Raja Yoga is frequently referred to as royal yoga or yoga of kings, but that just causes confusion, especially if you are unfamiliar with yoga philosophy.
Starting with some urban legend debunking
Does Raja Yoga refer to either Royal Yoga or Yoga of Kings? No, it never has!
Do you mean pose, Asana, while we’re at it? Surprisingly, no!
Let’s talk about what Raja Yoga entails, how it fits into the larger world of yoga, and how to do Raja Yoga. That little asana puzzle will be resolved along the way.
Table of Contents
What Does Raja Yoga Mean?
Raja yoga is one of the four classical schools of yoga alongside Jnana (knowledge or self-study), Bhakti (devotion) and Karma (action), each offering a path to moksha (spiritual liberation) and self-realization.
In Sanskrit, raja means ‘king” or ‘royal,” referring to the status of As the primary or “royal path” of yoga, raja yoga. Raja yoga has historically been used to describe both the end result of yoga and the process by which it is attained. As a result, it is also regarded as the feeling of tranquility and contentment that results from regular yoga and meditation practice.
Raja yoga is essentially the practice of controlling one’s mind and body, with an emphasis on meditation and energetics. Hatha yoga and contemporary asana practice originated from Raja yoga, which incorporates teachings from all the various paths.
Raja yoga allows practitioners to achieve harmony and balance across all three facets of human existence—physical, mental, and spiritual.
The Origin Of Raja Yoga
Tragically, a large portion of the early written record of yoga was destroyed intentionally during historical invasions and wars, in addition to being lost to deteriorating paper and ink.
We do know that a revered sage named Maharishi Patanjali assembled the Raja Yoga Sutras, also known as the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, around 2500 years ago with the aid of his fellow Rishis (learned monks). He wrote this book to describe Raja Yoga’s goals and methodology.
Is everything about Raja Yoga covered in the book? It was never intended to, not even close. The majority of us were never even intended for it! It can be viewed as more of a Raja Yoga primer because it was written for monks and scholars’ education. A long-term study, possibly with monks who have been passing down their knowledge for countless years, was (and is) supposed to be the source of the deeper dive.
Raja Yoga And The Paths Of Yoga
Raja yoga has a long history and tradition, just like the other three main paths of yoga, which helped shape its modern interpretation. These are the other three yoga paths:
- Bhakti yoga
- Karma yoga
- Jnana yoga
These additional three paths of yoga were first mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient text. Achieving Samadhi, or enlightenment, was the goal for which they were imparted. However, it is important to note that, in contrast to these three types of yoga, raja yoga was not covered in the Bhagavad Gita as a route to enlightenment. However, rather than being a specific method of yoga, raja yoga was instead used to refer to enlightenment itself. But over time, raja yoga has changed and is now its own distinct path. In particular, Swami Vivekananda, Patanjali, and Sri K. Patanjali are to be credited for this. among others, Pattabhi Jois. Raja yoga could be considered the most contemporary branch of yoga in comparison to the other branches.
The Scholars Of Raja Yoga
From raja yoga’s earliest iterations in the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads, some notable yogis and academics have contributed to its development throughout history. In addition to helping raja yoga develop in its early stages, these yogis and academics are also accountable for bringing raja yoga to the West.
Patanjali: The first known author on raja yoga is Patanjali. In his Yoga Sutras, he created the original “eight fold path.” He laid the groundwork for all contemporary raja yoga with his teachings. On who Patanjali actually was, though, there is disagreement. Some academics contend that Patanjali was actually a group of yogis rather than a single person. Al Biruni’s translations support this theory because it has been suggested that Biruni was one of many “Patanjalis.”” The truth of raja yoga’s original scholar may have been lost to time since it is thought that the Yoga Sutras were first composed around 200 AD.
Swami Vivekananda: Raja yoga hasn’t reached the West without the help of Swami Vivekananda. His book Raja Yoga, which served as an explanation and manual for Patanjali’s raja yoga, was published in 1896. It was written for a Western readership. It was the impetus behind yoga’s introduction to the West and rose to enormous popularity.
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois: Being born in 1915 and remaining alive until 2009, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois is the most contemporary central figure among raja yoga researchers. He was a yoga instructor and Sanskrit scholar who lived in Mysore, India, but frequently traveled to teach in the United States and other Western nations. He created a physical Ashtanga practice by drawing on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Ashtanga translates to “eight fold path” in Sanskrit. His Ashtanga series are exacting and challenging. They are now regarded as the asana practice of raja yoga’s physical manifestation.
Ashtanga Yoga – The Eight Limbs
Yamas
- Ahimsa, or the absence of harm or violence. Ahimsa includes the practice of vegetarianism. The great Indian saint Gandhi is famous for the practice of ahimsa
- Truthfulness, not telling lies, says Satya.
- Chastity and repression of sexual urges are practices of Brahmacharya.
- Asteya means a lack of stealing, coveting, and jealousy.
- Aparigraha: refusing gifts or payments in exchange for favors.
Niyamas
- Saucha: both internal and external purity.
- Santosha: satisfaction.
- Tapas: austerity.
- Swadhyaya: the study of religious texts.
- Ishwara Pranidhana entails ego surrender and worship of the Lord.
Asana
The third of the eightfold path is probably the one that modern yogis are most familiar with. In Sanskrit, the term “asana” (physical yoga poses) means “comfortable seat.” Asanas are actually designed to get the body ready for meditation. Yoga practitioners will be better equipped to meditate under all conditions—physical, mental, or otherwise—if they can find inner peace in a challenging posture.
Pranayama
It is called pranayama, or yogic breathing. As with asanas, there are numerous variations of pranayama techniques. Every technique has a distinctive psychological, physiological, and emotional impact. Raja yoga relies heavily on pranayama because the breath unites the body and mind. There is no yoga without breath.
Pratyahara
The fifth limb of yoga is called pranyahara. The phrase alludes to a senses-withdrawal. The yogi becomes more inwardly focused as they let go of their attachment to the senses, which helps to further prime their body and mind for raja meditation.
Dharana
The sixth limb of dharana is all about promoting total focus and builds on the sensory withdrawal of pratyahara. The yogi gains the capacity to focus on a single thing, task, or intention through dharana. The result is that both in their yoga practice and in their daily interactions, the yogi becomes more effective and intentional.
Dhyana
Dhyana, or meditation as it is more commonly known, is the seventh limb. The yogi employs each of the abilities from the first six limbs at once while meditating. In dhyana, as opposed to dharana, the yogi is simultaneously focused on everything and nothing, simultaneously. Instead, they are completely silent and empty. They experience thoughts that are unattached.
Samadhi
Samadhi—also known as enlightenment—is the eighth and final limb. Samadhi and raja yoga were terms that were used interchangeably in the Bhagavad Gita. It could be argued that the path and its final destination are identical as a result: they are one. The yogi is set free, made aware of their true nature, and connected to the Divine and all other beings in samadhi. The highest level of unity exists there.
How To Practice Raja Yoga?
For millennia, the raja yoga philosophy has been developed and expanded upon. But what does raja yoga practice look like in reality?
As previously mentioned, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois’ Ashtanga style is the most well-known physical manifestation of raja yoga. Ashtanga is a multi-series exercise technique created by Pattabhi Jois. There are specific poses in each series. Every posture is paired with a breath count, and the series must be practiced in the same order each and every time. An asana in the series must be mastered before continuing; if a yogi is unable to do so, they must stop practicing and return to the series later on. The primary and, occasionally, secondary Ashtanga series are what the majority of yogis do. Some experienced yogis have, however, made it to the sixth and final series. The only location where a yogi can receive training to teach Ashtanga is at the original Ashtanga Institute founded by Jois in Mysore, India.
Another crucial element of the raja yoga practice, in addition to asana, the third limb of yoga that is frequently overemphasized in the West, is raja yoga meditation. How does raja yoga meditation work? It is comparable to other types of yoga meditation, in which the practitioner sits in the lotus pose or another pose, closes their eyes, and starts an inner journey of consciousness. The Yoga Sutras’ instructions on dhyana, the seventh limb of yoga, can help yogis better understand raja yoga meditation. The body is prepared for meditation through all of the other yoga limbs. As a result, it is raja yoga in its purest form.
Conclusion
The practice of raja yoga is intricate and has developed over time, much like other types of yoga. Today, the yogi has access to a wealth of information and texts, including Vivekananda’s Raja Yoga and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, which can help them on their path. However, the abundance of texts and criticisms on the raja yoga practice can make it difficult to understand how to carry out this branch of yoga. Yoga means union in its purest form, which yoga should keep in mind. Raja yoga serves as a reminder that all beings and the Divine are one. Thus, we become truly royal in our spirit as well as the spirit of those around us.