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History of Yoga - A Complete Overview of the Yoga History
Written by: shaynebance
The saying, "What's in the past, should stay in the past" - doesn't work here.We might already have an idea of what Yoga is but to understand it better, we have to know what it has become as well as its roots and beginnings. A quick look at the history of Yoga will help us appreciate its rich tradition and who knows, it might help us incorporate Yoga into our lives.
Although Yoga is said to be as old as civilization, there is no physical evidence to support this claim. Earliest archaeological evidence of Yoga's existence could be found in stone seals which depict figures of Yoga Poses. The stone seals place Yoga's existence around 3000 B.C.
For a better discussion of the history of Yoga, we could divide it into four periods: the Vedic Period, Pre-Classical Period, Classical Period, and Post-Classical Period.
Vedic Period
The existence of the Vedas marks this period. The Vedas is the sacred scripture of Brahmanism that is the basis of modern-day Hinduism. It is a collection of hymns which praise a divine power. The Vedas contains the oldest known Yogic teachings and as such, teachings found in the Vedas are called Vedic Yoga. This is characterized by rituals and ceremonies that strive to surpass the limitations of the mind.
During this time, the Vedic people relied on rishis or dedicated Vedic Yogis to teach them how to live in divine harmony. Rishis were also gifted with the ability to see the ultimate reality through their intensive spiritual practice. It was also during this time that Yogis living in seclusion (in forests) were recorded.
Pre-Classical Yoga
The creation of the Upanishads marks the Pre-Classical Yoga. The 200 scriptures of the Upanishads (the conclusion of the revealed literature) describe the inner vision of reality resulting from devotion to Brahman. These explain three subjects: the ultimate reality (Brahman), the transcendental self (atman), and the relationship between the two. The Upanishads further explain the teachings of the Vedas.
Yoga shares some characteristics not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism that we can trace in its history. During the sixth century B.C., Buddha started teaching Buddhism, which stresses the importance of Meditation and the practice of physical postures. Siddharta Gautama, the first Buddhist to study Yoga, achieved enlightenment at the age of 35.
Later, around 500" class="related_products_container" B.C., the Bhagavad-Gita or Lord's Song was created and this is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture. It is devoted entirely to Yoga and has confirmed that it has been an old practice for some time. However, it doesn't point to a specific time wherein Yoga could have started. The central point to the Gita is that - to be alive means to be active and in order to avoid difficulties in our lives and in others, our actions have to benign and have to exceed our egos.
Just as the Upanishads further the Vedas, the Gita builds on and incorporates the doctrines found in the Upanishads. In the Gita, three facets must be brought together in our lifestyle: Bhakti or loving devotion, Jnana which is knowledge or contemplation, and Karma which is about selfless actions. The Gita then tried to unify Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga and it is because of this that it has gained importance. The Gita was a conversation between Prince Arjuna and God-man Krishna and it basically stresses the importance of opposing evil.
Classical Period
The Classical Period is marked by another creation - the Yoga Sutra. Written by Patanjali around the second century, it was an attempt to define and standardize Classical Yoga. It is composed of 195 aphorisms or sutras (from the Sanskrit word which means thread) that expound upon the Raja Yoga and its underlying principle, Patanjali's Eightfold path of Yoga (also called Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga). These are:
- Yama, which means social restraints or ethical values;
- Niyama, which is personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study;
- Asanas or physical exercises;
- Pranayama, which means breath control or regulation;
- Pratyahara or sense withdrawal in preparation for Meditation;
- Dharana, which is about concentration;
- Dhyana, which means Meditation; and
- Samadhi, which means ecstasy.
Patanjali's concept was dominant for some centuries that some Yogis focused exclusively on Meditation and neglected their Asanas. It was only later that the belief of the body as a temple was rekindled and attention to the importance of the Asana was revived. This time, Yogis attempted to use Yoga techniques to change the body and make it immortal.
Post-Classical Yoga
At this point, we see a proliferation of literature as well as the practice of Yoga. Post-classical Yoga differs from the first three since its focus is more on the present. It no longer strives to liberate a person from reality but rather teaches one to accept it and live at the moment.
Yoga was introduced in the West during the early 19th century. It was first studied as part of Eastern Philosophy and began as a movement for health and vegetarianism around the 1930's. By the 1960's, there was an influx of Indian teachers who expounded on Yoga. One of them was Maharishi Mahesh, the Yogi who popularized Transcendental Meditation. Another one is a prominent Yoga Guru Swami Sivananda. Sivananda was a doctor in Malaysia and he later opened schools in America and Europe. The most prominent of his works is his modified Five Principles of Yoga which are:
- Savasana or proper relaxation;
- Asanas or proper exercise;
- Pranayama or proper breathing;
- Proper diet; and
- Dhyana or positive thinking and Meditation
Up to this day, Yoga continues to proliferate and spread its teachings, crossing the boundaries of culture and language.
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Thursday 2nd June 2005 at 7:38:58 PM
Your History of Yoga has more ancient dates than some. The start of the Vedic period was not shown. The {www.hinduismtoday.com} timeline ,which avoids the British shortening, says it started in 10,000 BCE some of which was verified astronomically. It is also interesting that the Hindu estimate of the age of our universe is about 9 billion years.
Wednesday 15th February 2006 at 9:24:08 AM
Hi, I'm writing a paper on yoga for a university class, and have found your article on the history of yoga to be very useful. However, I'm having difficulty siting the article in my biliography, because there is no author, or compilers name. If you could please send me a name I could attribute this article too, I'd really appreciate it. My email address is pacocadman@hotmail.com. Thanks
Namaste
Kathleen
Monday 28th January 2008 at 10:30:14 PM
The article was well written.It mentioned two great teachers of the present time Sivananda and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.Maharishi'sTeacher was a great sage in northern india.He was the Shankarachyrya of Joytir Math in the Himalayas.This man was the equivelent of the Pope in Catholcism.He reestalished the knowledge of the Vedic path to many including Maharishi.Maharishi made 10,000 teachers of Meditation and has had an effect on many who studied with him and his teachers.To name a few Depoch Chopra, Wayne Dyer,Dr Johnny Grey,Barbara
Deangelis to name a few.I believe he has even influenced the catholic Church with Centering Prayer which seems like a knock off of Transcendental Meditation.Not as good but still potent.Robert Principal Turiya Meditation.com
Tuesday 23rd September 2008 at 12:12:14 AM
Hello. I am a University student, and I read this article for research I am doing for a speech. I was wondering if whoever wrote this article could give me some additional information, so I could properly cite this article. Please let me know if anyone knows anything! I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you!
Monday 9th March 2009 at 10:54:21 PM
also looking to cite
Saturday 11th April 2009 at 3:57:30 PM
Hello. I am a College student, and I read this article for research I am doing for an english report. I was wondering if whoever wrote this article could give me some additional information, so I could properly cite this article. Please let me know if anyone knows anything! I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you!
Saturday 18th April 2009 at 4:41:22 PM
Hi I am a graduate student and used a lot of the information in this article would you be able to send me the information so that I can properly cite this in my paper? Thanks
Saturday 25th April 2009 at 12:08:11 AM
Hi, I too am looking to cite this article for a university course in Library studies that I'm doing. Could you help? I find this explanation of the overview extremely useful to high school students studying this topic. The rest of the site is easy to navigate and full of interactive user friendly information. Keep it up.
Monday 4th May 2009 at 12:43:42 PM
Hello. I'm also a student doing a project on the history of yoga and was wondering if you could provide me with the information to properly cite this source.Thank you very much.
Tuesday 21st July 2009 at 12:52:48 AM
Good article. Check out some of the articles on health, and yoga, and nutrition we have as well and tell us what you think.
Jeff Behar
http://www.mybesthealthportal.com
http://www.MuscleMagFitness.com
Monday 17th August 2009 at 7:17:46 PM
i love u gies
Thursday 20th August 2009 at 6:23:31 AM
I am amazed to know yoga was practiced so many century back. We must do yoga to lead a healthy life. Now yoga is is famous worldwide. Thanks for posting related yoga books.
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