Ante Natal Yoga Part 2
Article on Yoga and Pregnancy Part 2 by S Ramaswami – Published in the Indian Review December 1980 whilst he was trustee of the KYM
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Ante Natal Yoga Part 1
Article on Yoga and Pregnancy Part 1 by S Ramaswami – Published in the Indian Review November 1980 whilst he was trustee of the KYM
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Yoga and Contraception
Article on Yoga and Contraception by S Ramaswami – Published in the Indian Review February 1981 whilst he was trustee of the KYM.
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In 1970, TKV Desikachar asked his father and guru, Shri T. Krishnamacharya……
In 1970, TKV Desikachar asked his father and Guru, Śrī T Krishnamacharya ten fundamental questions about Yoga. The following is an extract of one of the questions in the interview, which took place in the Kanada language.
“5A. Why are there so many different methods to hand down the teachings of a master? What are the reasons for this?
This situation comes from the absence of loyalty to only one master. The traditional method of teaching and of handing down the teaching is the Guru Paramparā. For a disciple, it consists of receiving the instructions of a master day after day, until there is enough knowledge. At the end of an assiduous study with the Teacher, the student progressively becomes a teacher himself and he starts teaching other disciples. This continuity, from teacher to student, in the same tradition, constitutes the Guru Paramparā. The high number of present methods is due to interruptions in the traditional system of handing down the teaching. It can also be due to the weakness of certain teachers.
5B. What are the consequences of these different methods?
The lowering of the average level and the weakening of the knowledge of the students of Yoga.
5C. What solutions can be proposed to mitigate this situation?
Nowadays, there is no solution to this problem.”
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Photograph of T Krishnamacharya taken by Paul Brunton……
Photograph of T Krishnamacharya taken by Paul Brunton during his travels in India
whilst staying as a guest of the Maharajah in Mysore, South India.
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108 Chanting Practice Pointers – 1 – The practice of Bhakti Dhyānam outlined in the Yoga Sūtra Chapter One……
The practice of Bhakti Dhyānam outlined in the Yoga Sūtra Chapter One
can utilise either Veda Mantra or Tantra Mantra.
The Veda focus is one of external harmony with the forces of nature (Tri Guṇa) and
the Tantra focus is one of internal empowerment within the forces of nature (Tri Guṇa).
Link to Series: 108 Chanting Practice Pointers
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It is necessary to have a competent and accessible teacher.
“It is necessary to have a competent and accessible teacher.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
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Prārthanā Ślokam – Patañjali Opening Dhyānaṃ Ślokam with Translation
This is a translation of part of the Opening Prayers as taught to TKV Desikachar by T Krishnamacharya and taught by TKV Desikachar to his personal students.
View or Download the Prārthanā Ślokam (Request Prayer) – Dhyānaṃ Ślokam relative to Patañjali.
योगेन चित्तस्य पदेन वाचां मलं शरीरस्य च वैद्यकेन ।
योऽपाकरोत् तं प्रवरं मुनीनां पतञ्जलिं प्राञ्जलिरानतोऽस्मि ॥
yogena cittasya padena vācāṃ malaṃ śarīrasya ca vaidyakena |
yo’pākarot taṃ pravaraṃ munīnāṃ patañjaliṃ prāñjalirānato’smi ||
‘Yoga for the psyche,
grammar for speech and medicine for impurities of the body.
Coming from the lineage of teachers, to Patañjali I salute.’
आबाहु पुरुषाकारं शङ्खचक्रासि धारिणम् ।
सहस्र शिरसं श्वेतं प्रणमामि पतञ्जलिम् ॥
ābāhu puruṣākāraṃ śaṅkhacakrāsi dhāriṇam |
sahasra śirasaṃ śvetaṃ praṇamāmi patañjalim ||
‘Up to the shoulders human form, holding conch, disc, sword.
One thousand heads white to Patañjali I salute.’
श्रीमते अनन्ताय नागराय नमो नमः ॥
śrīmate anantāya nāgarājāya namo namaḥ ||
‘To venerable, eternal serpent king, Nāga, my reverences.’
It was learnt by heart as a Bhāvanam for Dhyānaṃ, to create a meditational mood linked to Patañjali prior to commencing either chanting practice or textual study of the Yoga Sūtra.
View or Download the Prārthanā Ślokam (Request Prayer) – Dhyānaṃ Ślokam for Patañjali with translation.
View or Download the Yoga Sūtra Full Opening Prayers with Chant Notations (without translation)
View or Download the Prārthanā Ślokam (Request Prayer) – Śuklām Opening Verse with Translation
View or Download the Prārthanā Ślokam (Request Prayer) – Gurubhyastad Opening Verse with Translation
Listen or Download the Yoga Sūtra Full Dhyānaṃ Ślokam for Patañjali by TKV Desikachar as a sound file.
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108 Sūtra Study Pointers – 1 – Tapas – the effort to reduce something.
Tapas – the effort to reduce something.
– Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 1
Link to Series: 108 Sutra Study Pointers
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Although Krishnamacharya came from a strict Indian tradition……
T Krishnamacharya at 91
“Although Krishnamacharya came from a strict Indian tradition,
he liberated the restrictions.
He segregated his personal beliefs from his teaching
and his interest in the different texts on Yoga and Vedānta.
It isn’t necessary to be a Hindu to practice Yoga,
the Hindu text, the Brahma Sūtra refute Yoga.
In the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali God is not emphasised.
Hindus have taken advantage of Yoga,
Brahmin rituals use Yoga breathing,
even if it is only symbolic and they use Mantra.
Krishnamacharya didn’t mix the different teachings,
he didn’t start a class with prayers when he worked with foreigners.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
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108 Teaching Path Pointers – 2 – viniyoga or application of Yoga according to……
TKV Desikachar taught the viniyoga of Yoga,
or application of Yoga according
to state of life, place, time and circumstance
to optimise the student’s potential within
that situation as seen from his
own, forever evolving, innovating and
maturing, developmental teaching thread.
Link to Series: 108 Teaching Path Pointers
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Āyurveda & Yoga – Dravya and Rasa, Substance and Taste within Food – Part 9 of 12
ĀYURVEDA & YOGA
“All food is medicine, all medicine is food.”
Āyurveda was the one of the first medical systems to realise the crucial importance of the kind of food we eat and to appreciate the interaction between health and disease, disease and food, and food and health. It will be from this point that this article will explore the question of diet by examining the concepts of elements and taste in food.
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Sahavāsam (Dwelling Together) – What you associate with becomes part of you.
”Sahavāsam (Dwelling Together)
– What you associate with becomes part of you.”
– TKV Desikachar January 15th 2000
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You should only take that food which you would offer to the person you revere most.
“You should only take that food which you would offer to the person you revere most.”
Notes from my studies of the Dhyānamālika verse 11 with TKV Desikachar in Chennai 23rd December 2000
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The Bhagavad Gītā is about confusion OF Dharma and the Yoga Sūtra……
“The Bhagavad Gītā is about confusion OF Dharma and
the Yoga Sūtra is about confusion AND Dharma.”
– TKV Desikachar
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Gāyatrī Mantra as taught by T Krishnamacharya – with translation
tat savitur vareṇiyaṃ
That sun most excellent
bhargo devasya dhīmahi |
on the radiance of the Divine I meditate |
dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt ||
wisdom may (that radiance) our impel |
“I meditate on the divine radiance
of the most excellent sun.
May it impel my wisdom.”
Note:
Gāyatrī is a particular ancient metre or rhythmic pattern of twenty-four syllables generally composed as a triplet of three lines with eight syllables in each line.
Hence T Krishnamacharya’s view that Om is not a component part of this Mantra, though it may be added as an accompaniment if appropriate, according to the students background, interest and understanding.
View or Download this post in Romanised Saṃskṛta with a translation and traditional chanting notations.
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So if certain Yoga Sādhana have a place in another culture……
“So if certain Yoga Sādhana have a place in another culture we must consider whether this symbol (Om) has a place with people who don’t understand it.”
TKV Desikachar – Lecture on September 5th 1983 in Zinal, Switzerland (Fuller notes on this lecture yet to be posted)
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108 Study Path Pointers – 2 – Duḥkha is the starting point for the……
Duḥkha is the starting point for the
Yoga journey of four junctures from:
the symptom, as in Duḥkha or suffering,
to the cause, as in Avidyā or illusion,
to the goal, as in Kaivalya or independence;
via the tools, as in Aṣṭāṅga or 8 limbed path,
for the means, as in Viveka or discernment.
This ancient fourfold process is at the heart of
the teachings in Yoga, Āyurveda & Buddhism.
Link to Series: 108 Study Path Pointers
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Laghu Nyāsa – Agnir Me Prayer for Health with Translation
This mantra is asking for health and long life to link body, senses, energy, mind and awareness.
Learning Support for Chanting the Laghu Nyāsa – Agnir Me
– From the Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa 3.10.8
From my personal library of recordings from my studies with my teacher TKV Desikachar.
View or download this post as a PDF with chanting notations without translation.
To Download or Listen to a recording by TKV Desikachar
To Download the Chant Sheet as a PDF with Romanised Saṃskṛta, Chant Notations and English Translation
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Yogena Yogo – Opening Yoga Prayer for Yoga Practice with Translation
CHANT IN PRAISE OF YOGA
Chant from Vyāsa’s commentary to Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 6.
yogena yogo jñātavyo
yogo yogāt pravartate |
yo’pramattastu yogena
sa yoge ramate ciram | |
“Only through Yoga Yoga is known,
Only through Yoga Yoga arises.
One who is diligent with Yoga,
Enjoys Yoga for a long time.”
View or download this post as a PDF with chant notations.
View or Download the Prārthanā Ślokam (Request Prayer) – Dhyānaṃ Ślokam relative to Patañjali.
