Yoga Shastra

Knowledge & practice of yoga

Bhagavad Gita

Vyasa

It is a complex and profound textual content that has been interpreted in lots of extraordinary ways. It is a source of understanding and thought all over the international. Its teachings had been influential in many other traditions.

Amrita Nada

Amritananda Upanishad explains the effects of pranayama, one of the eight limbs of yoga, in a typical Upanishad simile – just as the impurities of mineral ore are burnt by a blower, so too are the consequences of misdeeds committed by the senses.

Vijnana Bhairav

Shiv

The text presents itself as containing the essence of the Rudrayamala-tantra. Bhairavi asks Bhairava to reveal the essence of how to realize the true nature of reality. Bhairava then describes 112 ways to enter into the universal and transcendental state of consciousness.

Hamsa

The text opens with Gautama asking Sanatkumara to distil the knowledge of all Vedas for him. Sanatkumara states that Shiva pondered over the Vedas and answered the same question from Parvati. It is the knowledge of Yoga, the shrouded mystery of yogins, the path of the Hamsa, which he will share with Gautama.

Amritbindu

The text opens with an introduction consisting of four verses, followed by four sections of which three discuss the practice, rules and rewards of yoga, followed by a discourse on life-force (Prana, breath). The text ends with a one verse summary.

Advayataraka

Advaitakara is a composite Sanskrit word consisting of आद्य (advaita), meaning “non-identity, identity, unity, not two, without each other” and ताराक (taarak). Which means “to liberate, to carry, to deliver, to save”. ‘Tarak’ literally means star and “eyeball”.

Yoga Sutra

Patanjali

It is best known for its reference to ashtanga, eight elements of practice culminating in samadhi. The eight elements are abstinences, observances, yoga posture, breath control, pratyahara, dharana, meditation & absorption.

Yoga Tattva

It begins with the formulation of the esoteric principles of Yoga by Lord Vishnu to Grandfather Brahma. In the order of Mantrayoga, Layyoga, Hathayoga and Rajyoga, its four stages have been described. Later, the yogi's diet and daily routine have been mentioned.

Hath Yoga Pradipika

Swatmarama

The work consists of 389 shlokas (verses) in four chapters that describe topics including purification (ṣaṭkarma), posture (āsana), breath control (prāṇāyāma), spiritual centres in the body (chakra), kuṇḍalinī, energetic locks (bandha), energy (prāṇa), channels of the subtle body (nāḍī), and energetic seals (mudrā).

Jabal Darshan

This Upanisad is related to Samaveda. It is also called as Darsanopanisad. There are ten sections in it. A questionaire like description has been made herein containing the questions and answers transacted between Dattatreya, an incarnation to Lord Vishnu and his disciple on Astänga Yoga.