Eight limbs of yoga- Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharna, Dhyana, and Samadhi.

Astanga yoga of Patanjali Yogasutra- 

 

Astanga yoga

In the Patanjali Yoga sutra, Maharishi Patanjali described eight types of yoga sadhana. In these elements, we know about our sadhana practice rules and postures for stability, lightness, and healing our body and mind. In traditional yoga, yogis control senses to focus on Chakras. Maharishi Patanjali has described eight limbs in patanjali yogasutra of the yoga sadhana. 

The eight components are-

1. Yama
2. Niyama
3. Asana
4. Pranayama
5. Pratyahara
6. Dharna
7. Dhyana
8. Samadhi

Yama- It is the first limb of ashtanga yoga. It includes social discipline. The regular practice of Yama works on both physical and mental levels. Generally, Yama is referred to as our daily routine behavior, describing how we should live a better life. Our disciplined life makes our day productive and successful. 

It includes-

• Ahinsa (Non-violence)
• Satya (Truthfulness)
• Asteya (Non-stealing)
• Brahmacharya (Self-restraint)
• Aparigraha (Non-covetousness)

Yama

Niyama- It is referred to as self-discipline. Niyamas are the guidelines for better and healthy living. there are five components of Niyamas. They are-

• Saucha (Cleanliness)
• Santosha (Modesty)
• Tapas (Keeping the body healthy)
• Svadhyaya (Self-inquiry)
• Ishvara pranidhana (Surrender to god)

Niyama

Asana- Maharishi Patanjali has defined asana as "Sathirsukhmasanam" which means to sit in comfort and stand position. Asana provides us stability, lightness, and good health. By the practice of asanas, we can detoxify and purify our bodies.

There are thirty-two types of asanas described in the Gheranda Samhita 

1. Dhanurasana ( Bow pose)
2. Gomukhasana ( Cow mouth pose)
3. Padmasana ( Lotus Pose)
4. Siddhasana ( Perfect pose)
5. Bhadrasana ( Happy pose)
6. Singhasana (Lion pose)
7. Virasana ( Hiro pose)
8. Vajarasana ( Adament pose)
9. Muktasana  ( Freedom pose)
10. Swastikasana ( Auspicious pose)
11. Guptasana ( Hidden pose)
12. Sankatasana ( Danger pose)
13. Mayurasana ( Peacock Pose)
14. Kukkutasana ( Rooster pose)
15. Shalabhasana ( Locust pose)
16. Mritasana ( Death pose)
17. Matsyasana ( Fish pose)
18. Matsyendrasana ( King of fish pose)
19. Gorakshasana ( Cow safe pose)
20. Paschimottanasana ( Forward bend pose)
21. Uttkatasana ( Chair pose)
22. Mandukasana ( Frog pose)
23. Kurumasana ( Tortoise pose)
24. Vrikshasana ( Tree pose)
25. Bhujangasana ( Snake pose)
26. Makarasana ( Crocodile pose)
27. Garudasana ( Eagle pose)
28. Vrishamasana (Bull pose)
29. Uttankurmasana ( Extended tortoise pose)
30. Uttanamandukasana ( Extended frog pose)
31. Usthasana ( Camel pose)
32. Yogasana

Pranayama- The word pranayama is composed of the two words - Prana+Ayama. Prana means life energy and Ayama means to control or expand. Various breathing exercises are practiced to move this prana within our body to rejuvenate it. In other words, we can say that pranayama is the expansion of individual energy into cosmic energy.

There are eight pranayamas described in Gheranda Samhita-

1. Suryabhedi
2. Bhastrika
3. Ujjayi
4. Bhramari
5. Sheetali
6. Moorchha
7. Sheetkari
8. Plavini

Pratyahara- It is considered as a bridge between the Bahiranga aspects ( Yama, Niyama, Asana ) and the Antaranga aspects ( Dharna, Dhyana, Samadhi ) of the yoga sadhana. The word pratyahara is composed of the words - Prati+Ahara. Prati means against and Ahara means food or anything which is taken into our selves. So the word pratyahara means not to be taken or accepted by our body. Pratyahara includes the withdrawal of senses from their subjects and to control our minds and desires. It changes us from extrovert to introvert. Our senses follow the mind, where ever the mind travels they follow it. If we become introverted and the mind truly goes inward, the senses will also follow our minds. Now, they begin their inward journey by withdrawing themselves from their subjects.

Dharna- It is the single-pointed concentration and focuses. Dharna is the initial stage of deep meditation. Patanjali explains it as the binding of consciousness to a single spot. This ability to focus all the mind's attention towards one thing leads us to the next stage- Dhyana. Patanjali has described dharna as Desha Bandhachittasya dharna, which means dharna is the process of holding or fixing the concentration or attention of the mind into one object.

Dhyana- It means meditative absorption. Maharishi Patanjali has described dhyana as- Tatrapratyaya Ekatanata Dhyanam. Dhyana is to maintain continuous deep concentration without interruption. Dhyana involves concentration and meditation on a point of focus with the desire of knowing the reality about it. In other words, dhyana is the unbroken flow of awareness of an object. Dharna is a state of mind, whereas dhyana is the process of mind. Dhyana ( meditation) leads to deep absorption. (i .e. samadhi)

Samadhi- Samadhi is oneness with the object of meditation. There is no distinction between the act of meditation and the object of meditation. The first stage of samadhi (i. e. Savitarka), is simply a deepening of dhyana ( meditation). Samadhi is a state of intense concentration achieved through meditation. Samadhi is the mind's ultimate state of being. It is the highest state of consciousness that a human being can achieve.

 Mainly, there are two types of samadhi-

• Samprajnata samadhi
• Asamprajnata samadhi

Samprajnata samadhi (Sabija samadhi)- This type of samadhi is accompanied by happiness, egoism, deliberation, reflection, and bliss. Samprajnata samadhi is also called Sabija samadhi because the seeds (samsaras0 are there. It is also known as a type of conscious meditation or concrete meditation.

The main types of Samprajnata samadhi are-

1. Savitarka
2. Savichara
3. Anadanugata
4. Asmitanugata

Asamprajnata samadhi (Nirbija samadhi)- It is the state of bliss and is obtained when a yogi achieves oneness with the soul or self and thoughts disappear. The ultimate goal of samadhi is the union of the individual with the higher self. This samadhi is also known as Nirvikalpa Samadhi and it includes the knowledge of Purusha or consciousness. In Asamprajnata samadhi, individuality is lost and the mind is free from egoism, reflection, and analysis. Samprajnata Samadhi refers to concrete or conscious meditation, whereas Asaamprajnata samadhi refers to abstract or unconscious meditation.