervently fixed on Me in unwavering love and worships Me with resolute trust is considered by Me as superior to all others.
- Jñānayoga (Yoga of wisdom):
वीतराग भयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः।
बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः ॥गीता ४.१०॥
vītarāga bhayakrodhā manmayā māmupāśritāḥ.
bahavo jñānatapasā pūtā madbhāvamāgatāḥ ॥Gītā 4.10॥
Having abandoned attachment, apprehension and resentment and by totally surrendering to Me, with the utmost firmness, and thus being purified by the fire of supreme wisdom, many have attained to Me.
Yoga, in any form, is the only tranquil abode for mankind. The greater part of mankind thinks that mundane life itself is the source of happiness and they are lost forever and they never think of Divine quietude through Yoga.
