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
- Iyengar B.K.S.: Light on Patanjala Yoga (New York, Schocken Books, 1994)
- Rukmini T.S.: Yoga Vartika of Vijnanabhikshu (Tr.) Vol I, II, III & IV, Munshiram Manoharlal Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi
- Swami Omanandatirtha: Patanjala Yoga Pradeepa, Geeta Press, Gorakhapur, 1994
- Swami Anant Bharati: Patanjali Yoga Shasta- a study (Hindi), Swami Keshwananda Yoga Sangathan, Delhi
- 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