Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga (Hatha Vidya) was first advised by Shree Parameswara (Lord Shiva) to his wife Shree Parvathi (Goddess Parvathi) in a lonely island. A fish (Matsya) listened the entire discourse. Lord Shiva feeling mercy on that fish made him a Sidha later knowned as Yogi Matsyendran.

Yogi Matsyendran was the first master of Hatha Yoga. Yogi Matsyendra taught this vidya to Yogi Chourangi, who was a limbless man. Yogi Matsyendra gave hands and feet to him by just looking at him. Swami Swathmarama Yogi compiled these guru's advises to a book called Hatha Pradipika (written in Sanskrit language). Yogi Matsyendra and Yogi Goraksha were the gurus of Yogi Swathmarama in Hatha vidya.

Hatha Yoga is a stairway to Raja Yoga and is not for any sidhis (materialistic achievements). Raja Yoga is aimed to control a person's mind using meditation to further acquaintance of materialistic world and lead to Moksha (liberation). Asanas (postures) and Pranayama (breath control) in Hatha yoga purify a person's mind and train his body for long period of meditations.

In Hatha Pradipika Yogi Swathmarama states that 33 Yogis named Sri Aadinatha, Matsyendra, Shabara, Aanadabhairava, Chourangi, Meena, Goraksha, Virupaksha, Vileshaya, Manthana, Bhairava, Sidhi, Budha, Kanthadi, Korandaka, Surananda, Sidhipada, Charpadi, Kaneri, Poojyapada, Nithyanatha, Niranjana, Kapali, Bindunatha, Kakachandeeshwara, Allama, Prabhudeva, Ghoda, Choli, Tindini, Bhanuki, Khanda and Kapalika is still traveling in this universe with their power of Hatha vidya. There are more of them.

Basically there are three types of sorrows in one's life. They are:

Adhi-daivikam - literally means "mental disturbances that come from God"—i.e. things that are utterly beyond our control: hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, tsunamis, etc. We have no control over these types of disturbances.

Adhi-bhautikam - literally means "disturbances that come from the world." That means anything stemming from the world around us like materials, animals etc. Compared to the first category, we have some control over this second category of disturbances.

Adhyatmikam – literally means "disturbances stemming from the self." The third type of disturbance is the most powerful and, at the same time, the only one over which we have total control. For one who is still identified with the ego, the people, places and things of this world stimulate one of two reactions in the mind—attachment or aversion. Lust, jealousy, anger, sorrow, hatred destroy our peace.

If we look at any of our sorrows it will be connected to any of the above three (Thaapa Thrayam). Hatha vidya is the solution for the beings suffering from any of these sorrows.

How to start Practicing Hatha Yoga:

Guru: A person wishes to practice Hatha Yoga must have a suitable Guru (master).
Never practice by reading books or hearing some thing from some where. For learning Hatha Yoga Guru's presence and guidance is required.

"Athyahara: Prayasacha
Prajalpo Niyamagraha:
Janasangacha Loulyam cha
Shadbhiryogo Vinshyathi"

Following ar the six reasons which may cause failure in achieving Yoga. They are:
Over eating, Over working, Over talking, stick to unwanted rules, Unwanted relationships and Unstable mind.

Yama & Niyama:

Yama
Ahimsa: Do not hurt anybody by thought, word or deed.
Satya: Honesty or truthfulness.
Asteya: Not attain anything not owned by us (Not to steal, not desire other's property and not be in debt).
Brhmacharya: Celibacy, control of all senses.
Kshama: Patience.
Dhriti: Firm determination.
Daya: Compassion.
Arjava: Straight forwardness.
Mithahara: Eat nominal food.
Shaucha: Purity in mind, word and deed.

Niyama
Thapas: Personal endeavor of discipline, undertaken to achieve a goal without thinking of suffering and pain.
Santhosha: Happy with what in hand not desiring more.
Ishwara vishwasa: Believe in God.
Dana: Giving without thought of reward.
Ishwarapujana: Daily worship of God.
Sidhanta Sravana: Desire to listen spiritual talks.
Vinaya: Respecting others.
Karyagrahana Shakti: Grasping power.
Japa: Recite or chanting mantra.
Vrata: Sacred vows, fulfilling religious vows, rules and observances faithfully

Patanjali Maharishi in "Yoga Sutra" defined Yama and Niyama by listing only Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya Brahmacharya & Aparigraham (non-appropriation of things not one's own) as five Yama and Shaucha, Santhosha, Thapas, Swadhyaya (self study of spiritual scriptures) & Ishwrapranidhanam (Self surrender) as five Niyama. According to Patanjali Maharishi Yama is the first limb and Niyama the second limb of total eight limbs of Raja Yoga.

Swathmarama Yogi insisted that a person must have all twenty basic qualities listed in Yama and Niyama.

Matam (Ashramam): Selecting Matam is also very important in practicing Hata Yoga. There must be no disturbance – mentally or physically to the Yogi. Such disturbances may stall the success of Yogi. Ashramam (House of Yogi) must be small with small entrance door preferably without windows, with leveled floor, without disturbance from any type of animals, creatures or materials. Ashramam must be in a quiet silent area. There must be a small hall with a raised platform to sit in front of the ashramam. There must be a small well nearby the ashramam. Above are the basic needs of the Ashramam, but can be modified according to the time and place requirements.


"Evam vidhe Matae Sthithwa
Sarvachinta vivarjita:
Gurupadishta Margena
Yogameva Sadabhyaseth"

Staying in the above type Ashrama and with guidance of a suitable Guru (Master) you can start practicing Hata Yoga daily.

Practice

Raja Yoga is aimed to control a person's mind using meditation to further acquaintance of materialistic world and lead to Moksha (liberation). Asanas (postures) and Pranayama (breath control) in Hatha yoga purify a person's mind and train his body for long period of meditation.

Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga

The eight Limbs are a progressive series of steps or disciplines which purify the body and mind, ultimately leading the yogi to enlightenment. These 8 limbs are:

1. Yamas – Code of conduct. They should all be practiced in word, thought and deed.
Ahimsa: Do not hurt anybody by thought, word or deed.
Satyam: Truthfulness
Brahmacharya: Celibacy, control of all senses.
Asteya: Not attains anything not owned by us (Not to steal, not desire other's property and not be in debt).
Aparigraha: non-appropriation of things not one's own.

2. Niyamas - Religious observances and commitment to practice.
· Saucha or purity - this internal and external cleanliness.
· Santosha or contentment
· Tapas or austerity
· Swadhyaya or study of the sacred texts
· Ishwara Pranidhana which is constantly living with an awareness of the divine presence (surrender to God's Will)

3. Asanas - Postures

4. Pranayama – Breath control.

5. Pratyahara - Abstraction of the senses in order to still the mind.

6. Dharana - Concentration. One pointed ness in the mind.
When Dharana is achieved, it leads to the next step:

7. Dhyana – Meditation.
When mastered Dhyana leads to the last step:

8. Samadhi - The super conscious state. The quiet state of blissful awareness.
In Samadhi non-duality or oneness is experienced. This is the deepest and highest
state of consciousness where body and mind have been transcended and the Yogi is
one with the Self or God.

Om Tat Sat

Unit of time in Vedic Astrology

In Vedic times "Thrudi" is considered as the basic unit of time. When 100 lotus petals are kept one on other together and a sharp needle is passed through them, the time taken by the needle to pass through one petal is called as one "Thrudi".

100 Thrudi = 1 Lavam
30 Lavam = 1 Nimisham (Moment)
18 Nimisham = 1 Kashta
30 Kashta = 1 Kala
30 Kala = 1 Khadika
2 Khadika = 1 Muhurtham
30 Muhurtham= 1 day

Another measurement:
10 Gurvaksharam = 1 Asu (Pranan)
6 Asu = 1 Vinazhika
60 Vinazhika = 1 Nazhika
60 Nazhika = 1 day

Modern time measurement:
24 Minute = 1 Nazhika
2 1/2 Nazhika = 1 Hour
3 Hour = 1 Yamam
24 Hour = 1 Day
7 day = 1 Week
15 day = 1 Paksham
30 day = 1 Month
2 Month = 1 Rithu
3 Rithu = 1 Ayanam
2 Ayanam = 1 Year

Calculation of Yugas:
There are 4 Yugas named Krita Yuga, Thretha Yuga, Dwapara Yuga & Kali Yuga

Kritha Yuga contains 17, 28,000 years and the present Kritha Yuga started in the month of Vrichika (November) on a Wednesday and Shuklapaksha Navami.

Tretha Yuga contains 12, 96,000 years and the present Tretha Yuga started in the month of Idava (May) on a Monday and Shuklapaksha Trithiya.

Dwapara Yuga contains 8, 64,000 years and the present Dwapara Yuga started in the month of Kumbha (February) on a Friday and Amavasi.

Kali Yuga contains 4, 32,000 years and the present Kali Yuga started in the month of Kanni (September) on a Sunday and Krishnapaksha Thrayodashi. It is told that when this Kali Yuga started all seven planets were in in one Rasi (House).

Total of these four Yugas is called as one Chathuryuga. One Chaturyuga contains 43,20,000 years. It is believed that Dharma will diminish in each Yuga like be 100% Dharma in the first Yuga, 75% Dharma in the second Yuga, 50% Dharma in the third Yuga and 25% Dharma in the present Kali Yuga.

71 Chathuryuga = 1 Manwantharam
14 Manwantharam = 1 Kalpa

2 Kalpas will be Lord Brahma's one day. One Brahma year contain 360 Brahma days. Each Brahma have longevity of 100 Brahma years(72,000 Kalpa).

We are located in the fifty-first Brahma year of the life of our Brahma.
Within that Brahma year, we are in the first Brahma day, called the Varaha kalpa.
Six Manwanthram are completed in the present Kalpa. Swyambhuv, Sarochisham, Uttama, Thamasa, Raivatam and Chakshusham are those six Manwantharam. Vaivaswatha is the present Manwantharam. 27 Chathuryuga were finished in this Manwantharam. Now 5095 years were finished in Kali Yuga of this 28th Chathuryuga of the present Manwantharam.

Following are the details of 14 Manwantaras in the present Kalpa.

Each Manwantara is ruled over by a Manu and there are fourteen Manwantaras in any kalpa. The gods (devas), the seven great sages (saptarshis), and the Indra, change from one Manwantara to another.

The first Manu was Svayambhuva. The names of the gods then were yama and the names of the seven sages were Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vashishtha.

The second Manu was Svarochisha. The names of the gods then were tushita and the names of the seven sages were Agnidhra, Agnivaha, Medha, Medhatithi, Vasu, Jyotisvana and Dyutimana.

The third Manu was Outtama. The names of the gods then were rishabha and the names of the seven sages were the urjjas. (The individual names of the sages are not given).

The fourth Manu was Tamasa. The names of the gods then were satya and the names of the seven sages were Gargya, Prithu, Agni, Janya, Dhata, Kapinka and Kapivana.

The fifth manu was Raivata. The names of the gods then were raibhya and the names of the seven sages were Vedavahu, Jaya, Muni, Vedashira, Hiranyaroma, Parjanya and Urddhavahu.

The sixth Manu was Chakshusha. There were five types of gods in the sixth Manwantara and their names were adya, prasuta, ribhu, prithugra and lekha. The names of the seven sages were Bhrigu, Naha, Vivasvana, Sudharma, Viraja, Atinama, and Asashishnu.

The seventh Manwantara is the manvanatara that is now going on. The seventh Manu is Vaivasvata. The names of the seven sages are Atri, Vashishtha, Bhavya, Kashyapa, Goutama, Bharadvaja and Vishvamitra. The gods now are forty-nine vayus, eleven rudras, two ashvinis, twelve adityas and eight vasus.

The remaining seven Manwantaras will come in the future.

The eight Manu will be Savarni. The Shiva Purana gets extemely confused here and it is not possible to make out clearly who the gods will be in the future Manwantaras. But the names of the seven sages of the eighth Manwantara are Viravana, Avanivana, Sumantra, Dhritimana, Vasu, Varishnu and Arya.

The nine Manu will be Rohita. The names of the seven sages will be Medhatithi, Vasu, Bhargava, Angira, Savana, Havya and Poulaha.

The tenth Manu will be Merusavarni. The names of the gods then will be dvishimanta and the names of the seven sages will be Havishmana. Pulaha, Sukriti, Ayomukti, Vashishtha, Prayati and Nabhara.

The eleventh Manu will be Brahmasavarni. The names of the seven sages will be Havishmana, Kashyapa, Vapushmana, Varuna, Atreya, Anagha and Angira.

The twelfth Manu will be Dharmasvarni. The names of the sages will be Dyuti, Atreye, Angira, Tapasvai, Kashyapa, Taposhana and Taporati.

The thirteenth Manu will be Rouchya. The names of the seven sages will be Kashyapa, Magadha, Ativahya, Angirasa, Atreya, Vashishtha and Ajita.

The fourteenth and last Manu will be Bhoutya. The names of the seven sages are not known.

Destruction
End of each Kali Yuga(end of each Chaturyuga/Mahayuaga) various calamaties cause a good deal of destruction.

At the end of Brahma's daytime period, the three upper worlds (Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, Swarloka) and the seven underworlds (of the nagas) are temporarily dissolved(pralaya); that is, the same folks can be reincarnated when the next day(Kalpa) of Brahma begins.

The Vishnu Purana states that at the end of the daytime period of Brahma, a dreadful drought occurs that lasts 100 years, and all the waters are dried up. The sun changes into seven suns, and the three worlds (Bhurloka or Earth, Bhuvarloka or the lowest heaven, and Svarloka or the next higher heaven) and the underworlds are burned bare of life. The inhabitants of Bhuvarloka and Svarkloka flee to the next higher heaven, Maharloka, to escape the heat; and then to the next higher heaven, Jnanaloka.

Then mighty clouds form and the three worlds are completely flooded with water. The lord Vishnu reposes on the waters in meditative rest for another whole kalpa (4.32 billion years) before renewing the creation.

The destruction that takes place at the end of a daytime of Brahma is referred to as naimittika, which is incidental or occasional. The characteristic of this destruction is that the three worlds continue to exist but are made uninhabitable. The souls of individuals also continue to exist to be reincarnated in the next daytime of Brahma.

The lifespan of Brahma is 100 Brahma years, or 72,000 kalpas, or 311.04 trillion human years.

At the end of the life of Brahma, all worlds are completely dissolved (mahapralaya). No one is reincarnated from these worlds ever again. After that new Lord Brahma will come to do the creation.