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Niyamas
Niyamas () are positive duties or observances. In Dharma, particularly Yoga, ''niyamas'' and their complement, yamas, are recommended activities and habits for healthy living, spiritual enlightenment, and a liberated state of existence. It has multiple meanings depending on context in Hinduism. In Buddhism, the term extends to the determinations of nature, as in the Buddhism, Buddhist ''niyama dhammas''. Etymology ''Niyama'' (नियम) is derived from the Sanskrit root ''niyam'' (नियम्) which means "to hold". Thus, ''niyama'' translates to "rule", "observances", or "practices of self-restraint". Hinduism Within the Yoga (philosophy), Yoga school of Hindu philosophy, ''niyamas'' are described in the eight limbs (steps; Ashtanga (eight limbs of yoga), ashtanga yoga) of yoga. ''Niyama'' is the second limb which includes virtuous habits, behaviors, and observances (the "dos"). These virtues and ethical premises are considered in Hinduism as necessary for an individu ...
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Yamas
The (), and their complement, the niyamas, represent a series of "right living" or ethical rules within Yoga philosophy. The word means "reining in" or "control". They are restraints for proper conduct given in the Vedas and the Yoga Sutras as moral imperatives, commandments, rules or goals. The are a "don't"s list of self-restraints, typically representing commitments that affect one's relations with others and self. The complementary represent the "do"s. Together and are personal obligations to live well. The earliest mention of is in the Rigveda. More than fifty texts of Hinduism, from its various traditions, discuss . Patañjali lists five in his Yoga Sūtras. Ten yamas are codified as "the restraints" in numerous Hindu texts, including Yajnavalkya Smriti in verse 3.313, the Śāṇḍilya and Vārāha Upanishads, the '' Hatha Yoga Pradipika'' by Svātmārāma, and the Tirumantiram of Tirumular. The apply broadly and include self-restraints in one's actions, w ...
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Shaucha
() literally means purity, cleanliness, and clearness. It refers to purity of mind, speech and body. is one of the of Yoga. It is discussed in many ancient Indian texts such as the Mahabharata and Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. It is a virtue in Hinduism and Jainism. In Hinduism purity is a part of worship and an important quality for salvation. Purity is a mind pure and free of evil thoughts and behaviors. includes outer purity of body as well as inner purity of mind. It is synonymous with (). states that in yoga is on many levels, and deepens as an understanding and evolution of self increases. In yogic practice, is considered essential for health, happiness, and general well-being. External purity is achieved through daily ablutions, while internal purity is cultivated through physical exercises, including (postures) and (breathing techniques). Along with daily ablutions to cleanse one's body, suggests clean surroundings, along with fresh and clean food to purify the bod ...
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Dharma
Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold'' or ''to support'', thus referring to law that sustains things—from one's life to society, and to the Universe at large. In its most commonly used sense, dharma refers to an individual's moral responsibilities or duties; the dharma of a farmer differs from the dharma of a soldier, thus making the concept of dharma a varying dynamic. As with the other components of the Puruṣārtha, the concept of ''dharma'' is pan-Indian. The antonym of dharma is ''adharma''. In Hinduism, ''dharma'' denotes behaviour that is considered to be in accord with ''Ṛta''—the "order and custom" that makes life and universe possible. This includes duties, rights, laws, conduct, virtues and "right way of living" according to the stage of life or social posi ...
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Yoga (philosophy)
Yoga philosophy is one of the six major important schools of Hindu philosophy,Maurice Phillips (Published as Max Muller collection), The Evolution of Hinduism, , PhD. Thesis awarded by University of Berne, Switzerland, page 8 though it is only at the end of the first millennium CE that Yoga is mentioned as a separate school of thought in Indian texts, distinct from Samkhya.David Lawrence (2014), in The Bloomsbury Companion to Hindu Studies (Editor: Jessica Frazier), Bloomsbury Academic, , pages 137-150 Ancient, medieval and modern literature often simply call Yoga philosophy Yoga.Knut Jacobsen (2008), Theory and Practice of Yoga, Motilal Banarsidass, , pages 100-101, 333-340Mikel Burley (2012), Classical Samkhya and Yoga – An Indian Metaphysics of Experience, Routledge, , pages 43-46 and Introduction chapter A systematic collection of ideas of Yoga is found in the ''Yoga Sutras of Patanjali'',Larson, p. 21–22. a key text of Yoga which has influenced all other schools of India ...
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Ishvarapranidhana
Īśvarapraṇidhāna "commitment to the Īśvara ("Lord")"N Tummers (2009), Teaching Yoga for Life, , page 16-17 is one of five Niyama (ethical observances) in Hinduism and Yoga. Etymology and meaning Īśvarapraṇidhāna is a Sanskrit compound word composed of two words ''īśvara'' (ईश्वर) and ''praṇidhāna'' (प्रणिधान). ''Īśvara'' (sometimes spelled Īshvara) literally means "owner or ruler". Later religious literature in Sanskrit broadens the reference of this term to refer to God, the Absolute Brahman, True Self, or Unchanging Reality. ''Praṇidhāna'' is used to mean a range of senses including, "laying on, fixing, applying, attention (paid to), meditation, desire, prayer." In a religious translation of Patanjali's Eight-Limbed Yoga, the word ''Īśvarapraṇidhāna'' means committing what one does to a Lord, who is elsewhere in the Yoga Sūtras defined as a special person (puruṣa) who is the first teacher (paramaguru) and is free of all h ...
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Ashtanga (eight Limbs Of Yoga)
Ashtanga yoga (, "eight limbs of yoga") is Patanjali, Pātañjali's classification of classical yoga, as set out in his ''Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga Sūtras''. He defined the eight limbs as ''Yamas, yama'' (abstinences), ''niyama'' (observances), ''Asana, āsana'' (postures), ''Pranayama, prāṇāyāma'' (breath control), ''Pratyahara, pratyāhāra'' (withdrawal of the senses), ''dhāraṇā'' (concentration), ''Dhyana in Hinduism, dhyāna'' (meditation), and ''Samadhi, samādhi'' (absorption). The eight limbs form a sequence from the outer to the inner. The posture, asana, must be steady and comfortable for a long time, in order for the yogi to practice the limbs from ''Pranayama, prāṇāyāma'' until ''Samadhi, samādhi''. The main aim is ''kaivalya'', discernment of ''Purusha, Puruṣa'', the witness-conscious, as separate from ''Prakṛti'', the cognitive apparatus, and disentanglement of ''Puruṣa'' from its muddled defilements. Definition of yoga Patanjali, Pā ...
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Svādhyāya
(Devanagari: ) is a Sanskrit term which means self-study and especially the recitation of the Vedas and other sacred texts. It is also a broader concept with several meanings. In various schools of Hinduism, ''Svadhyaya'' is a Niyama (virtuous observance) connoting introspection and "study of self". Etymology, meaning and usage Svādhyāya is a compound Sanskrit word composed of sva (स्व) + adhyāya (अध्याय). Adhyāya means "a lesson, lecture, chapter; reading". Svā means "own, one's own, self, the human soul". Therefore, Svādhyāya literally means "one's own reading, lesson". Svādhyāya is also a compound Sanskrit word composed of svā (स्वा) + dhyāya (ध्याय). Dhyāya means "meditating on". The root of Adhyāya and Dhyāya is “Dhyai” (ध्यै) which means “meditate, contemplate, think of”. The term Svādhyāya therefore, also connotes “contemplation, meditation, reflection of one self”, or simply “to study one’ ...
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Brahman
In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' (; IAST: ''Brahman'') connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In the Vedic Upanishads, ''Brahman'' constitutes the fundamental reality that transcends the duality of existence and non-existence. It serves as the absolute ground from which time, space, and natural law emerge. It represents an unchanging, eternal principle that exists beyond all boundaries and constraints. Because it transcends all limitation, ''Brahman'' ultimately defies complete description or categorization through language. In major schools of Hindu philosophy, it is the non-physical, efficient, formal and final cause of all that exists.For dualism school of Hinduism, see: Francis X. Clooney (2010), ''Hindu God, Christian God: How Reason Helps Break Down the Boundaries between Religions'', Oxford University Press, , pages 51–58, 11 ...
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Shravana (hearing)
Shravana () is a Sanskrit term derived from the Sanskrit root श्रव (shrava), which means "hearing" or "the ear." Depending on context, shravana can mean 'the ear', 'the hypotenuse of a triangle', 'the act of hearing', 'study', 'fame', 'glory', 'that which is heard or revealed', 'wealth', 'flowing' or 'oozing'. Hindu philosophy In Hindu philosophy and rituals, the hearing of the secrets of the Upanishads from the Guru is called ''Shravana'' which secrets are meant to be reflected upon to gain intellectual conviction. One learns by hearing, and hearing is the first stage of learning; it is the initiation during which the traditional'' Vedic doctrines '' are passed on by the teachers. ''Shravana'' is the mental activity by which the texts are understood in order to know the Truth about Brahman. The Sruti is the seed of Vedantic knowledge sown by the Guru (teacher) in the mind of shishya ('disciple') who then tends that seed by his ''shravana'', '' manana ''and '' nid ...
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Siddhanta
(Devanagari: ) is a Sanskrit term denoting the established and accepted view of any particular school within Indian philosophy; literally "settled opinion or doctrine, dogma, axiom, received or admitted truth; any fixed or established or canonical text-book on any subject" (from ''siddha'', adj. mfn.- accomplished, fulfilled; that has attained the highest object, thoroughly skilled or versed in). Hindu philosophy This term is an established term within Hindu philosophy which denotes a specific line of development within a Hindu religious or philosophical tradition. The traditional schools of Hindu philosophy have had their ''siddhāntas'' established by their respective founders in the form of ''sūtras'' (aphorisms). The ''sūtras'' are commented by a major philosopher in the respective traditions to elaborate upon the established doctrine by quoting from the ''śāstras'' (scriptures) and using logic and pramāṇa ''Pramana'' (; IAST: Pramāṇa) literally means "proo ...
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Japa
''Japa'' () is the meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name. It is a practice found in Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, with parallels found in other religions. ''Japa'' may be performed while sitting in a meditation posture, while performing other activities, or as part of formal worship in group settings. The mantra or name may be spoken softly, loud enough for the practitioner to hear it, or it may be recited silently within the practitioner's mind. Etymology The Sanskrit word ''japa'' is derived from the root ''jap-'', meaning "to utter in a low voice, repeat internally, mutter". It can be further defined as ''ja'' to destroy birth, death, and reincarnation and ''pa'' meaning to destroy ones sins. Monier-Williams states that the term appears in Vedic literature such as in the Aitareya Brahmana (Rigveda) and the Shatapatha Brahmana (Yajurveda). The term means muttering, whispering or murmuring passages from the scripture, or charms, or names of deity. ...
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