Meditation and Yoga
The
Ancient Indian Therapies
Rishikesh, a small town in Uttaranchal, is better known as the Yoga
capital of India. The land of Rishikesh is supposed to be perfect for
performing Yoga and Meditation. According to legends, Brahma, the
creator of universe, found the land and aura of Rishikesh perfect for
performing Yagna. It is said that he prayed here for overall peace of
whole universe. Later lord Vishnu and Shiva also performed penances
here. Gods found this place perfect for prayers and meditation.
Gradually Rishikesh gained popularity for its perfect atmosphere and
surroundings for meditating. Sages and spiritual gurus made Rishikesh as
there home and opened up Ashrams. Devotees from all over the world
started flocking to Rishikesh, once the word about benefits of Yoga and
Meditation was spread all over the world. Celebrities, musicians,
statesman, singers and leaders from all parts of globe came here and
added to the charm of Rishikesh.
Yoga
Yoga was propounded by Patanjali, an ancient Indian monk. It is
supposed to be 5000 years old technique to keep oneself fit. The word
Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word Yog, meaning 'Union'. The union of
self with the supreme power is the main aim behind the Yoga system. Yoga
is a form of physical exercise, which is done to maintain a physical and
mental balance. Yoga is an age-old practise, started by the holy sages
of Vedia era. It is believed that these saints performed Yogas to keep
themselves physically fit. The various Asanas (Positions) of Yoga were
discovered by them, to invlove all parts of body. Yoga was preached by
these saints to common people. Gradually Yoga gained immense popularity
in India, and worldwide, as a means to cure the physical ailments and to
keep oneself fit. Asanas in Yoga are the postures of various exercises.
Some of them are very difficult to perform. There are 84 million
postures according to Hindu religious books. Some popular forms of Yoga
are:
Karma Yoga: Is a path of action without expectation of
reward
Bhakti Yoga: Is devotion to supreme being to submerge
emotion and self in pure love.
Jnana Yoga: Is liberation through spiritual books and
knowledge.
Hatha Yoga: Is the physical path to train the body to
control the mind and senses through asana and pranayama.
Raja Yoga: Is the restraint of fluctuations in the
consciousness.
Tantric Yoga: Is the worship of goddess of energy and
sees the body as the temple of the divine.
Meditation
Meditation is another form of attaining peace of mind. Meditation is a
part of Yoga. It is a mind-body therapy involving a series of exercises.
Meditation in Yoga refers to the practice of focusing the mind and
observing oneself in the moment. Meditation is though easy to learn but
requires patience from the learner. The learning might take time but
once learned, it keeps the mind focused, fresh and alert all day long.
Meditating involves sitting still for a period of time -- maybe 10
minutes, or maybe 100 minutes. The increased flexibility that yoga
brings helps the body to remain comfortable during this physical
inactivity. Since meditation is based on intense concentration, certain
pre-requisites must be met for it to be successful. Above all, it calls
for a steady and comfortable posture (asana). The lotus posture
(padma-asana) and the adept's posture (siddha-asana) are most frequently
recommended in the scriptures of Yoga and Vedanta.
Major Centres
Rishikesh in Uttaranchal has emerged as the main centre for Yoga and
Meditation, for learners as well as practitioners. The major ashrams
which conduct Yoga and Meditation courses and provide guidance to
follower are:
- Paramarth Niketan
- Sivanand Ashram
- Yoga Niketan
- Vanprastha Ashram
- Ved Niketan
- Vedanta Ashram
- Vanmali Gita Yogashram
- Shankaracharya Nagar Transcendental Meditation Centre
- Vithal Ashram and Yoga Study Centre
