Yoga : What is the actual meaning of Yoga ?

What is the actual meaning of Yoga?

In fact, in a deep sense, yoga means to join. That is, the union of two elements is called yoga. The union of the soul with the Supreme is desired here. The perfection of yoga lies in the fact that a person who is living in the spirit of the soul, connects with the Supreme Soul and becomes established in his own self. This is the spirit of devotion. In Bhakti the devotee does not want to be separated from his Lord. He is always in the shelter of his Ishta. Being a refugee, he always gets the company of God. There should be an easy union with God, this is what yoga teaches. Now who is a hindrance in meeting this yoga of the Supreme Soul? These are the hindrances – our mental attitudes. If a piece of pebble falls in the still water of the pond, then many waves are generated in it. In it, many waves of small and big size circles start being produced. The face of man would not be clearly visible in that turbulent water. If the wave of water ends, the water becomes calm again. In this position the figure will be clearly visible. So are the instincts of our mind. Due to the shock of the objects of the senses, many waves are generated in it and due to the waves generated, man is not able to see his own form. If his chitvrittis are over, then he will be able to see his own self.

Meaning of Yoga

Maharishi Patanjali has clarified in his Yoga Sutras that yoga is to prevent the mind from turning into various tendencies. Pulling the scattered mind-vrittis from all sides in the human body to one side i.e. going towards the center is called yoga. We have to eliminate the distraction of the mind that dominates the soul and purify it. Through yoga we can purify our mind and get realization of the soul. Maharishi Patanjali has given a comprehensive discussion of Yoga. There are several stages in it – Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. A person desirous of doing spiritual practice through this method of Ashtanga Yoga can attain the highest state of meditation and samadhi under the guidance of a Sadguru, by meditating on these steps and attaining realization of the conscious soul. Then by getting the darshan of the Supreme Supreme Soul in his soul, becoming like that one can attain bliss.