Yoga

Every religion of the world advocates some method of union of God and soul.

In Hindu religion there are more than one such methods which can be selected by the devotee. In Gita itself Lord Krishna has explained many types of soul and God communion (yoga). As far as scriptures are concerned there are following types of yoga:

1.    Bhakti yoga     – The path of devotion and prayer.

2.    Karma yoga     – The path of right action.

3.    Jnan yoga        – The path of discrimination.

4.    Laya yoga        – The path to dissolve the ego in the infinite.

5.     Tantra yoga    – The path to unite with God through sexual powers.

6.     Mantra yoga   – The path of God union by chanting and incantations of seed word sounds.

7.    Hath yoga       – The path of bodily postures.

8.    Ashtang Yoga – Royal path of yoga/Sankhya Yoga/Raj Yoga.

1. Bhakti Yoga:
Bhakti yoga is the path of union of soul and sprit through devotion. In this type of yoga a person (devotee) devotes one self with the lord completely. Devotee sees his lord in every thing and all actions devotee performs as per the wish of the lord. Devotee remains happy and sings and dances in praise of lord. Devotee surrenders himself mentally as well as physically to the God.
There are two sub paths of Bhakti yoga (union through Devotion) in one path the lord is adorned as a deity in some form and worshipped and in another path the lord is assured as form less and worshipped. A long line of yogis who attained self realization exist, among them prominent were Surdas, Meerabai, Chaitenya, Tulsidas – Sagun Bhakti, Kabir, Nanak – Nirgun Bhakti.

2. Karma Yoga (union of Right Action):
This type of yoga is explained in detail by Lord Krishna in Gita. It is very suitable to those who are in household. In this type one need not to renounce the world. In this yoga one must do one’s duties without the desire of results because the desire of result is the cause of boundation. All the duties should be taken as the will of God and be performed honestly with proper enthusiasm and offered to God. The duties may come by virtue of birth, caste, family or society tradition and so on.
Karma yoga in the art of right action. Lord says that those are the only right actions which are as per the God’s plan and do not hurt the feelings or do not cause any violence to any creature in the universe. Desire is axis around which pain and pleasure revolve so desire should not come in the mind for fruits (results). Result should be left on the lord. All the activities should be God pleasing and in the welfare of the society and nature.

3. Jnan Yoga (union through discrimination):
This type of yoga is also explained by lord Krishna to Arjun in detail in Gita. According to Jnan yoga, the yogi (devotee) perceives God through his wisdom. Devotee find spiritual upliftment by concentrating his mind with devotion and faith on the sayings of scriptures. Devotee tries to find the truth logically by reason out the right and wrong.

4. Laya Yoga (union by dissolving Ego in the Infinite):
In this type of yoga emphasy is given to the words. As said in Bible “In the beginning there was word, the word was with God, the word was God.” Words are systematically arranged in rhythm and sing in praise of God in the form of Bhajans and Kritans. When singing these words or lines are repeated again and again till the stage of body consciousness is lost. The sound and body becomes one. There is only two things the song (Laya) and the God Spirituality is awaken through the sound vibrations. These vibrations results in the awakening of spinal plexuses (Chakras).
As said yoga is the union of sun and Moon. Prolonging the chanting time in various moods during singing, becomes pranayam and concentration of mind on God becomes meditation (Dhyan). The use of nasal sound in the words brings perfect co-ordination between Sun and Moon nostril which becomes union of Sun and Moon.
For example Indian music is a devotional music since time immemorial songs were written and sung in praise of God and not to entertain the masses, though it may entertain to the listeners but basic aim was to praise the God and to uplift the soul. Indian Ragas are full of nasal sounds or Nlshadh (NO is used extensively in the songs. This when practised repeatedly brings co-ordination between sun and moon nerves. Eye focus automatically fixes on jnan chakra (medular plexus). Thus singer gets dissolved in the infinite.

5. Tantra Yoga (union through seed words, Fire and Sexual Power):
In this type of yoga one can attune one’s consciousness to see the visions deities and fulfillment of spiritual thirst and finally can unite with God through vibratory chants of seed words and performing certain specific sexual rituals. Though this path is not suitable for masses because high level of self control is needed. Some untrue seekers may misuse this path to satisfy their animal instincts and lusts rather than God communion. This type of yoga works on the principle of union of negative and positive. Followers of this path considers the Mahayogis Shiva’s Ardhnarishwar form as their deity. In this a bhairavi is pre requisite.

6. Mantra Yoga (Union through root word vibrations):
In this type of yoga root words sounds chanted in a specific manners so that spinal plexuses (chakras) can be awaken and union of coccyx plexus with thousand lotus petaled plexus can be achived by following strict mental and bodily discipline. During the chanting of those root sound words some rites are also performed and offerings are offered to the deity in the fire.

7. Hath Yoga (Union through bodily discipline):
In this type of yoga the devotee assumes himself as a child and the God as the father and insists to seak his union through various bodily postures and other methods and tortures his own body in various ways to get rid of body consciousness and to compel the God for self realization, i.e. sleeps on the thorns, walks on fire, remains in the water during cold, remains in side the fire circle during summer and meditate. This type of yoga also needs a lot of self control and very uncommon inpractise. It is practised by only few those who have renounced the world.

8. Raj Yoga (Ashtang yoga) (Royal path of union of soul and God):
As evident from the name this is the king of all the types of yoga. Described in detail by Lord Krishna in Gita. This is the supreme science of God communion. A lot is written in scriptures regarding this supreme yoga. This science has been explained in detail in the Gita, Manu smriti, yajurveda, Upanishads and yog sutras etc. yoga sutra by Maharishi Patanjali is an exclusive treaty on this type of yoga.
In his yoga Sutra Maharishi Patanjali has propounded eight steps of yoga known as ” Ashtang yoga”. It is a Hindi word derived from two words Asht (Eight)+Ang (parts). These eights parts or steps are to be followed one by one serially to unite with God. These steps can not be jumped over the other and each step should be mastered serially than only true aim of yoga can be achieved. Though anyone step may be practised for specific purpose but for the true aim, all the steps should be practised and followed in strict sequence.