APARIGRAHA

YAMA NIYAMA OF YOGA

Eight folds of Ashtanga Yoga is like a ladder, stepping stones to Raja Yoga. Likewise all eastern philosophical entities are inextricably linked to one another. When one talks about the objectives of life Viz Darma-Artha-Kama-Moksha, one cannot separate it out. All four may be distinct; but like a vestibule in a train, they are interconnected.

Dharma is fulfillment of duties to oneself, family, to his employer, state, and society in general. In another words the job done systematically according to norms is called Dharma. One earns depending on his skills, luck and abilities and the money or possessions earned in legitimate way only will come under the preview of ARTHA.

Enjoyment of Artha is called karma, i.e, our legitimate pleasures we get by virtue of our legitimate possessions. It could be possessions like cars, houses, money or sex. Flirting with somebody else's girlfriend does not come under true KAMA.

APARIGRAHA is an important aspect of Niyama in yoga, non-possessiveness, non-holding through senses, non-greed, non-grasping, non-indulgence, non-acquisitiveness.

Even yoga teachers forget this important aspect of Niyama and see yoga as a way to earn money and such money earned is not ture 'Artha.' Even inaction sometimes can be considered as bad karma when one remains mute witness to atrocities and never raise his/her voice. Even the company of evil people can have negative impact on us as we are all answerable to the law of karma.

KARMA YOGA

Karmendriyani samyamya ya aste manasa smaran,
Indriyarthan vimudhatma mithyacharah sa uchyate.

കര്‍മ്മേന്ദ്രിയാണി സംയമ്യ യ ആസ്തേ മനസാ സ്മരന്‍

ഇന്ദ്രിയാര്‍ത്ഥാന്‍ വിമൂഡാത്മ മിത്യാചാര: സ ഉച്യതേ

Mere physical control of our senses will not suffice in our course to the path of self-realization. If one observes a religious fasting and at the same time his mind thinks about delicious foods that he can eat at the end of fasting he is just a pretender. Many practitioners of yoga changes from non-vegetarian meals to vegetarian and if the craving for non-vegetarian meal is profound in this mind he too is categorized as ‘mithyachara.’

Likewise many are dressed as ascetics with uncut hair-mustache and practice aasanas and pranayama and the same person later flirts with girls he too belongs to the category of hypocrite.

Kama by definition is enjoyment of our legitimate possession in a legitimate way. Anybody who beholds other person’s wife with a lustful eye also falls under this category.

In the practice of yoga it is better to obey to your mind and gradually an attempt should be made to control the mind so that even a trace of craving for sensual pleasure is obliterated.

LESSONS FROM BHAGAVAT GITA

ആപൂര്യമാണമചരപ്രതിഷ്ടം
സമുദ്രമാപ: പ്രവിശന്തി യദ്വത്
തദ്വത് കാമ യം പ്രവിശന്തി സര്വേ
സ ശാന്തിമാപ്നോതി ന കാമകാമി

(Bhagavat Gita Chapter 2 verse 70)

A simile is made here comparing the inflow of inputs from our sense organs to rivers. A spiritually enlightened man even if bombarded with sensual feelings will not wilt to temptations as the Oceans which are always been filled by flow from rivers, yet does not inundate its shores.

The aim of Yoga is to separate mind from sensual pleasures and stoppage of all mental faculties.

Some schools of yoga says that by systematic practice of Asanas and Pranayama one can tame the mind which will help the practitioner of yoga to fulfill his Yamas and Niyamas which are the first steps of ashtanga yoga.

AHIMSA
In Russia to many the concept of being vegetarian is unthinkable and they have a genuine reason for it. In a place where vegetations are scarce for more than 5 months they have to survive on non-vegetarian stuff and for many veggie food is not their cup of tea. To survive in sub-zero temperatures meat is a necessary evil. In winter the vast majority of Russians get all the water-soluble vitamins by eating raw meat and fermented products and through seasoning.

The silver lining is that even in this country of chilling cold many are able to adapt to sathwik food and maintain a better life.

What will happen when someone is forced to be a veggie to pursue Yoga? We discuss this on our next post.

SIVA LINGAM the POWER HOUSE

The concept of Sivalingam is is really baffling even to ardent Shivites who worship this form of Siva. Most of us are unable to give a logical and correct explanation to the concept of Siva Lingam. This has been a curious subject for Europeans as well. A reasonably good explanation was given to the English-speaking word by Sai Baba's devotee and author Howard Murphet.

According to him the lingam is in the form of an 'elipse' which in turn represents the universe in micro and macro forms. What we see as Lingam in temples is only one half of ellipse. The smallest stable unit in this world is atoms which are in elliptical form, so is our solar system and Galaxies. And Geometry says ellipse is the best shape to utilize and store energy. So the concept of Linga is the concentration of potential energy. Ellipse has major role in our mathematics and Scientific study in acoustics, planetary study, optics, and nuclear energy.

Many critics and enemies of Hinduism understands the literary translation and brand Hindus as "Phallus worshipers." But we are worshiping Energy in its fullest form.

AYURVEDIC CONCEPTS
Religion and mythology has been inseparable in in Indian medicine and many believe ayurveda has a divine origin from Lord of Creation, Brahma. But this divinity has also paved the way for Stagnation of research in Ayurveda as Divinity cannot be questioned and nobody dared to approach Ayurveda with a critical mind.

But Siva worship is wonderfully amalgamated into a treatment procedure called 'sirodhara.' The concept of Sirodhara is simple and direct. Our body is considered as an inverted tree and it is possible to nourish the body/nervous system if some procedure is done on the head. This does not mean that oil/buttermilk/milk poured on the head will directly influence our brain functions, but the process of dhara can trigger subtle changes in nerve endings which have a cascading effect on our Autonomous Nervous System.

SOME SIMILARITIES
In Siva temples we aren't allowed to make a complete circling of temple as the water path which is considered as Ganga cannot be crossed. The Concept of Ganga is akin to the coolants in Atomic Reactors. The cold Ganga is pacifying the power house called Shiva.

There is striking similarity to the shape of Siva Lingams and Atomic Reactors; they are also in elliptical form. And if the third eye is opened the whole world is doomed. So does an Atomic Reactor if it opens its third eye.

Shiva is also worshipped as Nataraja where he is in cosmic dance which leads to eternal bliss. The famous temple in Chidambaran in Tamil Nadu, Siva is depicted in Ananda Natana.

So dear friends, next time when critics of Hinduism makes derogatory remarks about Siva Lingam remember this and explain the symbolic meaning hidden in that power house.