Raj Yoga or Royal Yoga
What is Raj Yoga or Royal Yoga?
Raj Yoga or Royal Yoga is the ‘highest form of yoga’. The word ‘raj or raja’ denotes kingly or royal or highest. So this form of yoga is the highest yoga.
Raja Yoga is sometimes also known as Classical Yoga or ‘royal union’ and is used to attain final liberation.
Self realization: The main aim of this system of yoga is to attain self-realization through the various practices of yoga. That is why Raj Yoga is considered the most supreme form of yoga.
Raj Yoga involves mental practices and meditation, where the mind transcends the body. It has hence also been called ‘mental yoga’ or ‘yoga of the mind’.
The coinage of Raj or Royal Yoga came into vogue much later, almost a thousand years after Patanjali, who is considered the ‘Father of Yoga’, first formulated the philosophy of yoga 2000 years ago. It includes eight kinds of yoga – Hatha Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Ashtang Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Purna Yoga. All of them incorporate the well known practices of breath control (pranayama), postures (asanas), and meditation (dhyana).
The body is first tamed and purified with self-discipline, restraint and celibacy, and all addictions and obsessions are eliminated. While various physical postures (asanas) are essential in Raj Yoga, it gives more importance to meditation. Raj Yoga focuses on completely stilling the mind and thus experiencing different levels of awareness, finally leading to complete self-awareness and then merging with the Divine.
In Raj Yoga meditation, the practitioner concentrates on a single point, thus effectively closing out all other distractions. All floating thoughts and day-dreaming is blocked out, and there is a continuous concentrated attention. This meditation is the quest which ultimately transcends mere worship or prayer, ritual or magic.
There are three stages of meditation – Dharana which means concentration, Dhyana which means meditation and finally Samadhi which means merging with the Divine. The practitioner (yogi) has to pass through all the various stages before he reaches the final stage.
According to Raj Yoga, humankind is clothed in many folds, which limit a person’s spiritual growth. These are the veils (koshas) which cover the Atman (soul or true self). This Atman or true self is the jewel within us, and the practice of Raj Yoga is aimed at releasing or unmasking the practitioner or yogi from these false identifications, veils and masks. It brings to light the actual brilliant light of the soul, and in doing so brings bliss, joy and wisdom in all its fullness.
Thus Raj Yoga, which is the ‘king among yogas’, is a potential tool for cleansing the Karma and obtaining Moksha (ultimate spiritual freedom).
Raj Yoga or Royal Yoga is the ‘highest form of yoga’. The word ‘raj or raja’ denotes kingly or royal or highest. So this form of yoga is the highest yoga.
Raja Yoga is sometimes also known as Classical Yoga or ‘royal union’ and is used to attain final liberation.
Self realization: The main aim of this system of yoga is to attain self-realization through the various practices of yoga. That is why Raj Yoga is considered the most supreme form of yoga.
Raj Yoga involves mental practices and meditation, where the mind transcends the body. It has hence also been called ‘mental yoga’ or ‘yoga of the mind’.
The coinage of Raj or Royal Yoga came into vogue much later, almost a thousand years after Patanjali, who is considered the ‘Father of Yoga’, first formulated the philosophy of yoga 2000 years ago. It includes eight kinds of yoga – Hatha Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Ashtang Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Purna Yoga. All of them incorporate the well known practices of breath control (pranayama), postures (asanas), and meditation (dhyana).
The body is first tamed and purified with self-discipline, restraint and celibacy, and all addictions and obsessions are eliminated. While various physical postures (asanas) are essential in Raj Yoga, it gives more importance to meditation. Raj Yoga focuses on completely stilling the mind and thus experiencing different levels of awareness, finally leading to complete self-awareness and then merging with the Divine.
In Raj Yoga meditation, the practitioner concentrates on a single point, thus effectively closing out all other distractions. All floating thoughts and day-dreaming is blocked out, and there is a continuous concentrated attention. This meditation is the quest which ultimately transcends mere worship or prayer, ritual or magic.
There are three stages of meditation – Dharana which means concentration, Dhyana which means meditation and finally Samadhi which means merging with the Divine. The practitioner (yogi) has to pass through all the various stages before he reaches the final stage.
According to Raj Yoga, humankind is clothed in many folds, which limit a person’s spiritual growth. These are the veils (koshas) which cover the Atman (soul or true self). This Atman or true self is the jewel within us, and the practice of Raj Yoga is aimed at releasing or unmasking the practitioner or yogi from these false identifications, veils and masks. It brings to light the actual brilliant light of the soul, and in doing so brings bliss, joy and wisdom in all its fullness.
Thus Raj Yoga, which is the ‘king among yogas’, is a potential tool for cleansing the Karma and obtaining Moksha (ultimate spiritual freedom).
