Test your basic knowledge |

Yoga History

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. What does Vashista mean?
Patanjali
The state in which the yogi becomes breathless - with difference - the life force is withdrawn from the body and the yogi appears dead or motionless and rigid.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
Qualified non-dualist
Classical Yoga around 300-400 BCE

2. PARUSHA and PAKRITI
Found in the Bhagavata PURANA. He gives 10 sons and 1 daughter to each of his 16 -108 cow girls.
SPIRIT and NATURE/CONSCIOUSNESS and MATTER
Forceful Yoga. The yoga of physical discipline - aiming at the awakening of the serpent power (kundalini shakti).
Nature

3. What does Asana mean
Seat
Forceful yoga.
It means the Lord's Song. The book of Psalms. The popular Yoga scripture containing the teachings of Lord Krishna to Arjuna.
Yama - Niyama - Asana - Pranayama - Pratyahara - Dhrana - Dhyana - Samadhi

4. Parvati's son
Ganesh - the pot belly elephant face God and the removal of all obstacles.
Sabikalpa - Nirbikalpa - Maha
Krishna advises Arjuna to battle his 'enemy' which is really Arjuna's family. This 'enemy' represents the hold the world and worldly things have on humans.
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

5. Who is Goraksha?
Patanjali
He was a disciple of Matsyendra and the originator of Hatha Yoga. Shiva told Matsyendra he would reincarnate as his disciple.
Last act performed before the yogi actually chooses to leave his body and turns thrice - faces north and his spirit leaves the body.
Mahavatar Babaji - Lahiri Mahasaya - Swami Sri Yukteswar - Paramahansa Yogananda - Bishnu Ghosh

6. Why did the Classical Yogis not believe in a deep exploration of the physical world and their body?
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
Patanjali's DUALISTIC approach (DVAITA VEDANTA) allows only for this kind of SAMADHI. This is SAMADHI with DIFFERENCE (BIKALPA) - ie
Founder of the school of qualified non-dualism. (Vashista Advaita). He challenged Patanjali's believe that God was abstract. This means that he believed the spiritual world had qualities - such as a deity or the trimuti. (Bhakti yogi - Devotion to Go
Cow Protector

7. What is a Dvaita

8. What is the main idea of the Bhagavad Gita?

9. What is Maha Samadhi
The Path of Wisdom - 'embodying the scriptures. investing in study
Govinda - cow finder.
Last act performed before the yogi actually chooses to leave his body and turns thrice - faces north and his spirit leaves the body.
He was a disciple of Matsyendra and the originator of Hatha Yoga. Shiva told Matsyendra he would reincarnate as his disciple.

10. What are the FOUR VEDAS?
Enlightenment - ecstasy - absorption
100-500 C.E.
RIG VEDA - ATHARVA VEDA - Jahjur VEDA - SAMA VEDA
Yama - Niyama - Asana - Pranayama - Pratyahara - Dhrana - Dhyana - Samadhi

11. PARUSHA and PAKRITI
SPIRIT and NATURE/CONSCIOUSNESS and MATTER
It means Non-dualism or 'not two.'
Withdraw from the senses and eliminate distraction from the outside world.
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.

12. Krishna's consort
Radha
100-500 C.E.
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.
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

13. What does Samadhi mean?
'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)
Meditation
Enlightenment - ecstasy - absorption
It means Lord pertaining to the Yoga adepts. It was from the Natha sect that Hatha Yoga developed.

14. Who is Shankara?

15. In what period did Patanjali live
The Path of Devotion. (Hare Krishnas - for example)
Non-dual - end of the Vedas
Classical Yoga around 300-400 BCE
This is the story of wars between two arms of a family - the Pandavas and the Kauravas.

16. What are the three synomyns of classical yoga
1500-1000 BCE
Ashtanga - Raja - Patanjala
Sabikalpa - Nirbikalpa - Maha
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

17. Who is Patanjali
The Mahabharata (GREAT STORY). The Bhagavad Gita is incorporated within the Mahabharata as one of the episodes.
Author of the Yoga sutras (source text of Classical Yoga) and the 8 Limb Path
Forceful Yoga. The yoga of physical discipline - aiming at the awakening of the serpent power (kundalini shakti).
1000-100 BCE. All ABOUT NON-DUALISM

18. Name the Barkan Method Lineage.
Mahavatar Babaji - Lahiri Mahasaya - Swami Sri Yukteswar - Paramahansa Yogananda - Bishnu Ghosh
Govinda - cow finder.
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.
1. Saucha-sacredness or purity 2. Santosha-contentment 3. Tapas-discipline 4. Swadhyaya-self study or introspection 5. Ishvara Pranidhana-Dedication to God

19. JIVAN MUKTA

20. Who was the first to systemize the teachings of Yoga and give yoga its Classical Form
Personal observances or restraints
Patanjali
Sita
PAT=FALLEN; SHAKTI PAT=FALLEN ENERGY

21. Veda
'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.
Yoga IS The RESTRICTION OF The WHIRLS OF CONSCIOUSNESS (CITTA)
Pat; fallen or transfer. Anjali; greeting.
KNOWLEDGE

22. What is another name for Goraksha
Cow Protector
Founder of the school of qualified non-dualism. (Vashista Advaita). He challenged Patanjali's believe that God was abstract. This means that he believed the spiritual world had qualities - such as a deity or the trimuti. (Bhakti yogi - Devotion to Go
'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)
Sarasvati - The Goddess of knowledge - speech and the fine arts - also the name of an extinct river in India.

23. What were the UPANISHADS?

24. What was unique about the Kaula branch of Tantra yoga
1500-1000 BCE
It means Non-dualism or 'not two.'
Concentration
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.

25. What are the four paths of Tantra yoga?
1. Saucha-sacredness or purity 2. Santosha-contentment 3. Tapas-discipline 4. Swadhyaya-self study or introspection 5. Ishvara Pranidhana-Dedication to God
Buddhism - Right Path - Left Path and Kaula.
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
Radha

26. What do the Yamas Represent
Dualism or 'two.'
Founder of the Kaula Branch of Tantra and the Natha sect.
Universal morality
Ganesh - the pot belly elephant face God and the removal of all obstacles.

27. What are the yoga sutras
This is the story of wars between two arms of a family - the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Classical Yoga around 300-400 BCE
Founder of the Kaula Branch of Tantra and the Natha sect.
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

28. JNANA Yoga

29. What is Sabikalpa Samadhi
Yoga IS The RESTRICTION OF The WHIRLS OF CONSCIOUSNESS (CITTA)
The Path of Devotion. (Hare Krishnas - for example)
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
To prepare the yogi for meditation.

30. The Indic Trimurti
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
Brahma- The Creator Vishnu- The Sustainer Shiva- The Destroyer
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.

31. Why was Goraksha given his name?
This is the story of wars between two arms of a family - the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
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
Forceful Yoga. The yoga of physical discipline - aiming at the awakening of the serpent power (kundalini shakti).
The Yoga Sutras - The 8 Limb Path

32. Who is Goraksha?
Govinda - cow finder.
Ashtanga - Raja - Patanjala
Enlightenment - ecstasy - absorption
He was a disciple of Matsyendra and the originator of Hatha Yoga. Shiva told Matsyendra he would reincarnate as his disciple.

33. What is the Mahabharata (The Great Story)?
The Path of Wisdom - 'embodying the scriptures. investing in study
Ganesh - the pot belly elephant face God and the removal of all obstacles.
This is the story of wars between two arms of a family - the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Non-dualism. Based on the Upanishads. Two main branches Radical - taught by Shankara - and Qualified - taught by Ramanuja.

34. What do the Upanishads mean?

35. The Vedic Age
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
4500-2500 BCE
Yoga IS The RESTRICTION OF The WHIRLS OF CONSCIOUSNESS (CITTA)
Last act performed before the yogi actually chooses to leave his body and turns thrice - faces north and his spirit leaves the body.

36. What is the Ramayana
1000-100 BCE. All ABOUT NON-DUALISM
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.
Classical Yoga around 300-400 BCE
It means Non-dualism or 'not two.'

37. What is the differences between Tantra and the more traditional view of the Verticalists?
Concentration
Sita
Matsyendra and Goraksha
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

38. SIDHANA

39. Parvati's son
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
Ganesh - the pot belly elephant face God and the removal of all obstacles.
It means Non-dualism or 'not two.'
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.

40. Who are the two most outstanding Nathas?
Ashtanga - Raja - Patanjala
KNOWLEDGE
1500-1000 BCE
Matsyendra and Goraksha

41. What does Dhyana mean?
To weave - loom or extend - very non judgmental - they embraced everyone with an open mind.
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.
Meditation
From 100 CE-500 CE there was PATANJALI who authored the Yoga SUTRAS. He spoke about the 8 limb path and was the first to systematize the teachings of Yoga. PATANJALI gave Yoga its Classic FORM

42. What does Pratyahara mean?
Yoga IS The RESTRICTION OF The WHIRLS OF CONSCIOUSNESS (CITTA)
From the 8-fold path of BUDHISM
Govinda - cow finder.
Withdraw from the senses and eliminate distraction from the outside world.

43. What are the yoga sutras
Non-dualism. Based on the Upanishads. Two main branches Radical - taught by Shankara - and Qualified - taught by Ramanuja.
Qualified non-dualist
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
Forceful Yoga. The yoga of physical discipline - aiming at the awakening of the serpent power (kundalini shakti).

44. Who are the two most outstanding Nathas?
Matsyendra and Goraksha
Founder of the Kaula Branch of Tantra and the Natha sect.
Yoga IS The RESTRICTION OF The WHIRLS OF CONSCIOUSNESS (CITTA)
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

45. Veda
Meditation
KNOWLEDGE
Non-dual - end of the Vedas
AKA 'GOVINDA' or cow-finder. Always seen playing the flute The 8th incarnation of VISHNU. Krishna is one of the most powerful deities in the HINDU CULTURE. He's written about int the BHAGAVAD-GITA and the BHAGAVATA-PURANA

46. KRISHNA

47. What does Dhrana mean?
To weave - loom or extend - very non judgmental - they embraced everyone with an open mind.
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
DARK OR PLEASING ONE. The 7th incarnation of VISHNU. He is the main character in the RAMAYANA ('the advancement of RAMA') SITA IS his CONSORT. He was rescued by the forest demon - RAVANA
Concentration

48. Brahma's Counterpart
Concentration
RIG VEDA - ATHARVA VEDA - Jahjur VEDA - SAMA VEDA
Sarasvati - The Goddess of knowledge - speech and the fine arts - also the name of an extinct river in India.
Yoga IS The RESTRICTION OF The WHIRLS OF CONSCIOUSNESS (CITTA)

49. Who is Matysendra
To prepare the yogi for meditation.
Founder of the Kaula Branch of Tantra and the Natha sect.
Seat
Krishna advises Arjuna to battle his 'enemy' which is really Arjuna's family. This 'enemy' represents the hold the world and worldly things have on humans.

50. What is Advaita-Vedanta
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.
Buddhism - Right Path - Left Path and Kaula.
Non-dualism. Based on the Upanishads. Two main branches Radical - taught by Shankara - and Qualified - taught by Ramanuja.
4500-2500 BCE