The concept of Yoga in Yoga Upanishads
by Philomina T.L | 2018 | 42,235 words
This page relates ‘Dharana and Dhyana (according to the Major Upanishads)� of study dealing with the evolution and significance of Yoga as reflected in the Yoga-Upanishads, a collection of authoritative texts dedicated to the concept of Yoga (spiritual discipline). The thesis traces the origins of the practice back to pre-Vedic times and and suggests that Yoga became a philosophical system following the creation of the Yogasutras.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
2.6. Dhāraṇa and ٳԲ (according to the Major Upaniṣads)
ٲñᲹDzūٰ defines ṇa as the concentration or holding of the mind on some divine form either in the body like Բīś, ṛdⲹ, ṇḍī첹 etc. or outside of it like the top of a mountain, sun, moon etc., Major ܱ貹Ծṣa treat ṇa and Բ together. So it doesnot provide specific descriptions about ṇa while some minor ܱ貹Ծṣa like yogatattva, 岹śԲ, śṇḍⲹ etc. that describe it elaborately. Moreover śśٲDZ貹Ծṣa also mentions the case of ṇa[1]. Major ܱ貹Ծṣa regard ṇa as the former stage of Բ. It helps the yogi to bring his wandering mind under control and concentration. Here, Բ is regarded as the continuation of ṇa. So it is defined as: pratyayaikatānatā Բm[2]
Major ܱ貹Ծṣa elaborately discuss Բ because it is treated as the most important subject of the ܱ貹Ծṣa. The ܱ貹Ծṣa state that ātma岹śԲ or self-realization is possible only through Բ. In the ܱ貹Ծṣa the Բ concept is mostly described through ṇaDZԲ. The Īś屹DZ貹Ծṣa mentions that through Բ a yogi can experience the most auspicious and graceful form of the 貹ٳ and realize himself as the self.
It states:
ūṣaԲԱ첹ṣe yama ūⲹ 貹ٲⲹ ū raśmīnsamūha tejo yatte |
kalyāṇatama� tatte paśyāmi yo'sāvasau puruṣa� so'hamasmi || [3]
It can also be noticed in the ѳṇḍDZ貹Ծ as,
jñānaprasādena viśuddhasatvastatastu ta� paśyate Ծṣk� ⲹԲ� |[4]
Here, it means that someone, who possesses the pure Գٲḥkṇa (real knowledge) only through the continuous process of Բ, can realize the 貹ٳ. The ѳṇḍDZ貹Ծ too insists on Բ through ṇa or dz, which is mentioned here as a means to surpass the tamas due to ñԲ.
It says:
oṃmityeva� dhyāyatha ātmāna� |
svasti va� pārāya tamasa� parastāt || [5]
It is also mentioned in the ʰśԴDZ貹Ծṣa. Here Բ refers to ṃk and its Գٰ significantly and their results too. It says that those who continuously meditate upon ṃk can attain ūⲹloka and also can reach Brahmaloka and release from their papas like a snake gets off from its slough.[6] Certain minor ܱ貹Ծṣa like ٳԲԻ also mentions Բ through ṇa[7].
The ԻDzDZ貹Ծṣa describes the importance of Բ, which regards it as greater than Գٲḥkṇa or citta. It says that those who attain greatness with wealth etc. are endowed so as a result of Բ[8]. Apart from these śśٲDZ貹Ծṣa also emphasize the significance of Բ. It says that a yogi can reach ʲٳ through Բ through a cessation of all illusions[9]. ٳԲ or meditation is to be regarded as a step towards .
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Sve.U.II.9
[3]:
Īś..16
[5]:
Ibid.II.2.6
[6]:
Ibid.V.5.
[7]:
Db.U. 19.20
[8]:
Chāndogya-ܱ貹Ծṣa 7.6.1
[9]:
Sve.U.I.10