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”The term Atha signifies auspicious beginning, uninterrupted continuity and an appropriate end.”
– T Krishnamacharya commenting on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 1

‎”Another aspect of Atha is Saṃkalpa, which in the Vedic Tradition is the decision to initiate something important and to ensure that it is completed at any cost, without distraction or deviation.”
– T Krishnamacharya commenting on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 1

“Atha – Now in the sense of nowness.
By convention let there be something auspicious.
The Sūtra are different in the sense of not having a prayer dedication in the first Sūtra.
Thus Atha fills this role.”
– TKV Desikachar commentary on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 1

“Yoga directs the mind to what is happening now.”
– TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 4

Links to Related Posts:

The first Sūtra also acts as a key for the memory to link all the Yoga – TKV Desikachar

That is why in Yoga the word for earning confidence is ‘Atha’- TKV Desikachar