Page 1 - Lesson 18.xps

Hatha Yog MODULE-5
Yogic Practices

18

HATHA YOG

Lord Shiva is considered to be the father of Hathyog. The successors of this Note
tradition were Sh. Matsyendranath, Swami Gorakshnath, Meennath, Bhartrihari
and further it was promoted by Swatmaram and other followers of ‘Nath-
Tradtion’ till Sh. Gopichandra. Yog practitioner becomes eligible for Rajayog
through purified healthy body with the help of Hathayog. Rajayog is a practice
of attaining Samadhi keeping pure consciences through Yama- Niyama. In this
lesson you will learn about the Hatha Yog, its history and its benefits in our
life.

OBJECTIVES

After studying this lesson you will be able to:

explain Hathayog;
describe the Philosophy and History of Hatha Yog;
identify the importance of Nadis and Chakras and

explain the effects and benefits of Hatha Yog.

18.1 HATHA YOG

Hatha yog is a very important part of yog. It is a combination of two words
Hatha and Yog. The literal meaning of Hatha is ‘force’ and is more traditionally
defined as the ‘yog of force or means of attaining a state of yog through force.
But, here in Hatha yog ‘ Hatha’ is meant quite differently. It is a combination of
two beej mantras ‘ha’ and ‘tha’. ‘Ha’ symbolically represents for ‘sun’ and ‘Tha’
for ‘moon’.

In Hatha yogic terms ‘Ha’ or ‘Sun’ or pingala nadi represents pran, the vital
force and ‘Tha’ or moon or ida nadi represents mind, the mental energy. So,
Hatha means the union of pran and mental forces.

Yog is a Sanskrit word derived from ‘Yuj’ dhatu, which has thirty two meanings
in Sanskrit dictionary. Here, Hatha yog means union, addition or integration etc.
It is a state of bliss or the end of all human sorrows. So, the meaning of whole
term’ hath yog’ is the union of sun or pingla and moon or ida together.

Physical Education and Yog
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