Where did yoga originate? To fully understand the origin of yoga we have to look to the cultural impact, societal, religious, and the acceptance and rejection of yoga throughout history. Yoga has woven itself into the fabrics of our lives. The main idea of yoga is to bring peace between mind and body.
Back in the 19th century, Yoga was considered more as a religious practice than a physical exercise. It had a great impact on the one practicing both spiritually and culturally.
HISTORY OF YOGA:
Earlier people who implemented yoga in their lives were given a sense of identity in society. Either they were considered highly religious (Higher moral or ethical standard) or filthy, dirty, and fighters. They were un-welcomed in society at a specific time but in contemporary times, it is a practice almost all around the world.
1) Pre Vedic Age (6500-4500):
There is not much known about Indus Valley Civilization but the writings they found from this time showed that yoga meant enlightenment and erudition for them. Some researchers believe that Ayurveda Medicine also emerged in this era. Ayurveda medicine is an alternative to the typical medicine system which mainly focuses on healthy lifestyle practices (yoga, exercise, massage, and meditation).
2) Vedic Era (1200-1000 BC):
There are writings about yoga from this era to a great extent. Vedas, the most sacred books of Hinduism emerged in this period. Yoga in the Vedas focused on philosophical and religious exploration. Ayurveda medicine, the sister science to yoga, was developed too. Yoga is considered as the main treatment option. Baba Hari Dass was a monk who brought Ayurveda to the U.S.
3) Pre-Classic Era (500-200 BC):
This period highlights the systematic presentation of Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutras. It was the period when Yoga paved its way to other religions and worshippers. Patanjali didn’t develop anything new he gathered philosophical and religious beliefs and compiled them into Yoga Sutras which consist of 196 aphorisms. Patanjali’s Sutra included “Ashtanga” (8 limbed) is currently the base of contemporary yoga that focuses on enlightenment and guidance.
4) Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita (500-200B BC):
The Mahabharata is said to be written by Sage Vyasa which includes 20,000 individual verses. The most relevant text for yoga is called Bhagavad Gita in which different concepts of yoga are explained. Today Mahabharata is the largest literary work in existence. Bhagavad Gita is part of Mahabharata which has laws and roles of yoga. Bhagavad Gita is the story of dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna who represents humans and it is about how we navigate or control the mind.
Bhagavad Gita introduces three types of yoga; Karma Yoga (the yoga of action), Bhakti yoga (the yoga of devotion), and Jnana Yoga (the yoga of knowledge).
5) Middle Ages (500-1500 CE):
Hatha Yoga Emerged in this period. It covers three types of texts i.e Hatha Yoga Pradipika (focuses on physical purification which focuses on breathing techniques to reach the higher level of consciousness), Shiva Samhita (dialogue addressed by Shiva to Parvati, focuses on the idea that there is one eternal truth and path to self-realization), Fighting Yogis (Hatha yoga was used for military purposes at that time. British government banned the wandering of fighting yogis and was forced to resort to urban areas and had a bad reputation at this time).
SPREAD OF YOGA:
The spread of yoga began in the middle ages which continued till the contemporary era. It got recognized in the following areas such as:
- Zen Buddhism: Meditation and breathing were the concepts practice by both Zen and Buddhists.
- Sikhism: Yogi Groups became prominent at this time. Guru Nanak refused to accept religious or solemn ceremonies associated with Hatha Yoga and focused on meditational yoga.
- Jainism: Focused on meditational practices as well.
CULTURAL AND POLITICAL INFLUENCES ON YOGA:
In the early 18th and 19th century, the colonial rule gave rise to an inferiority complex among the Indian Nation and so the British government resorted to the policies on conciliation to overcome these stereotypes. The changes in Hatha Yoga paved its way for the construction of “New man Indian Man” to combat stereotypes.
The physical culture was very popular in the West and also in America. Due to these phenomena, British influence on physical culture then also became very popular in the west. Physical culture was based on bodybuilding practices and gymnastics. Hatha Yoga was then combined with modern practices to blend the native Indian culture with Western ideals. Through this, a more aerobic of yoga was born that didn’t involve any military association. This new form of Yoga then traveled to the West and was sought after there.
Some of the yoga sequences and poses, we believe we’re only invented in the 1930s but this is not the case. For example, Sun Salutation seemed analogous to gymnastics than with yoga. The use of Sanskrit to define the poses of Yoga was only done to state that these yoga poses are cultural influences although it is wrong to say that the contemporary yoga practice is a part of a thousand-year-old tradition.
CONCLUSION:
As from the information mentioned above we have seen how yoga emerged from India and had a religious and cultural influence though from time to time few amendments were made in the sequence of yoga so it does not solely belong to the indigenous people of India. There are many benefits of Yoga which include strengthening the connection between mind and body, feeling a sense of freedom, improves posture, muscle strength, respiration, and increases self-esteem. Many people consider Yoga as a religious practice though if you perform yoga keeping in mind that this is just for your health, there is no wrong in doing it. Someone said that yoga is not just an exercise but a process through which human beings find their strength and highest potential.