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Timeline of Yoga - Yogavani from Indian Yoga Association

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Celebrating World Meditation Day with the Indian Yoga Association 

On World Meditation Day, the Associate Centres and Member Institutes of the Indian Yoga Association came together to honour the profound practice of meditation. Across various locations, our community gathered to reflect, connect, and deepen their meditation journeys, fostering a sense of unity and inner…

Celebrating 6 Years of Excellence:Indian Yoga Association Gujarat Chapter Foundation Day 

The Indian Yoga Association, Gujarat Chapter, virtually celebrated its 6th Foundation Day on 29th December with the theme Yoga for Lifestyle Management. The program began with a prayer, followed by Mauli Baviskar introducing all dignitaries. The event emphasized yoga’s role in promoting holistic well-being, inspiring…

Geetham Institute of Alternative Medicine hosts transformative sessions 

In December, Geetham Institute of Alternative Medicine, Associate Centre of Indian Yoga Association hosted a series of transformative sessions centered on Varma therapy, which plays a significant role in enhancing physical, mental, and emotional health. The month-long series was conducted by experienced practitioners, each focusing…

Indian ancient Siddhars and the science of longevity: A remarkable discovery byAttangaogam Peedam 

Recent research, supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), sheds light on the ancient practice of Attangaogam, Associate Centre of Indian Yoga Association, and its impact on longevity. The study, titled “Effect of Yoga-Pranayamam on Telomere Length in Medical Students,” revealed ground breaking…

Tamil Nadu SCC meets to discuss way forward 

The Tamil Nadu State Chapter Committee meeting was held in World Community Service Centre, Chennai on December 28, 2024, at 10:30am. The meeting commenced with a prayer and meditation session, creating a serene atmosphere for the discussions that followed. Shri Rajeshwari Prabhakaran, Senior Vice-Chairman of…

Enriching programs at Sri Aurobindo Society, Hyderabad 

Throughout December, the Sri Aurobindo Society, Hyderabad, hosted a series of insightful talks and satsangs, focusing on various elements of yoga and spiritual growth. The month began with Elements of Yoga 1 by Smt. Suneetha Sekhar on 1st December, followed by Smt. Harshitha’s session on…

Vedic Kaya Sadhana celebrates convocation ceremony 

The Vedic Kaya Sadhana, Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association, recently held its convocation ceremony, marking a significant milestone for its graduating students. The event celebrated the culmination of rigorous training and dedication, with graduates receiving certifications that recognize their comprehensive understanding and expertise…

SSIYRC Students Set World Record inArdha Matsyendrasana 

In a remarkable achievement, 105 students from the Sri Shankari Institute of Yoga and Research Center, Gummudipoondi (SSIYRC), Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association, sustained the Ardha Matsyendrasana pose for an impressive 10 minutes, earning them a place in the Worldwide Book of Records….

Sree Bala Yoga Studio reflects on a year of remarkable achievements in 2024 

Sree Bala Yoga Studio, Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association, celebrated a year of significant milestones in 2024, underscoring its commitment to yoga education and community wellness. The studio conducted two sessions of its 200-hour Certificate Course in Yoga and a 500-hour Advanced Certificate…

Ananda Chaitanya Meditation Center launches in Coimbatore 

The Ananda Chaitanya Meditation Center in Kurumbapalayam, Coimbatore, Associate Centre of the Indian Yoga Association was inaugurated with grandeur on December 20, 2024. The event began with the traditional lighting of the kuthuvilakku by renowned writer Jeyamohan, symbolizing the dispelling of ignorance and the illumination…



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07 Feb 2025

Yogavani

Timeline of Yoga
Articles

Timeline of Yoga 

by Mayank Raj Saxena, Life Member

Yoga can be said to have originated at the very dawn of the civilization thousands of years ago. The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’, which means ‘to unite’. Yoga leads to self-realization while helping the individual overcome all sufferings making them achieve moksha.
The Pre-Vedic Era

In this period the knowledge was orally passed on and as a result most of the yogic techniques were lost during this period and the origins of this ancient science became mired in obscurity.

The Vedic Era

The Vedic period saw the four seminal texts come into being-

• Rig Veda
• Yajur Veda
• Sama Veda
• Atharva Veda

The great Maharishi Ved Vyasa (Rishi Badarayana) collated and classified the Vedas for the good of mankind and wrote the Brahma Sutras for the quick and easy understanding of the Vedas; he also wrote the Mahabharata to enable Common people to grasp the highest knowledge in the easiest way. Yoga during this period was expressed by the Vedic rishis, who were Ascetics, by conducting rituals and yajnas and the general populace Participated in a variety of ways to benefit from the healing vibrations Generated thereof.

The Pre-Classical Era

The Pre-Classical Period is considered to be the most fertile and Prominent period in the history and development of yoga. During this period, the Upanishads and Bhagawad Gita were scripted. Yoga had now crossed over from the realm of rituals to the knowledge of the Self; from the outer world to the world within. References to yoga and yogic techniques can be found in several Upanishads. In the pivotal text the Bhagawad Gita, Lord Krishna spoke not only to Arjuna but to all of humankind. It expounded the concept of Jnana yoga, Bhakti yoga and Karma yoga as ways to reach the Supreme.

The Classical Era

The highlight of the Classical era is Maharishi Patanjali’s Yogasutras. Besides containing various aspects of yoga, Patanjali describes Eight-Fold Path of yoga, which is devised to take a sincere seeker towards liberation. Ved Vyasa also compiled a very important commentary on the Yoga sutras called the Yog Bhashya. This period witnessed the move towards the mastery of the Mind, which was clearly elucidated through yogic practices.

The Post-Classical Era

This era strengthened the already existing paths of yoga. Many texts that exist today were drafted during this era. Jnana yoga held its sway with the teachings of the great Acharyas Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Madhavacharya and Nimbarka. Bhakti yoga also came to the fore with the teachings of Suradasa, Tulasidasa, Purandardasa and Mirabai.Hatha yoga also found its expression in the Post classical era fromaround 800 A.D. – 1700 A.D. The Natha yogis like Matsyendaranatha, Gorakshanatha, Chauranginatha, Swatmaram Suri, Gheranda, Srinivasa Bhattacharya are some of the great Hatha yogis who popularized the Hatha yoga practices during this period.

The Modern Era

Yogacharyas Ramana Maharishi, Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Paramahansa Yogananda, Vivekananda etc. dominated the Modern Era and contributed whole heartedly towards the development of Raja yoga. This was the period when Vedanta, Bhakti yoga & Hatha yoga flourished further. Now in the contemporary times, the general populace is looking at yoga with renewed respect and as an option for promoting and maintaining health. Yoga has reached the furthest corners of the world through the teachings of great personalities like Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Paramahansa Yogananda, Swami Shivananda, Swami Kuvalayananda, Shri T.Krishnamacharya, Shri Yogendara, Acharya Rajaneesh, Swami Rama, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, Swami Satyananda Sarasvati, Shri BKS. Iyengar, Shri T.K.V Desikachar, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and many others. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar established Sri Sri Yoga. In 1982, Gurudev entered a ten- day period of silence in Shimoga located in the Indian state of Karnataka. The Sudarshan Kriya, a powerful breathing technique, was born. With time, the Sudarshan Kriya became the core of The Art of Living courses around the world.

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