Different interpretations of Yoga

The article attempts to throw light on the importance of Yoga in Indian philosophical tradition and its distorted present day version.

Yoga has been mentioned in Rig Veda as a means to attain moksha (liberation), but in present times it is being practiced to achieve physical fitness and get rid of diseases.

True meaning of Yoga:

According to Panini and Vyasa, yoga means ‘Samadhi’ (concentration). The yogi sits in samadhi and meditates to gain control over his mind and body as was done by Buddha to attain ‘Nirvana’. Yogic postures enable the practitioner to enhance his mindfulness, improve his cognitive abilities, control his bodily needs such as hunger and thus free himself from all fears and desires, for only a soul which is free from all materialistic desires and attachments will get liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Similarly, in Jain tradition yoga is practiced to achieve ‘Nigrantha’ which means freedom from all forms of illusion.

Popularization of Yoga as a commercial activity:

When Yoga gurus from India introduced yoga to the west in late 19th and early 20th century, the west perceived yoga to be a system of physical exercise and completely failed to understand its spiritual context. They popularized yoga as a commercial activity that is to be practiced indoors in a regulated environment on a mat, which is completely antithetical to the true essence of yoga.

Secondly, commercialization popularized yoga as a cure to fatal diseases such as cancer, schizophrenia, asthma etc. thereby distorting the attainment of ‘moksha’ as the true objective of yoga. Yoga was reinvented as Hot Yoga and started to be practiced indoors with musical beats highlighting it as a means to increase physical and mental strength. Pranayam – yogic breathing exercise were popularized as a cure to sinus (breathing difficulty).

Thus, in contemporary times the practice of yoga is merely considered as a means to improve ones health as advocated by Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living foundation and others, which has completely masked the attainment of ‘Moksha’ as the ultimate objective of practicing yoga as was in traditional times.

By: Abhinav