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 The origins of yoga
are shrouded in a mist of time - for yoga is regarded as a divine
science of life, revealed to enlightened sages in Meditation. The
oldest archaeological evidence of its existence is provided by a
number of stone seals showing figures in yogic postures, escavated
from the Indus valley and thought to date from around 3000BC.
These yogic postures, escavated from the Indus valley resemble
Lord Shiva and Parvathi performing various Asanas and practicing
meditation. According to mythical tradition, Shiva is said to be
the founder of yoga and Paravati his first disciple. Yoga is first
mentioned in the vast collection of scriptures called the Vedas,
portions of which date from at least 2500 BC, but it is the
Upanishads- which form the later part of the Vedas-that provide
the main foundation of yoga teaching. According to the Indian
mythology, two main epics were written one of them being
Mahabharata, by Sage Vyasa which contains the Bhagavad Gita. Lord
Vishnu incarnated as Krishna, Instructs the warrior Arjuna in Yoga
to help him to achieve liberation by fulfilling one's duties in
Life.
Yoga arose at the beginning of human civilization when man first
realized his spiritual potential and began to evolve techniques to
develop it, The yogic science was slowly evolved and developed by
ancient sages all over the world. The essence of yoga has often
been shrouded in or explained by different symbols, analogies and
languages. Some traditions believe that yoga was a divine gift
revealed to the ancient sages, so that mankind could have the
opportunity to realize its divine nature. In ancient times, yoga
techniques were kept secret and were never written down or exposed
to public view. They were passed on from teaching or Guru to
disciple by word of Mouth. In this way there was a clear
understanding of their meaning and aim.
In the 6th century BC, Lord Buddha's influence brought the ideals
of meditation, ethics and morality to the fore and the preparatory
practices of yoga were ignored. However Indian thinkers soon
realized the limitations of the view. Yogi Matsyendranath taught
that before taking to the practices of meditation, the body and
its elements need purifying. One of the yogic posture too bears
his name Matsyendrasana One of the most outstanding authorities on
hatha yoga, Swami Swatmarama wrote the Hatha yoga pradipika, or
'Light on yoga' in Sanskrit, which describes the various Asanas
and breathing exercises which forms the basis of the modern
practice of yoga. The science of yoga has passed the test of
thousands of years of trial and refinement. The great rishis and
Munis of India, who renounced the world, studied, meditated and
thought upon it in isolation for years together, have developed
this science over the Milleniums. Therefore, thus science is based
upon thousand of years of Intellectual research by many great
sages and saints, who have actually lived and practiced
it.
Paramahamas Satyananda Saraswati is considered one of the greatest
saints of recent times, who strongly advocated the integration of
yoga with society and encouraged the spiritual evolution of all
people regardless of caste, creed or religion. Twenty years after
renouncing the world, Paramahansa Satyananda established in 1963,
the Bihar school of yoga in Munger, Bihar, India. This became the
focal point of yoga experience for people from all over the world
Paramahansa Satyananda also embarked on many world tours
propagating the yogic path to countless aspirant and as " a door
to door and shore to shore "Campaign to fulfill the mandate of his
guru, Swami Sivananda.
Under his inspiration hundreds of small yoga groups and ashrams
developed in India and abroad and soon he became one of the first
yogic masters to translate the yogic principles and techniques
into modern Scientific Language by
encouraging research into the Scientific healing principles
of yoga.
After giving yoga a new dimension, Paramahansa Satyananda passed
on the mantle of yoga master in 1983 to his ardent disciple,
Paramahansa Niranjananda Saraswatri, under whose guidance the yoga
movement has entered into a new era. The first yoga University in
the world in Munger, Bihar India, was founded by Paramahansa
Niranjananda Saraswati in 1994, which is gaining tremendous
response from all over the
world.
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