Essay name: The Nervous System in Yoga and Tantra (Study)
Author:
Ashok Majumdar
Affiliation: Banaras Hindu University / Department of Kayachikitsa
This study deals with the presentation of the Nervous System in Yoga, Tantra and Ayurveda. Yoga and Ayurveda are allied sciences dealing with science of man in depth. This study has revealed a number of hither to unknown facts about concept of nervous system and thought science of Hindus.
Chapter 2 - The Eight Components of Yoga
16 (of 85)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
18
The five yamas are (1) Ahimsa (not to kill),
avoidance of harm to others (2) Satya (not to lie), (3)
Asatya (not to steal), (4) Brahmacharya (sexual abstinence)
and Aparigraha (not to be avaricious) (YS II:30). Yamas
purifies the mind, the chitta (Vivekananda p.97).
The five Niyamas are (1) Cleanliness (Saucha
includes internal as well as external and mental as well
as physical), (2) Serenity (Saitosa), (3) Asceticism (Tapasya),
(4) The study of Yoga metaphysics (Swadhyaya - Mantra Japa,
Stotra or Adhyatmic Sastra study), and (5) Devotion to
God (Iswaropasana) (YS.II: 32). Niyamas are regular habits
and observances (Vivekananda, p. 97).
KRIYAS (SATKARMAS) AND THEIR MEDICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The physical cleausing (Sadhana) processes
mentioned in connection with Niyamas are called Kriyas or
Satkarmas. These are meant to remove waste in the body,
particular attention being given to cleaning of the alimen-
tary tract, blood vessels and other passages (Jaggi, 1973,
p.20). The cleausing process are six in number.
Yoga, in seeking mental control and concentration,
makes use of certain preliminary physical process (Sadhana)
such as the satkarma, asana, mudra, and pranayama. By these
four processes and three mental acts, seven qualities, known
as sodhana, dridhata, sthirata, dhairya, laghava, pratyaksa,
nirliptatva (G.S.1:11) are acquired.
