(CONT.)
THE CLASSICAL YOGA OF PATANJALI
~Sage Patanjali (3rd. Cent. B.C.E.) is often considered The Father of Classical Yoga. Patanjali was a Sanatanist (Hindu) Guru (a Self-Realized Hindu spiritual teacher) who spent many years around the Chidambaram Siva Temple in Tamil Nadu, South India. Patanjali's Ishta Devata (one's chosen Deity) was Nataraja (the dancing form of Siva). Through Divine inspiration, Patanjali codified Sanatan Dharma/Classical Yoga into an "eight-fold" (Astanga) path. It is important to note that Astanga Yoga corresponds exactly with the four classic yogas above. It is also important to note that in the Tamil Hindu tradition, of which Patanjali was a part, the four yogas are termed Chariya (ethics/Karma), Kriya (devotion/Bhakti), Yogam (asana and meditation/Raja) and Jnanam (enlightenment/Jnana).
*Generally the modern usage of the words Astanga Yoga (and even worse "Power Yoga") have little to do with the authentic Classical Astanga Yoga of Patanjali. These are simply more examples of the abuse of Hindus and Hinduism.
ASTANGA
YOGA
(reading from the bottom up)
8. SAMADHI = The non-dual state of Enlightenment ~~~JNANA YOGA
7. DHYANA = Continuous concentration on the spirit or meditation.~~~~R Y
6. DHARANA = Concentrating on a single spiritual point of reference.~~~A O
5. PRATYAHARA = Detaching from the five senses. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~J G
4. PRANAYAMA = Awareness of the breath energies.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A A
3. ASANA = Awareness of the body ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~HATHA YOGA
2. NIYAMA = Ethics and Devotion ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BHAKTI YOGA
1. YAMA = Ethics ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~KARMA YOGA
~With an understanding of Classical/Astanga Yoga, one can understand the spiritual/religious process in general as seen reflected (to one degree or another) in all the religions of the world as well as appreciating the specific spiritual path of Sanatan Dharma/Hinduism–the religion of Yoga.