HATHA YOGA
is not just practice of postures. It is a door to the mastery of will power and unleasing dormant possibilities within the body. ‘Ha’ means Sun and ‘Tha’ means Moon. The framework of Hatha yoga is framed around the imagery, symbolism and philosophical concept of Shiva Shakti. Shiva stands for ‘Self’ while Parvati stands for ‘Shakti.’ Their symbiosis is Bliss as the hatha yoga practioner regards himself married to that Self. Thus, Hatha yoga is a discipline that harnesses and combines different currents of the body to invoke all-powerful Kundalini force. This yoga traces spiritual traditions initiated by Lord Shiva himself.
According to legends yogis like Matsyendranath and Gorakhanath carried on this mythology to historical one. One story that has come down many generations is of Matsyaendranath overhearing the secret teachings of Lord Shiva and thus, gaining knowledge, becomes a disciple. Pajanjali is considered to be the standard texts for yoga Ancient texts like Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Shiva Samhita, establishes the origin of Hatha Yoga.
Shaivite Siddhars are bent on Hatha yoga as a spiritual science based on Shiva Tattva and Kundalini enlightenment. To a Hatha Yogi, the body is not a mere mass of living matter, but a mystic bridge between the spiritual and the physical being. This yoga is designed to gain in-depth understanding of our body and to unleash its power and strength to obtain our higher selves. This is the doctrine around which the rigorous physical regime of Hatha Yoga is based upon culminating as the Raja yoga summit.
Hara Hara Mahadeva. Yogi Ananda Saraswathi
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Om. Although Shiva- Shakti is seen as one form of Ardhanarishvara, Shakti does not give up altogether. They share the multiplicity of powers, collectively called the Five Shaktis: (1) the ability to conceive of each other as separate, (2) absolute satisfaction in their unity, (3) divine will, (4) full and complete knowledge, and (5) the power to act. She may be a consort or earthly wife, She has Her own ways to serve
Yogi Ananda Saraswathi
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EKADAH RUDRA-SHIVA
are the eleven Rudra incarnations. Nandeeshwar incarnation is the first incarnation of Rudra as Shambu. This is followed by Pinaki, Girish, Stanu, Bharg, Sadashiva, Shiva, Hara, Sharva, Kapali and Bhava. Shatarudriya hymns celebrates Rudra in his eleven forms as: Aghora (benevolent); Kapardi (with matted hair); Girisha (Lord of mountains) ; Bhima( terrible) ; Nilagriva (blue throated); Trayambaka (three eyed); Sabhapathi (master of the assembly); Ganapathi (leader of the hosts); Senani(commander of forces); Samkara(doer of good ); and Shambhu (appearing for the welfare of all).
Corresponding to the eleven Rudras, the Vishnu Purana names the eleven Shaktis or Rudranis as Dhi; Vritti; Usana; Uma; Niyuta; Sarpi; Ila; Ambika; Iravathi; Sudha; and Diksha.
What does Ekadah Rudra-Shiva symbolise? In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad the Rishi Yajnavalkya at one stage says “The eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, Indra and Prajapati are the thirty-three gods”. He goes on to explain: Katame rudra iti: “Who are the Rudras?” and says “The ten senses and the mind make eleven. These are the Rudras.” When the senses and the mind leave the body, they make one cry in anguish.” While a person is alive, these eleven: the senses and the mind, subject the individual to their demands, and make him cry in agony if he violates their laws.
The senses are ten in number, the five organs of action and the five organs of perception. The Mind is the eleventh. We can also mention the five sensory experiences – tanmatras, which are responsible for our feelings of attraction and aversion to the things we perceive. The ten sense organs together with the mind and the subtle senses are the main instruments through which Nature deludes the beings by subjecting them to the desire for sense objects and the attachment arising from them. Out of desire comes attachment and out of attachment a person becomes deluded by seeking things in order to satisfy his or her craving.
Hara Hara Mahadeva. Yogi Ananda Saraswathi Wisdom
==================================================================
Om mystically embodies the essence of the entire universe. It is the entire subject matter of Mandukya Upanishad. Om is Trinity of the three worlds and represents the manifest and unmanifest nature of God. In Yoga it is used for auditory meditation. In Shaivite Puranas, it is the mark of the Linga and sign of Lord Shiva. Vaishnaitves hold Om to be Vishnu, consort Shri and the worshiper. Om Om Om
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demons
Om. Once someone noticed demons all around and felt the need to get rid of them. They did not budge, so our chap thought he could use his teaching skills and started to preach Vedas, Upanishads and Puranas. God and Self realisation was the essence and Dharma was used as the central theme in the story telling. The demons were still there like a hawky thorns on a rose stem. So, our chap reversed the strategy. Since they were staying put, he thought there could be something good in their company. And so he surrendered to the demons; perhaps they have something to teach!
They neither taught nor left. The largest of them had fierce fires emanating from their nose. The whole exercise was tiring as one had to spend relentless hours on this endeavour. The demons were not there to learn or teach. Finally our chap offered himself completely and stepped towards the big demon. It was then that the demons bowed low and dissolved into space. A mirror reflects our physical being; our mind reflects our thoughts. Teaching and learning can also be a delusion....
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ganesha ... are you ready to move ahead..
Om. Spiritual pursuit calls for reconciliation and balance between several paradigms of spiritual and worldly life. Perhaps you are not ready. Even if you are, then it seems to diminish faster than the thought due to oncoming obstacles. Sometimes it is a momentary feeling like last night’s dream. Or it is like going through a picture album without absorbing the essence. Nothing seems to offer an integral solution. Ignorance is free commodity and it is left to the individual to relegate oneself to cheap seats in God’s world. Alternatively one can make conceited efforts with sincerity. There is a difference between idealisms of wishing to join the neighbour or focused wanting of a pursuit. In the Hindu bhakti path, Lord Ganesha is the Remover of Obstacles. Ganesha is ever ready to bless and grace your efforts. The question is, if you are ready, that is wanting to move forward.....?
Yogi Ananda Saraswathi ... Wisdom..