Philosophical understanding of Yoga in the Vedas Upanisads Buddhism Jainism Patanjal Yoga and Integral Yoga

Introduction Yoga tradition is very ancient. In Pāṇini, the word 'Yoga' is derived from the root 'Yuj', in the sense of samādhi (concentration) and 'Yujir' in sense of joining or connecting. According to Pāṇini, 'Yogi' means a man who practices religious austerities. In early 1920's, during excavation of Indus civilization (about 3000BC), traces of early Yoga were found in Indus cities. There are some Terra-Cotta seals found during excavation. They are called as "Paśupati Seal" which show horned deities seated in manner of the yogic postures. The Vedas, Upaniṣads, Mahābhārata, Smṛtis, Purāṇas, Yogavāsiṣṭha describe Yoga. Eighteen chapters of Bhagavad Gītā are named as different Yogas. Vaiṣṇavism and Śaivism also mention Yoga. In the Indian Philosophy, there are six darśanas or philosophical systems. Most of these systems accept Yoga as means to attain liberation. Bhagavān Pata鎣ali, for the first time, took great efforts to collect these scattered pearls, and systematized them in aphoristic style or Yoga sūtras. He gave' Yoga', a status of darśana, a Philosophical school. Bhāśya of Vyāsa, Vācaspati miśra and Vij?#257;na bhikkhu are well known. Along with the Pāta鎣ala Yoga, it is necessary to consider the two important śramaṇa traditions of India. The two śramana traditions, the Buddhism and Jainism are avaidic or nāstika darśanas as they do not accept authority of Vedas. While remaining four systems accept authority of the Vedas. Thus, they are called as āstika darśanas. Both Mahāvīra and Buddha did not accept the authority of the Vedas and criticized sacrifice system. They undertook rigorous practice of virtues,