Question 3 - Historical Chronology of Yoga Flashcards
1 – What are the two groups in which we can chronologically divide Yôga?
Ancient Yôga and Modern Yôga.
2 – Which are the subdivisions of Ancient Yôga?
Pre-Classical Yôga and Classical Yôga.
3 – Which are the subdivisions of Modern Yôga?
Medieval Yôga and Contemporary Yôga.
4 – Who was the mythological creator of Yôga and in which era did he live?
One of the names given to the creator of Yôga is Shiva; it is estimated that he lived more than 5000 years ago, in India.
5 – Who was the codifier of Classical Yôga and in which era did he live?
It was Pátañjali. There are two hypothesis for the time in which he lived: the first and most
likely is around the IIIrd century BC; the other, less likely, is around the IVth century AD. The
first is most upheld by Hindu authors, and the second by Western ones.
6 – Is the most ancient Yôga of Sámkhya line or of Vêdánta line?
Sámkhya. More precisely of the subdividision Niríshwarasámkhya.
7 – Is the most ancient Yôga of a Tantra line or of a Brahmachárya line?
Tantra. More precisely of the subdivision Dakshinacharatántrika.
8 – Which is the most authentic Yôga? What is its complete name?
The most authentic Yôga is the oldest. The oldest is the Pre-Classical, which is also pre-Vedic and pre-Aryan. Its complete name is Dakshinacharatántrika-Niríshwarasámkhya.
9 – Within the Historical Chronology of Yôga where is SwáSthya Yôga founded upon?
Upon the Pre-Classical period, since its structure is Tantra-Sámkhya.
10 – Who was the creator of Hatha Yôga, in which era did he live and what was his line?
It was Gôrakshanatha (also called Gôraknath). He lived approximately in the XIth century AD
and his lineage was Tantra-Vêdánta, more precisely of the subdivision Kaulacharatántrika, a variety of mild black tantrism. Therefore, SwáSthya has its origins 4000 years before the appearance of Hatha.
