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
8 (of 85)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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10
I. HATHA YOGA
Hatha-yoga prepares a person for Raja-yoga proceeding
along which one attains the highest goal. The word Hatha
is made up of two Sanskrit roots, ha being translated as
the 'Sun' and tha as the 'moon'. If we now add to this the
word yoga which means 'to join', we have literally in Hatha-
yoga, the yoga which joins together the sun and the moon.
According to Hatha-yoga texts, in the right and left nostrits,
begin the two nadis called ida and pingala. Breath taken
through the right nostril is called the 'Sun breath', whilst
a similar taken through the left nostril is called 'moon
breath'. During pranayama, two nadis get stimulated and the
union of the two breaths takes place at ajna, the important
chakra between the eyebrows (Jaggi, 1973, p.15).
The principal classical texts on Hatha-yoga are
Gheranda-Samhita, Siva-Samhita and Hatha-yoga-pradpika.All
of them give precise details of asanas, pranayama etc. and
benefits accuring from them.
Hatha-yoga entirely deals with the physical body.
Its aim being to make the physical body very strong. Its
practices are very difficult, and cannot be learnt in a day,
and after all, do not lead to much spiritual growth (Vivekanda,
1976, p.20).
Hatha-Yoga-Pradipika is one of the important yoga
texts dealing mainly with Hatha-yoga. This book was composed
around 15th century by Svatmarama. It does not consider Hatha-
