Duration of Program

75 Hours

Code: VSF401

Credits: 4

L-T-P ratio: 3-0-1

Course designer: Dr Sushrutha S

OBJECTIVES

  • To introduce the participants to principles and practice of Aṣṭāṅga-yoga, the Indic knowledge systems that propagate holistic living

PREREQUISITES

  • None

DETAILS

I. Principles of Yoga – General introduction to Yoga: 20 hrs
  • Aim and objectives of Yoga
  • Four streams, principles and importance of Yoga
  • General introduction to Sankhya philosophy
  • Sources of Yogic principles – Darshanas, Upanishads, etc.
  • Introduction to Hatha Yoga
II. Yogasūtras: 30 hrs

1. Samādhi-pāda:

  • Definition of Yoga
  • Methods to cessation of citta-vṛttis
  • Abhyāsa and vairāgya
  • Obstacles of mind
  • Methods to overcome the obstacles
  • Nature of Īśvara
  • Cittaprasādana – tranquility of the mind
  • Nature of samādhi
  • Divisions of samādhi

2. Sādhana-pāda:

  • Kriyāyoga, kleśas, avidyā
  • Aṣṭāṅga-yoga, antaraṅga and bahiraṅga-yoga
    o Yamas and Niyamas – basic ethics and discipline of Yogic life
    o Āsana – Yogic postures for stability of the physical body
    o Prāṇāyāma – retaining the subtle energy in the body
    o Pratyāhāra – introverting the senses
    o Dhāraṇa – fixation of mind on intended object, Puruṣa

            o Dhyāna – contemplation
            o Samādhi – merging with the object of dhyāna

3. Vibhūti-pāda:

  • Dhāraṇa, dhyāna and samādhi
  • Supernatural powers by following saṁyama
  • Different types of results of practice of saṁyama
  • Vibhūtis – obstacle in the path of samādhi

4. Kaivalya-pāda:

    • Five sources of siddhis
    • Nature of the mind
    • Nature and reality of the world
    • Nature of kaivalya
III. Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā: 25 hrs

1. Āsanas:

  • Objective of Haṭha Yoga
  • Lineage of Yogic masters
  • Misconceptions of Haṭha Yoga
  • Success and failure of Haṭha Yoga, yama and niyama
  • Āsanas – four meditative Āsanas and others

2. Kriyās and Prāṇāyāma:

  • Ṣaṭkriyās
  • Aṣṭa-kumbhakas
  • Signs of Haṭhasiddhi

3. Mudrās and Bandhas:

  • Four mudrās
  • Bandhas

4. Nādānusandhāna:

  • Levels of Samādhi
  • Nādānusandhāna-Sādhanā

REFERENCES

  1. Iyengar B.K.S.: Light on Patanjala Yoga (New York, Schocken Books, 1994)
  2. Rukmini T.S.: Yoga Vartika of Vijnanabhikshu (Tr.) Vol I, II, III & IV, Munshiram Manoharlal Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi
  3. Swami Omanandatirtha: Patanjala Yoga Pradeepa, Geeta Press, Gorakhapur, 1994
  4. Swami Anant Bharati: Patanjali Yoga Shasta- a study (Hindi), Swami Keshwananda Yoga Sangathan, Delhi
  5. K. Taimini: The Science of Yoga, The Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Chennai 2005
    1. Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā, Satyananda Saraswati, BSY
    2. Āsanas, Prāṇāyāma, Bandha and Mudrā, Satyananda Saraswati, BSY
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