Page 4 - Lesson 18.xps

MODULE-5 Hatha Yog

Yogic Practices
18.2.1 History of Hath Yog

Yog has been the part and parcel of Indian culture. It is so intermixed with the
culture that we can not find its real origin in time. However, we have got its
references in world’s most ancient scripture Rig veda. The statue of a yogi sitting
in lotus pose was found in the excavation of Indus valley civilization. Some
historians believe that Indus valley civilization came before the Rig vada. But,
one thing is certain that it is very ancient and dates back about 2000 BC. According
Note to ‘ Yogi Yog walk’ the founder of the yog is Hiranyagarbh. But there is no
mention of sages or seers in this name in any yogic scripture or other Indian
scriptures. Adi Sankaracharys says, “Hiranyagarbha is the symbolic name of
Maharshi Kapil, the founder of “ Sankhya Philosophy “. It is very clear that
Mahanshi Patanjali was not the founder of yog as he himself has asked about
this in the beginning of his treatisen ‘yog sutra’ .
Hatha yog is the product of tantra. There are few minor references of Hatha yog
in ancient Upanishads and Puranas. But, it has got a lot of importance in
Srimadabhagavatam. It has been mentioned several times in this book. Evidence
of Hatha Yog has also been found in the pre- Columbian culture of the Americas.
Even now , at St. Augustin, a southern province of Columbia in South America
there are large stone figures and carvings depicting hatha yog practices.
There are many reliable texts on hatha yog- ‘Hatha Yog Pradipika’ written by
Swami Swatrnarma, Goraksha Samhita ‘ by Yogi Gorakhnath and Gheranda
Samhita by great sage Gheranda. All these texts including all other major texts
on Hatha Yog traditionally believe that its expounder was Lord Shiva also known
as Adinath. It is believed that Lord Shiva gave this knowledge to Parvati. This
knowledge came to Matsyendra Nath. Guru Gorakhnath the dutiful disciple of
Matsyendra Nath was really the expounder of hatha yog and the founder of the
Nath sect. It is also believed that Gorakhnath was probably the guru of Swami
Swatmaram.

Guru Gorakhnath is regarded as the real founder of Hatha Yog. His birth time is
not very clear but it is believed that this timing was in 9 century AD. All the
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texts are considered to have been written between 9 and 15 centuries AD. Its
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systematic form began to emerge in India sometime in the 9 century.
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INTEXT QUESTIONS 18.3

Mark as True or False-
i. Hatha yog is the product of tantra. ( )

ii. Hiranyagarbha is the symbolic name of Maharshi Kapil, the ( )
founder of “ sankhya philosophy “.

Physical Education and Yog
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