| Specific ascetic endeavors (sadhanas) pertaining to the knowledge, realization and culmination of spirituality are described in the ancient Indian scriptures in terms of philosophical as well as scientific aspects. Philosophies of spiritual sadhanas identifies the demarcation between animals and humans to remind and guide the human beings of the rare opportunity available to them in this life. Even divine powers would aspire to attain to human form which is considered as the best creation of thee.
The fundamental knowledge part, philosophy or spirituality deals with the principles and ideologies of refinement of life and adoption of moral ideals. It elucidates the necessity of self-restrain and elevation of intellect in the righteous direction and enlightens the mind with perspicuous guidance on what and how to think and cultivate the high ideals of humanity in present life.
The science of spirituality deals with the vast domain of yoga sadhanas which involve vigorous training and disciplined activities at the level of physical body and mind with creative linkage of corresponding sentiments and inner faith and excel human life towards the highest realms of spiritual success. The gamut of experiments of this science was described by Maharshi Patanjali, a great spiritual scientist of yore, as the ashtanga yoga consisting of eight branches of yoga namely, yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Gurudev Shriram Sharma Acharya has presented the difficult science of ashtanga yoga in a lucid style so that everybody could understand and attempt practicing some of these sadhanas in day-to-day life as per his or her suitability and spiritual level. The present volume is a compilation of his deliberations on the elementary and successively higher level sadhanas of this field of yoga.
The basics of yama, niyama, asanas with detailed guidance and examples on their practice have been presented in the earlier volume - entitled "Sadhana Paddhatiyon Ka Gyana Vigyana" - of the Vangmaya series. The present volume is the next on this subject. Here, different types and methods of practising asanas, bandha, mudra, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana and dhyana are presented along with important aspects in scientific light.
The higher level topics of samadhi (trance) and siddhi (attainment of spiritual success) are also discussed. Emphasis is laid on overall refinement of personality and elevation of divine virtues in the inner self by the yoga sadhanas. Sincere adoption of the prescribed disciplines and adept practice of these sadhanas gradually endows the sadhaka (devotee) with successively greater potentials and lead to the ultimate realization of beatitudeous blissfulness in the same life.
Asanas are designed to fine-tune the sadhak’s body. They serve the dual purpose of physical exercise and conditioning the internal components of the body which are associated with the extrasensory power centers (chakras) of the endocrine system and specific bundles and knots (nadee gucchaka and granthis) of the nerves. Asanas also help focusing the agile mental tendencies and thus condition the mind for greater concentration. Sukhasana, Vajrasana, Sulabhasana, Padmasana, Siddhasana etc are practised in sitting postures.
Some asanas, practised by Soorya Namaskara and Pragya yoga and the asanas like Ardhamatsyendrasan, Pashcimottanasan, Bhujangasan, Mayoorasan, Sarvangasan, Chakrasana, Trikonasana, etc, stretch and create pressure on different organs and affect the spinal column and nerve-muscle network and are recommended for specific effects on the intra-body processes. Shavasana is performed after all other asanas as it offers soothing relaxation to the body and pacifies all stresses... |
