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Yoga History

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Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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Match each statement with the correct term.
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1. What is the story of Matysendra?
It means Non-dualism or 'not two.'
RIG VEDA - ATHARVA VEDA - Jahjur VEDA - SAMA VEDA
From the 8-fold path of BUDHISM
Shiva was lecturing his wife Parvati about the secrets of Tantra yoga and Parvati was asleep. Matsyendra heard the teachings from the belly of a huge fish and Shiva then states he knows who is real disciple is. 12 years later the fish is caught and M

2. Who was the first Hatha yoga teacher?
Spirit
The traditionalists believe the body is a hindrance - or an obstacle which limits and distracts us on our path (sadhana). Whereas the Tantrikas believe the body is an expression of divinity and we should therefore discover all of its sense pleasures
Goraksha
Nature

3. Name the 8 Limb Path
SUTRA=suture/thread. These are 195 aphorisms which cover many aspects of Yoga: transformation of consciousness - paranormal powers (SIDDHIS) - the eight limb path (ASHTANGA) and higher stages of yoga - liberation. Written on palm leaves and tied toge
Yama - Niyama - Asana - Pranayama - Pratyahara - Dhrana - Dhyana - Samadhi
Qualified non-dualist
Forceful Yoga. The yoga of physical discipline - aiming at the awakening of the serpent power (kundalini shakti).

4. What was Patanjali the author of?
The Yoga Sutras - The 8 Limb Path
Arguably the most famous Sutra which means - Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.
To weave - loom or extend - very non judgmental - they embraced everyone with an open mind.
Patanjali's DUALISTIC approach (DVAITA VEDANTA) allows only for this kind of SAMADHI. This is SAMADHI with DIFFERENCE (BIKALPA) - ie

5. What was unique about the Kaula branch of Tantra yoga
It was a combination of the Right and Left path. It had a strong presence of the Shakti element both in manifesting the feminine Shakti - and the presence of women in the role of consorts and initiators.
SPIRIT and NATURE/CONSCIOUSNESS and MATTER
'The LORD'S SONG'. The most famous of all Indic scripture - where Krishna teaches his main disciple - Arjuna of life through the teachings of KARMIC Yoga (RIGHT ACTION) - BHAKTI Yoga (DEVOTION) - and Jnana Yoga (WISDOM)
Last act performed before the yogi actually chooses to leave his body and turns thrice - faces north and his spirit leaves the body.

6. What is the Ramayana
PAT=FALLEN; SHAKTI PAT=FALLEN ENERGY
Brahma- The Creator Vishnu- The Sustainer Shiva- The Destroyer
It means Lord pertaining to the Yoga adepts. It was from the Natha sect that Hatha Yoga developed.
The story of Rama and Sita. It is considered the Genesis and the most popular romantic story in all of India. Hanumat - or Hanuman the Monkey Leader - slay the forest demon - Ravana - and rescues his wife Sita.

7. What role did Goraksha play in our lineage
Seat
He believed in a non-dualistic approach (Advaita-Vedanta) that the only reality is a spiritual world. He believed in an 'Abstract idea of who God is.' He challenged Patanjali's concept of separate realities. His concept was that Prakritti (nature) wa
Sabikalpa - Nirbikalpa - Maha
The founder of the Kanphata order and an early preceptor of Hatha yoga.

8. What is another name for Goraksha
1000-100 BCE. All ABOUT NON-DUALISM
Concentration
Patanjali's DUALISTIC approach (DVAITA VEDANTA) allows only for this kind of SAMADHI. This is SAMADHI with DIFFERENCE (BIKALPA) - ie
Cow Protector

9. Sabikalpa Samadhi

10. What does Asana mean
Forceful Yoga. The yoga of physical discipline - aiming at the awakening of the serpent power (kundalini shakti).
Forceful yoga.
Spirit
Seat

11. What are the four paths of Tantra yoga?
Buddhism - Right Path - Left Path and Kaula.
The story of Rama and Sita. It is considered the Genesis and the most popular romantic story in all of India. Hanumat - or Hanuman the Monkey Leader - slay the forest demon - Ravana - and rescues his wife Sita.
'living liberated' The adept who is liberated or enlightened while still embodied. This is a non-dualistic ideal - that when 'self realization occurs - liberation will come'. The Bhagavad-Gita describes Jivan-Mukta
It means Lord pertaining to the Yoga adepts. It was from the Natha sect that Hatha Yoga developed.

12. Shiva's Counterpart
The masculine-feminine force of the Universe - the fundamental creative principle of existence. Shiva without Shakti is unable to affect anything. Just as the moon does not shine without moonlight - so also Shiva does not shine without Shakti.
Parvati (also known as Uma - The mother of Ganesh - She represents the female energy of the Universe - Parvati also means the highest mountain peak in Sanskrit.
Lakshmi - The Goddess of good fortune - wealth - she attracts the minds of the yogi's by her beauty.
To prepare the yogi for meditation.

13. What is the Bhagavad-Gita

14. Who is Matysendra
Cow Protector
Founder of the Kaula Branch of Tantra and the Natha sect.
Pingala - Eda and Sushumna
RIG VEDA - ATHARVA VEDA - Jahjur VEDA - SAMA VEDA

15. What does Tantra mean?
'living liberated' The adept who is liberated or enlightened while still embodied. This is a non-dualistic ideal - that when 'self realization occurs - liberation will come'. The Bhagavad-Gita describes Jivan-Mukta
Last act performed before the yogi actually chooses to leave his body and turns thrice - faces north and his spirit leaves the body.
To weave - loom or extend - very non judgmental - they embraced everyone with an open mind.
Buddhism - Right Path - Left Path and Kaula.

16. Why did the Classical Yogis not believe in a deep exploration of the physical world and their body?
It means the Lord's Song. The book of Psalms. The popular Yoga scripture containing the teachings of Lord Krishna to Arjuna.
The legend starts when a peasant woman asks Shiva for a son. He gives her ash to eat which will induce pregnancy. She throws the gift into a dung-heap. Twelve years later Matsyendra goes to see the child. After telling what she had done - Matsyendra
RIG VEDA - ATHARVA VEDA - Jahjur VEDA - SAMA VEDA
They considered the body to be a distraction from their spiritual path (Sadhana). Even though they practiced asana as a preliminary step to stay healthy - they frown upon the Tantric approach of Hatha Yoga which uses the body as vehicle to reach enli

17. Name the Yama's and their meanings
Withdraw from the senses and eliminate distraction from the outside world.
Means 'to sit near'. There were traditionally 108 Upanishads. Epiphanies of the VEDAS They were interpretations of the VEDAS
Non-dual - end of the Vedas
1. Ahimsa-non violence 2. Satya-truth 3. Asteya-non stealing 4. Brahmacharya - abstinence 5. Aparigraha - non hoarding

18. Vishnu's Counterpart

19. What are the FOUR VEDAS?
KNOWLEDGE
It means the Lord's Song. The book of Psalms. The popular Yoga scripture containing the teachings of Lord Krishna to Arjuna.
Means 'to sit near'. There were traditionally 108 Upanishads. Epiphanies of the VEDAS They were interpretations of the VEDAS
RIG VEDA - ATHARVA VEDA - Jahjur VEDA - SAMA VEDA

20. What are the FOUR VEDAS?
To weave - loom or extend - very non judgmental - they embraced everyone with an open mind.
RIG VEDA - ATHARVA VEDA - Jahjur VEDA - SAMA VEDA
Non-dualism. Based on the Upanishads. Two main branches Radical - taught by Shankara - and Qualified - taught by Ramanuja.
The state in which the yogi becomes breathless - with difference - the life force is withdrawn from the body and the yogi appears dead or motionless and rigid. The yogi is fully aware of his condition but it is a temporary state and he has a glimpse

21. What do the Upanishads mean?

22. Name the three Samadhi's
Universal morality
The Path of Devotion. (Hare Krishnas - for example)
Non-dualism. Based on the Upanishads. Two main branches Radical - taught by Shankara - and Qualified - taught by Ramanuja.
Sabikalpa - Nirbikalpa - Maha

23. JNANA Yoga

24. What is Advaita?

25. What does Hatha Yoga mean?
It means ear splitting. They would split both ears and wear very large earrings which is said to invoke the Yoga Siddhis powers.
Non-dualism. Based on the Upanishads. Two main branches Radical - taught by Shankara - and Qualified - taught by Ramanuja.
Patanjali favored a dualistic philosophy that separates Consciousness and Matter - or Spirit: Purusha and nature: Prakriti. They believed in two separate realities. While still in the physical body the yogin can only glimpse upon the Divine and in hi
Forceful yoga.

26. Who is Ramanuja?

27. Rama's Consort
To prepare the yogi for meditation.
Classical Yoga around 300-400 BCE
The traditionalists believe the body is a hindrance - or an obstacle which limits and distracts us on our path (sadhana). Whereas the Tantrikas believe the body is an expression of divinity and we should therefore discover all of its sense pleasures
Sita

28. What are the yoga sutras
Yogash Citta Vritti Nirodhah.
They considered the body to be a distraction from their spiritual path (Sadhana). Even though they practiced asana as a preliminary step to stay healthy - they frown upon the Tantric approach of Hatha Yoga which uses the body as vehicle to reach enli
Non-dual - end of the Vedas
Sutra means suture or thread. The Sutras consist of 195 aphorisms which cover many aspects of Yoga; transformation of consciousness - paranormal powers or (Siddhis) - the eight limb path (Ashtanga) - and higher stages of yoga - liberation. They were

29. The BHAGAVAD-GITA

30. What do the Yamas Represent
Govinda - cow finder.
'living liberated' The adept who is liberated or enlightened while still embodied. This is a non-dualistic ideal - that when 'self realization occurs - liberation will come'. The Bhagavad-Gita describes Jivan-Mukta
Universal morality
ASHTANGA Yoga - PATANJALI Yoga - RAJA Yoga

31. Shiva-Shakti
Ganesh - the pot belly elephant face God and the removal of all obstacles.
It was a combination of the Right and Left path. It had a strong presence of the Shakti element both in manifesting the feminine Shakti - and the presence of women in the role of consorts and initiators.
The masculine-feminine force of the Universe - the fundamental creative principle of existence. Shiva without Shakti is unable to affect anything. Just as the moon does not shine without moonlight - so also Shiva does not shine without Shakti.
Universal morality

32. RAMA

33. What does Tantra mean?
Parvati (also known as Uma - The mother of Ganesh - She represents the female energy of the Universe - Parvati also means the highest mountain peak in Sanskrit.
To weave - loom or extend - very non judgmental - they embraced everyone with an open mind.
Qualified non-dualist
Patanjali

34. What is the 'breakdown -' or meaning of Patanjali's name
Pat; fallen or transfer. Anjali; greeting.
Ganesh - the pot belly elephant face God and the removal of all obstacles.
Withdraw from the senses and eliminate distraction from the outside world.
Author of the Yoga sutras (source text of Classical Yoga) and the 8 Limb Path

35. What is Yogash Citta Vritti Nirodhah?
Lakshmi - The Goddess of good fortune - wealth - she attracts the minds of the yogi's by her beauty.
A 'chosen deity.' This meant that you believed you could meditate on a deity such as Shiva - Krishna - Ganesh or Lakshmi and then actually merge with and become that deity.
Arguably the most famous Sutra which means - Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.
Withdraw from the senses and eliminate distraction from the outside world.

36. BHAKTI Yoga
Last act performed before the yogi actually chooses to leave his body and turns thrice - faces north and his spirit leaves the body.
DUALISM. (DVAITA=DUALISM - VEDANTA=after the VEDAS) - 'DUALISM THAT OCCURRED AFTER The VEDAS' THIS was the philosophy espoused by Patanjali. Separate CONSCiousness and Matter or PURUSHA (SPIRIT) seen as separate from PRAKRITI (NATURE). FROM this view
1. Ahimsa-non violence 2. Satya-truth 3. Asteya-non stealing 4. Brahmacharya - abstinence 5. Aparigraha - non hoarding
The Path of Devotion. (Hare Krishnas - for example)

37. CLASSICAL ERA OF Yoga - WHEN?
100-500 C.E.
'living liberated' The adept who is liberated or enlightened while still embodied. This is a non-dualistic ideal - that when 'self realization occurs - liberation will come'. The Bhagavad-Gita describes Jivan-Mukta
SPIRIT and NATURE/CONSCIOUSNESS and MATTER
Radha

38. Veda
Withdraw from the senses and eliminate distraction from the outside world.
Means 'to sit near'. There were traditionally 108 Upanishads. Epiphanies of the VEDAS They were interpretations of the VEDAS
KNOWLEDGE
Patanjali's DUALISTIC approach (DVAITA VEDANTA) allows only for this kind of SAMADHI. This is SAMADHI with DIFFERENCE (BIKALPA) - ie

39. Name the three energy channel Nadis
Pingala - Eda and Sushumna
ASHTANGA Yoga - PATANJALI Yoga - RAJA Yoga
From the 8-fold path of BUDHISM
The Mahabharata (GREAT STORY). The Bhagavad Gita is incorporated within the Mahabharata as one of the episodes.

40. What does Asana mean
Hymns sung and passed down from Brahman to Brahman. The RIG VEDA first mentions Yoga
Shiva was lecturing his wife Parvati about the secrets of Tantra yoga and Parvati was asleep. Matsyendra heard the teachings from the belly of a huge fish and Shiva then states he knows who is real disciple is. 12 years later the fish is caught and M
Sutra means suture or thread. The Sutras consist of 195 aphorisms which cover many aspects of Yoga; transformation of consciousness - paranormal powers or (Siddhis) - the eight limb path (Ashtanga) - and higher stages of yoga - liberation. They were
Seat

41. BHAKTI Yoga
The Path of Wisdom - 'embodying the scriptures. investing in study
1000-100 BCE. All ABOUT NON-DUALISM
Goraksha
The Path of Devotion. (Hare Krishnas - for example)

42. Name the three energy channel Nadis
It means ear splitting. They would split both ears and wear very large earrings which is said to invoke the Yoga Siddhis powers.
A higher state of consciousness in which the yogi communes with God in an ordinary walking state - even performing worldly duties. Without difference. The yogi feels there is a slight separation from God. In Nirbikalpa there is no separation from God
Pingala - Eda and Sushumna
This is the story of wars between two arms of a family - the Pandavas and the Kauravas.

43. How does the Hatha or Tantric yogi purify their body?
The Path of Devotion. (Hare Krishnas - for example)
Buddhism - Right Path - Left Path and Kaula.
It purifies the body practicing asana - Ayurvedic medicine - eating consciously - and worshipping the body as a temple to transcend the physical. This is in contrast to the hedonists who indulge in sense pleasure for self gratification. Therefore - t
Radha

44. Parvati's son
Personal observances or restraints
Seat
Ganesh - the pot belly elephant face God and the removal of all obstacles.
Sarasvati - The Goddess of knowledge - speech and the fine arts - also the name of an extinct river in India.

45. What is KARMA Yoga

46. Rama's Consort
He believed in a non-dualistic approach (Advaita-Vedanta) that the only reality is a spiritual world. He believed in an 'Abstract idea of who God is.' He challenged Patanjali's concept of separate realities. His concept was that Prakritti (nature) wa
Cow Protector
Sita
1.Matsya (fish) - 2. Kurma (tortoise) - 4. Nara-Simha (lion) 5. VAMANA or BAMANA (DWARF)=the first human incarnation of Vishnu - 6. Rama with an AX - 7. RAMA 8. KRISHNA (GOVINDA) - 9. BUDDHA (the awakened one) - 10> Kalki (the AVATAR yet to come)

47. Name the Yama's and their meanings
Patanjali
SUTRA=suture/thread. These are 195 aphorisms which cover many aspects of Yoga: transformation of consciousness - paranormal powers (SIDDHIS) - the eight limb path (ASHTANGA) and higher stages of yoga - liberation. Written on palm leaves and tied toge
Arguably the most famous Sutra which means - Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.
1. Ahimsa-non violence 2. Satya-truth 3. Asteya-non stealing 4. Brahmacharya - abstinence 5. Aparigraha - non hoarding

48. Who is Goraksha?
He was a disciple of Matsyendra and the originator of Hatha Yoga. Shiva told Matsyendra he would reincarnate as his disciple.
It purifies the body practicing asana - Ayurvedic medicine - eating consciously - and worshipping the body as a temple to transcend the physical. This is in contrast to the hedonists who indulge in sense pleasure for self gratification. Therefore - t
Forceful yoga.
'sit near.' They interpreted the Vedas. Hindu scripture that expounds the metaphysics of nondualism (Advaita Vedanta) and is considered the last phase in the Vedic revelation.

49. What is Hatha Yoga?
Author of the Yoga sutras (source text of Classical Yoga) and the 8 Limb Path
Matsya (fish) Kurma (tortoise) Varaha (boar) Nara-Simba (lion) Vamana or Bamana - dwarf or short man. First human incarnation. Parusha-Rama (Rama with an Axe) Rama (dark or pleasing one). Main character in Rama and Sita. Krishna (also known as Govind
Knowledge. The oldest portion and the most sacred scriptures of Hinduism. A collection of hymns said to be intuited by the ancient seers of sages. These hymns or songs - were secrets of the universe - why are we here? Oldest composition in the world.
Forceful Yoga. The yoga of physical discipline - aiming at the awakening of the serpent power (kundalini shakti).

50. Name the Niyama's and their meanings
Concentration
1. Saucha-sacredness or purity 2. Santosha-contentment 3. Tapas-discipline 4. Swadhyaya-self study or introspection 5. Ishvara Pranidhana-Dedication to God
Ashtanga - Raja - Patanjala
Non-dual - end of the Vedas