Page 2 - Lesson 18.xps

MODULE-5 Hatha Yog

Yogic Practices
In hatha yog sun and moon are two fundamental part of our existence. So these
two need more elaboration. Sun (pingla) means pran shakti, the life force and
moon (ida) means manas shakti, the mental force. Every object in this universe,
right from the smallest atom to the largest star is a combination of these two
forces or energies. When they interact with each other, then creation begins to
unfold. And when these two shaktis or energies are seperated from each other,
creation is dissolved which is called ‘ pralaya’

Note In Hatha yog, there is the concept of harmonizing the above two fold energies in
a human being. Normally, these two energies are in an unbalanced and
unharamonized form in all of us. In some persons prana shakti or pingala is
while in other ones, mental shakti is predominant and the pran shakti is
subservient. Those whose pranic energy is predominant are prone to anger,
quarrel, causing murder, committing crimes and violent behavior. Contrary to it,
those whose mental energy is predominant are prone to mental imbalance like
tension, depression, anxiety and stress etc. Hatha yog devise techniques to
harmonize and create balance between these two energies which in turn not only
gives, sound physical health, mental peace, emotional balance and above all
evolution of human consciousness.

INTEXT QUESTION 18.1

Fill in the Blanks -
i) Hatha means the union of .............................. and .......................... forces.

ii) Hatha yog devise techniques to ...........and .............balance between these
two energies.

iii) Yog is a Sanskrit word derived from ........... dhatu, which has thirty two
meanings in Sanskrit dictionary.

18.2 PHILOSOPHY OF HATHA YOG

As we have discussed earlier that the word Hatha is made up of two Sanskrit
roots, ha and tha. Ha means ‘sun’ and Tha means ‘moon’. This is symbolic of
the twin energy forces which exist in everything. Pran energy or vitality is
dynamic and active. This is bodily energy or gross energy. The moon is the
mental energy of chitta. It is the subtle force which is related with the mental
layers. The two create the extremities of introversion and extroversion.
In the body there are specific path ways for channelizing these two forces. Just
as in an electrical circuit you have suitable wires for the conduction of positive-
negative electrical energy currents, similarly there are energy channels within

Physical Education and Yog
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