We are a Global movement fighting for the World
Hathayoga is an ancient system rooted in Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism), focusing on physical, mental, and spiritual practices to harmonize the body, mind, and consciousness.
- Balance and Harmony: Achieving balance between body, mind, and energy
- Physical Postures (Asanas): These improve flexibility, balance the energy, and strengthen the body.
- Breathing Techniques (Pranayama): Breathing exercises that calm the mind, balance energy, and prepare for meditation.
- Meditation and Relaxation: Techniques that reduce stress and promote well-being.
- Asanas: Physical postures that help maintain energy flow, improve flexibility, and strengthen the body.
- Pranayama: Breathing exercises that assist in mental and physical balance.
- Bandhas: Energy locks that help prepare the body and mind for deeper meditation.
- Mudras: Hand gestures that further balance energy and enhance health.
- Shatkriyas: Cleansing practices that purify the body and mind.
Hathayoga originated in India, based on Vedic and Agamic principles. The term “Hatha” means force or effort, and “Yoga” means union or joining.
- Physical Health: Enhances flexibility, strength, and balance.
- Stress Reduction: Helps calm the mind and reduce anxiety.
- Mental Clarity and Focus: Improves concentration and clarity.
- Spiritual Growth: Facilitates self-awareness and spiritual development
Tarakayoga is a lesser-known but potent form of yoga. Derived from the Sanskrit words “Tara” (star or celestial body) and “Yoga” (union), this practice connects individuals with celestial bodies, believing that these celestial forces have a significant impact on our lives.
Tarakayoga emphasizes that the human body is a microcosm of the universe and that celestial bodies influence human existence. The practice aims to foster spiritual growth, self-awareness, and inner transformation through a connection with these cosmic forces.
Sankhyayoga blends the principles of Sankhya philosophy with practical yogic practices, creating a pathway for spiritual growth and liberation. Sankhya, founded by the sage Kapila, describes the universe as consisting of two fundamental principles: Purusha (pure consciousness) and Prakriti (material world). Sankhyayoga integrates these insights with yoga to help the practitioner achieve self-realization and liberation.
- Understanding Purusha and Prakriti: Recognizing the distinction between the conscious self (Purusha) and the material world (Prakriti).
- Cultivating Detachment (Vairagya): Developing detachment from the ephemeral material world to attain higher spiritual goals.
- Practicing Yoga: Engaging in practices such as asana, pranayama, and meditation to calm the mind and achieve clarity about the nature of self.
- Realizing the True Nature of the Self: Through Sankhyayoga, practitioners seek to realize their identity as Purusha, beyond the material world, and attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Sankhyayoga offers a holistic approach to self-realization, combining the philosophical insights of Sankhya with the practical tools of yoga.
Amanaskayoga is a practice that transcends the limitations of the mind, aiming for union with the ultimate reality. The term comes from Sanskrit, with Amanaska meaning “without mind” and Yoga meaning “union.”
Amanaskayoga involves several key practices:
- Meditation: Focusing on the ultimate reality beyond mental limitations.
- Yogic Postures (Asanas): Performing specific asanas to quiet the mind and prepare for deeper meditation.
- Breathing Techniques (Pranayama): Using breath control to calm the mind and balance the body’s energy.
- Mantras and Chanting: Reciting sacred sounds to focus on the ultimate reality and silence the mind.
- Understanding the Connection between Pindanda and Brahmanda: Learning how the karmic cycle of the individual (Pindanda) connects with the cosmic cycle (Brahmanda) and influences evolution and involution.
Amanaskayoga teaches that ultimate consciousness (Brahman) lies beyond the mind’s limitations. This practice focuses on transcending the mind to experience direct oneness with Brahman, where the mind is absent, and only pure consciousness exists.
- Transcendence of the Mind: Practitioners transcend mental limitations to experience the unity of the self with Brahman.
- Inner Peace and Calmness: The practices help quiet the mind, leading to profound inner peace.
- Increased Self-Awareness: Amanaskayoga promotes greater self-awareness, enhancing personal understanding and spiritual insight.
- Spiritual Growth and Self-Realization: The ultimate goal is spiritual growth and the realization of one's true nature.
Mahavakyas are profound statements from the Upanishads, considered the essence of Sanatana Dharma, revealing the unity in diversity. There are four primary Mahavakyas:
- Prajnanam Brahma ("Consciousness is Brahman") - Aitareya Upanishad, Rig Veda: Asserting that consciousness itself is the essence of Brahman.
- Aham Brahmasmi ("I Am Brahman") - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Yajur Veda: Asserting the individual's true nature as Brahman.
- Tat Tvam Asi Bramha ("That Thou Art Brahman") - Chandogya Upanishad, Sama Veda: The identity of the individual self (jiva) with the universal consciousness (Brahman).
- Ayam Atma Brahma ("This Atman is Brahman") - Mandukya Upanishad, Atharva Veda: Identifying the self (Atman) with Brahman.
Vartika refers to commentaries or explanations that clarify and deepen the understanding of sacred texts. In the Advaita Vedanta tradition, Vartikas interpret key scriptures, offering insights and analysis.
Key aspects of Vartika:
- Explanatory Notes: Clarifying difficult passages.
- Interpretive Comments: Offering insights into the text’s meaning.
- Relevant Quotations: Providing additional supporting references.
- Critical Analysis: Analyzing different interpretations to ensure an authoritative understanding.
Vartikas are essential for providing deeper insights into scriptures, offering a clearer path for spiritual understanding.
- Brahma Sutra Vartika by Adi Shankara.
- Panchapadika-Vartika by Padmapada.
- Bhamati-Vartika by Vacaspati Misra.
Achalayoga
Achala Paripurna Rajayoga
Achalayoga is a holistic spiritual path that integrates the three paths of Veda, Vedanta, and Siddhanta to achieve liberation from cycle of births and deaths. It teaches the importance of acquiring worldly knowledge through the Vedic path, understanding the Brahman through Vedanta, and recognizing the ultimate nature of Brahman (The space-time continuum, the relative physical world including its subtle form) and Achala Paripurna Brahman (The Absolulte) through the Siddhanta path. These two Brahmans are totally different from each other. There is no link and relation between them.
In other words, the Achalayoga is a spiritual path focused on the realization of individual soul, the universal soul, and beyond about the Absolute. By the methodology of this yoga, one has to go through the inner transformation, integrating physical, mental, and spiritual practices that lead to liberation from bondage of samsara (the cycle of births and deaths). The teachings of Achalayoga emphasize steadfastness (sthithapragnatva) and a deep connection with the divine essence that resides within every individual.
Core Aspects of Achalayoga:
1. Understanding the Threefold Path
2. Realizing the Nature of Brahman
3. Purification and Self-Realization
Philosophy
Achalayoga is based on the understanding that true peace and spiritual awakening come from steadfast devotion and unshakeable clarity of purpose. It integrates various yogic practices to calm the mind, purify the body, and elevate the spirit. The goal is to achieve a state of perpetual spiritual realization, aligning oneself with divine truth and cosmic consciousness.
Principles:
Practices:
- Steadfastness and Devotion: Achalayoga stresses unwavering devotion to the divine Guru and continuous progress along the spiritual path.
- Unity with the Divine: The practice fosters a deep sense of oneness with the cosmic source, believing that all paths lead to the same divine truth.
- Purification: When one’s internal thoughts are expressed truthfully through speech and enacted consistently through deeds, it leads to a state where the mind, speech, and body are considered pure and holy. This process is called “trikarana sudhi”.
- Self-Realization: Achalayoga aims at the ultimate goal of self-realization, where one experiences the union of the individual soul (Atman) with the Supreme Being (Brahman).
- Realization of Absolute: Achalayoga imparts teachings about the Absolute, a reality that transcends even the Brahman which itself transformed into this material world. The Absolute (Achala Paripurna Brahman) is described as neither born nor dying, unchanging, neither becoming gross nor subtle, neither entering nor passing away, neither it allows anything into it, nor it is allowed into anything else.
- Meditation (Dhyana): Deep, uninterrupted meditation aimed at connecting with the divine essence within (Adhopadma–crownchakra) and beyond (Urdhwapadma–Karmachakra and Kaalachakra).
- Devotional Practices (Bhakti): Engaging in devotion to the Guru, the divine, and the inner self through rituals/pujas, prayers, and chants.
- Self-Discipline (Tapas): The practice of self-control and discipline, including physical exercises, fasting, and purification techniques to enhance spiritual clarity.
- Service (Seva): Helping others selflessly, which is considered an important aspect of spiritual growth and alignment with divine will.
- Study of Scriptures (Swadhyaya): Reading and reflecting on sacred texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, and other teachings of Vedanta, to gain wisdom.
Benefits
Spiritual Enlightenment
Inner Peace
Heightened Awareness
Self-Purification
Achalayoga presents a path that leads to complete spiritual awakening, realizing the oneness of all and attaining the ultimate liberation from bondage of samsara.
The Vedangas, Upavedas, Darshanas, Prasthanatrayam, Ashtadasa Puranas, Upapuranas, Itihasas, and others are all related to Vedic Vedanta but do not reveal the Siddhanta aspect. The Siddhanta, which imparts perfect knowledge about the material world and offers a method free from the illusion of birth and death, is conveyed through the teachings of the Achala Gurus. This knowledge is considered Gurugopyam (secretive). In the Siddhanta, the Achala Rishis not only integrated all the Vedic litrature and provided comprehensive materialistic and spiritualistic knowledge but also introduced a clear path to liberate one from all the desires and the efforts tied to them, offering a method that transcends all the illusions.
The goal of the Achala Rishis is to promote universal brotherhood, mutual help, and all round progress of humanity, and to guide their disciples along a path that is free from the illusion of birth and death. The Achalayoga is in harmony with the scriptures, Puranas, and Itihasas, and transcends the essence of all Vedas and Vedanta literature. The “Achalayoga,” which is the core of all sciences, leads beyond sound and silence to propose the transcendental feelings. Therefore, it should not be regarded as a religion or a philosophy.
The top most of all the 64 vidyas is Brahma Vidya, and the pinnacle of the 32 Brahmavidyas is Vedanta Vidya. Vartika represents the summit of spiritual knowledge. The ultimate of Varthika is “Achala Paripurna Prabodha/Yoga,” which is also known as a “Paravidya”. Thus, an Achala guru grants permission to the most deserving disciple to receive the top most instruction regarding the absolute, the Achala Paripurna Brahman. To teach this system, a methodology is developed which is referred as “Achala Paripurna Prabodha.” This Achala Paripurna Prabodha should be learned through an experienced Guru. Without a Guru’s instructions, no one can understand the Absolute and liberate from the cycle of births and deaths.
According to the Gita, “Rahasyam Hyetaduttamam,” – By surrendering to an Achala Guru, a disciple can attain the secretive and complete knowledge of the Brahman and the Absolute Brahman, leading to liberation from all the illusions and the realization of the ultimate truth. This comprehensive yogic teaching offers a permanent, illusion-free system for humanity, guiding individuals towards self-realization, materialistic and spiritualistic growth which leads oneself to inner peace.
In every era, the Achalayoga Sidhanta’s teaching remains unchanged, independent of country, time, or circumstances. Just as the illusion of birth and death remains constant across the four Yugas, the “Achalayoga Sidhanta,” which preaches freedom from the illusion of births and deaths, also remains unchanged. However, Arsha vidhanas and religious teachings, which are parts of the Vedas and Vedanta, evolve according to time, place, and situation. Such evolution does not affect the Siddhanta of Achalayoga, which teaches libration from the cycle of births and deaths, as well as from all kinds of delusions.
Conclusion
Achalayoga is a path that emphasizes the importance of devotion, steadfastness, self-discipline, and service to the humanity, providing a holistic and comprehensive approach to achieving materialistic and spiritualistic growth and thereby achieving liberation through one’s inner transformation. Through consistent practice, the individual attains liberation from all kinds of limitations and unity with the divine, experiencing eternal true peace and fulfillment of one’s life.
Dakshinamurthy
Sri Maha Vishnu
