Chapter 1.2

Question 1

Origin of Yoga

Answer 1

Vedas (Ridveda)

Question 2

Meaning of “Guru”

Answer 2

Gu means “darkness” and Ru means “to destroy”.
Guru is dispeler of darkness.

Mahajnanis (supremely enlightened)

Question 3

Gurukul

Answer 3

The home (family) of the perceptor.

Question 4

Four ashrams/stages of human life

Answer 4

1. Brahmacharayashrama (bachelorhood)
2. Grihastashrama (householder)
3. Vanaprashtha (forest dweller)
4. Sannyasa (renunciate)

Question 5

Qualities of Guru

Answer 5

1. Srotriya - knower of Vedas
2. Bramhanishta - extremely devoted to God
3. Vinamrata (humility)
4. Karuna (compassion)
5. Nishkamabhav (selflessness)
6. Tyaag (self- sacrifice)
7. Bhakti (love)
8. Dharma (righteous conduct)

Question 6

Creator of yoga : Hiranyagarbhah, as per Rigveda

Answer 6

Creator of the whole creation.
Called Vibhu, the nourisher or owner.
Called samashti buddhi ( who has equal thought for the whole group).
Called as virinci (the Brahman) and ajanma (the birthless).

Question 7

Guru-sishya parampara, depicted in Mundakopanishad.

Answer 7

Brahma, Maker of universe & Preserver of the world -> taught knowledge of Yog (brahmavidya or yogvidya) to -> elder son Atharva -> taught to angirasa -> to bhardwaja -> satyavaha

Question 8

Four periods of Yoga

Answer 8

1. Vedic period Yoga
2. Pre-classical Yoga
3. Classical Yoga
4. Post-classical Yoga

Question 9

Literature of Yoga in order

Answer 9

1. Shruthi - Vedas
2. Smruthi - Keep in mind and act
3. Etihas - 4 epics : Mahabharata, BG, Yoga Vashishta, Hari Vamsa
4. Puranas - 18 Puranas
5. Agamas - 3 ie. Tantra, Mantra, Yantra
6. Darshanas - Aastika & Nastika

Question 10

Veda, root word “Vid”

Answer 10

Means:

1. To know (knowledge perse)
2. To be (one with God)
3. To obtain (salvation)

Question 11

4 Vedas

Answer 11

1. Rigveda - Sacred hymns of Divinity
2. Yajurveda - Knowledge of Sacrifices
3. Samveda - Knowledge of Chants
4. Atharvaveda - Code for everyday life

Question 12

6 vedangas

Answer 12

1. Vyakarna (grammar)
2. Shiksha (phonetics)
3. Chandas (metres)
4. Nirukta (Etymology)
5. Jyotish (astronomy)
6. Kalpha (rituals)

Question 13

4 Subsidiary Veda - Upavedas

Answer 13

1. Ayurveda (Medicine)
2. Dhanurveda (Military Science)
3. Gandharvaveda (Music)
4. Shilpaveda (Arts & Architecture)

Question 14

4 parts of Vedas

Answer 14

Karma Kanda:
1. Brahmanas - Collections of rituals & prayers
2. Samhitas - Collections of mantras, hymns & chants
Jnana Kanda:
3. Aranyakas - Appendages of Brahmanas (forest treatises)
4. Upanishads - Knowledge passed through Guru shishya parampara (Vedantas)

Question 15

Vedanta

Answer 15

Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads together propound Vendanta.

Question 16

Total Number of Upanishads

Answer 16

108 (but debatable)

Question 17

Brahmanas

Answer 17

Presents ‘karma marg’ or ‘the way of the ritualistic works’

Question 18

Aranyakas & Upanishads

Answer 18

Presents ‘jnana marg’ or ‘the way of the intellect’

Question 19

Upanishad meaning

Answer 19

sitting nearby devotedly

They are poetic and philosophic.

Question 20

Important classical Upanishads

Answer 20

Katha, Isha, Kena, Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Chandogya, Brihadararanyaka, Kaivalya, Svetasvatara & Aitareya

Question 21

Upanishad with collection of 108 Upanishads mentioned

Answer 21

Muktika Upanishad

Question 22

Yoga related Upanishads

Answer 22

Only 20 Upanishads.

Maitri & Svetasvatara contains Yoga objective, aim, practices.

Question 23

What are Bramhasutras

Answer 23

Bhadarayan’s Brahmasutras aim at interpreting the Upanishads, removes incoherence & conflicts.

Question 24

Commentaries on Brahmasutra

Answer 24

Advaita Vedanta, Visishthasvaita Vedanta, Dvaita Vedanta

Question 25

Upanishad Concepts: Brahman & Atman

Answer 25

Atman - individual soul or consciousness Brahman - Universal consciousness or Truth Brahman source of outer world, Atman is inner self of man. Peak - Atman & Brahman are essentially the same.

Question 26

Upanishad Concepts: Idealistic Monism

Answer 26

Atman is Brahman. Everything in Universal is self manifested.

Question 27

Upanishad Concepts: Maya & Avidya

Answer 27

Maya - makes one Brahman appear as many. | Avidya - Doesn't allow us to see the reality of the One, instead we see multitudinous world of name and form.

Question 28

Upanishad Concepts: Bhutas

Answer 28

5 Sthula Bhutas (fundamental elements): Earth (Prithvi), Water (aap), Fire (Tejas), Air (Vay) and Ether (akasa) connected with 5 Sukshma Bhutas (features of the sensory organs), respectively: Odour, flavour, form, touch and sound

Question 29

Upanishad Concepts: Pancha Kosha

Answer 29

First in Taithiriya Upanishad. | 5 layers that cover the Reality (Atman/soul).

Question 30

5 Koshas from outer to innermost

Answer 30

``` Annamaya kosha - Food Body Pranamaya kosha - Energy Body Manomaya kosha - Mental Body Vijnanamaya kosha - Wisdom Body Anandmaya kosha - Bliss Body ```

Question 31

Upanishad Concepts: Para Vidya & Apara Vidya

Answer 31

All knowledge is classified as: Para Vidya - complete knowledge, knowledge of Brahman Apara Vidya - fragmentary knowledge, knowledge of empirical things

Question 32

Upanishad Concepts: Four states of self

Answer 32

1. Jagran - Waking (mind functions) 2. Swapna - Dreaming (mind functions) 3. Susupti - Dreamless or deep sleep (supra-mental) 4. Turiya - Superconscious (supra-mental)

Question 33

Upanishad Concepts: Self-Realisation

Answer 33

3-fold training for right knowledge: 1. Sravana - study of Upanishads under guru 2. Manana - reflection on what is learned 3. Nidhidhyasana - Highest form of meditation

Question 34

Upanishad Concepts: Samsara

Answer 34

Continuous stream of births and deaths until moksha. Law of Karma governs the type of birth jiva gets every time.

Question 35

Upanishad Concepts: Upanishadic God

Answer 35

antayyamyamrtah (inner ruler immortal), that run through all the things and hold them together.

Question 36

Agamas

Answer 36

Source for guidance & authority for rituals, Yogic practices and temple construction. Contains knowledge of Tantra, Mantra and Yantra Yoga.

Question 37

Puranas

Answer 37

18 Puranas, written by Maharishi Vedvyasa. | Written to understand Vedic principles

Question 38

Important Puranas for Yoga

Answer 38

Bhagavata Purana: Bhakti Yoga Linga Purana: Details of Yama, Niyama & Pranayama Vayu Purana: Details of Pratyahara, Dharana & Dhyana