Monday, June 27, 2011

What is Yoga?


“The soul has been forgetful of God since eternity. True Yog is that which unites the soul with the Supreme Divinity.”
Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj
The word “Yoga” means “to unite” and is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj,” which means “to join.” So, the aim of Yoga is to yoke the jīva (individual soul) with Bhagavān (Supreme Soul). Union with the Absolute frees the soul from the veil of Maya, allowing it to realize its true nature. The Garuḍ Purāṇa defines Yoga as follows:
saṅyogo yoga ityukto jīvātmā paramātmanoḥ (Garuḍa Purāṇa)
“The Union of the soul with the Supreme is called Yoga.” A similar idea has been mentioned in the Yāgyanvalkya Saṁhitā and the Devī Bhāgavat Purāṇa. The same concept of the uniting of the jīva with Paramātmā has been mentioned in the following verse of the Yāgyanvalkya Saṁhitā too.