Saints and other people from our country have been trying to spread the knowledge about yog education in India as well as abroad for the last several years. In fact, India has been a land of rishi-munis, yogis and Rajrishis, who respected the eternal Vedic knowledge and thereby the Ashtang yog philosophy. They practised the same in their daily lives. But it is sad that today the eternal tradition has been changed by human beings mostly because the so-called saints don’t study or teach first the Vedic knowledge anymore.
The question that arises here is why did ancient Rishis gave so much respect to yog education? In this connection, the study of eternal Vedas, our ancient religious texts like the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Shastras, and more reveal that they followed the yog philosophy traditionally, and attended gurukuls. But today, only asana, prannayama and meditation, which are just three parts of the Ashtang yog philosophy, are being taught.
Rigveda, right from first mantra, starts giving the knowledge of worshipping God by performing Yajyen with veda mantras and not the yog philosophy. Our ancestors obeyed and so must we. The said tradition enables us to know the knowledge, unlimited power, divine deeds, form of God, worship and thereafter Ashtang yog philosophy, which is also a part of worship of god and not just a way to improve health. Before we start learning yog philosophy, the knowledge of four Vedas has to be gained traditionally.
Yagyavalkya states: HirrannyagarbhahaYogasyaVakta, that is Almighty is himself the preacher of Ashtang yog. Keeping in view that Vedas and Ashtang yog philosophy has been preached by god himself, we must learn and follow the same respectfully. It is also clear that practice of Ashtang yog is a part of worship, which helps to attain Samadhi to realise salvation.
Moreover, there is not even a single ancient or present saint who followed or follows yog education alone, keeping aside the Vedas. So, we must learn that when they followed all them, there was no scope of corruption, vices or making the yog education as a source of income. It was being preached free because it was followed complete Vedic education which enabled or enables the aspirant to control his senses whereas due to lack of knowledge of Vedas, the practice of only yog has mostly become a source of several shortcomings. Many people do not even know what Atharvaveda states. “If you steal away only a small portion of Vedas education like yog education and leave the rest of the Vedic education then you are punished by god. Had yog education been learnt along with Vedas philosophy, as was done in previous yugas, then no vices or malpractices would have crept in but now learning yog alone has given way to number of vices and people are using it as means of earning money, making it professional.”
While it is a matter of great joy that June 21 is celebrated as International Yoga day, there, it is also a matter of great concern that due to lack of knowledge of Vedas, mostly a distorted and false image of yoga, asana and prannayaama has been portrayed to the world because our eternal and ancient Vedic culture has been very well preached.
Although it is true that on Yoga Day, the entire world has been familiarised to the word yoga, yet the presentation of a distorted and untrue shape of the eternal, everlasting and unchangeable Ashtang yog philosophy mentioned in the Vedas amounts to causing its insult.
Therefore, nobody can even think about adopting any alternative to Vedas or Ashtang yog philosophy. We must also remember that according to Vedas the main aim of practising the Vedic Ashtang yog philosophy is to realise god. However, its practice incidentally provides the devotee with healthy body and mind. The ostentatious and glamourous way of performing asana and pranayaama does not come under the tradition because Vedas preach that Vedic path is the subject matter of deep, serious thoughts.
In view of the above, if we have failed to produce the eternal, unchallengeable and unchangeable form of yog philosophy which was adopted by our ancient and present saints, who practised the same in secluded places, caves and more in calm and peaceful atmosphere on the banks of river and got the best result thereof then at least some of the fundamentals should have been maintained in the present scenario to avoid a distorted form. The said dignitaries have mentioned the yog philosophy with full respect and utmost faith.
Yogi Aurobindo Ghosh and Rishi Dayanand Saraswati Ji have given the eternal, immortal explanation of Vedic Ashtang yog, worship and popularised its concept amongst the public and while carrying forward the tradition of ancient, great dignitaries like Guru Vasishth, Patanjali Rishi, Kapil Muni, Yagyavalkya Rishi, Shring Rishi, Vishwamitraji, Narad and so on dedicated their entire lives in yog.
So while celebrating the International Yoga Day, where the divine Vedic word ‘yog’ echoes, is a praise-worthy step but the true form of yog philosophy is usually not being produced before the public and hence, the ingratitude.
(The author is the chief editor of Ved Ishvareeya Vani, a bi-annual magazine.)