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atma, Bhagavad Gita, bhakti yoga, concentration, devotion, dhyanayoga, eternal soul, God, international yoga day, karma yoga, karmayoga, Krishna, Mahabharata, meditation, parmatma, peace of mind, perishable body, religion, sankhya yoga, scriptures, wisdom, yoga, yogi
Did you know that Krishna was one of the earliest advocate of Yoga? On the eve of 21st June, International Yoga Day, lets see his views on Yoga.
- Shri bhagavån uvåca – imaµ vivasvate YOGAM proktavån aham avyayam vivasvån manave pråha manur ikßvåkave’bravît
[I instructed this Science of Yoga to Vivaswan, who taught Manu, who taught it to Ikshvaku]- [Bhagavad Gita, CHAP 4, VERSE 1] Krishn’s yoga, is however, NOT limited to asanas or pranayama. It goes beyond physical flexibility or breathing techniques.
- YOGA comes from word YUJYA = to join or to connect.
Foremost, Krishn systematically analyzes the body and soul through Sankhya. He makes a clearcut distinction. The ephemeral body versus the eternal Soul. 
The body is bound to disintegrate and destruct. The Soul within the body is indestructible. It will eventually adopt a new body for its journey in quest of peace. Hence, Krishn defines Yoga as union of this eternal Soul (Atma) to God Krishna (Parmatma).
- He advocates 4 TYPES of Yoga to achieve this purpose –
1] Karma-Yoga: via actions. 2] Gyana-Yoga : via knowledge 3] Dhyana-Yoga: via meditation 4] Bhakti-Yoga: via devotion. Karmayoga deals with actions and work. Actions performed as duty and as sacrificial offering to Krishn. He does NOT advocate absence of action. He merely advises detachment from the fruits of these actions. 
Gyanayoga deals with knowledge and study of scriptures. Krishna realizes the hunger of a mind teeming & bursting with questions. He encourages queries and doubts – provided they are made with a humble mind, with a true desire to learn and to unearth wisdom. 
Dhyanayoga deals with mind and meditation. It relates to mind discipline, gaining intense concentration and self-control of 5 senses against various temptations. 
Bhaktiyoga: deals with devotion. It means giving topmost priority to Krishna and making him the centre point of your current life. It does not mean abandoning family life or professional responsibility. Krishna does not limit his methods of Yoga by geography, religion, gender or age. His yoga aims at attaining eternal peace. It aims at merging one’s soul into Krishna’s energy. 
So, are you ready to be Krishna’s Yogi?
Impractical Dreamer 
Hi Sweety
Yoga is indeed a broader term than asanas & pranayam. They play very small part in union with divinity. What you referred here as Dhayana Yoga is more famous as Raja Yoga. This path was propounded by Patanjali.
Basically, human beings can be broadly classified into four types according to their psycho-somatic conditions: the active type, the mystic type, the philosophic type and devotional type. This classification is based on the predominance of one or the other three aspects of the human mind: the will, the intellect and emotions. In the light of latest biological researches, the active type, devotional type, the philosophic type and the mystic type can be attributed to neurological pathway dominated by four major neurotransmitters: testosterone, estrogen, serotonin and dopamine respectively.
Active type -> Will -> Karma Yoga -> Testosterone
Mystic type-> Will -> Raja Yoga -> Dopamine
Philosophic type -> Intellect -> Gyana Yoga -> Serotonin
Devotional type -> Emotion -> Bhakti Yoga -> Estrogen
Have a great week ahead!
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wow- that’s quite interesting. Where did you get this classification?
However, the 4 transmitters can variably predominate at different phases of life within the same human being too, especially with dopamine & serotonin battling each other in mood transitions. Also, with estrogen-testosterone varying with age/menopause.
So, if we add the influence of 3 Rajo, Tamo and Sattva Gunas along 4 transmitters, we get multiple permutations & combinations. Is that the basis for our complex humanity?
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This classification is an original work of mine. 🙂
To know more about the relationship of neurotransmitters with personality type, read ‘Why Him Why Her’ by Dr. Helen Fisher or listen her Gender Differences in the Brain
The three Gunas are manifested through neurotransmitters. No need to add them with neurotransmitters. Likewise, Kapha, pitta, vayu of Ayurveda could not be added with Hippocrates’ Medicine System. They are the statements of same thing in different languages. In the same way, brain & mind are two but not two. They are Micro & Macro interpretation of same thing. Similarly, 7 chakras or solar plexus could not be added with 7 endocrine glands.
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Very interesting.
Though, I think chakras or kundalinis are nerve plexuses controlling the endocrines, rather than endocrine glands themselves? Exception, perhaps being the pineal gland, situated in the strategic Shiva’s third eye position. And, to think, till recently, modern medicine thought pineal was a nondescript gland with unknown functions.
Funny enough, medicine also called it as third eye, since a certain tumor called retinoblastoma occurred in eyeball as well as in pineal gland.
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Thanks for the wonderful post on Yoga – through Krishna’s eyes, in Krishna’s word. I do not know the present situation in India because I left long time ago. In Gyanayoga, Lord Krishna encouraged queries and doubts. But it never happens in India. Students are not allowed to question the teachers. Youngsters are now allowed to question the parents/elders. It is considered insubordination. On this International Yoga Day, teachers and elders should start to encourage Gyanayoga.
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very,very true.
I think it has a lot to do with misuse from both sides. Perhaps the elders insist on obedience totally based on seniority, rather than basing it on actual presence of knowledge. Whereas Krishn welcomed questions based on his abundance of wisdom & knowledge. A person who knows answers will always love questions.
AT THE same time, perhaps youngsters use the wrong tone, wrong attitude – as if they seek to judge/humiliate/degrade the person instead of genuine thirst to know the answer.
But that said, it is true that we Indians have turned education into rote learning. Its high time to encourage individual thinking, to encourage innovation and lateral, tangential thinking.
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Dr. Sweety,
I think today is most wonderful day for you because first of all you have great fond of Indian scriptures and mythology especially Mahabharata and you seems very much in love of all the characters of it and your book is your way of expression of it and today it is International Yoga Day and it is celebrated throughout the world so you have co-related everything very well.
So, I think, to write today’s post must be most enjoyable part of your blogging journey.
By the way, out of all four Yoga suggested by Krishna, which one is most applicable in current time or most relevant in modern times according to you??????????????
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Thank you. Yes, it coincided perfectly with Yoga day.
Your query is most pertinent. I think the 4 methods are not mutually exclusive. They can be practiced simultaneously, since hey are interrelated.
Even an atheist can practice karmayoga, since he just needs to worship his work, to make every action & decision a self-responsibility and yet remain aloof from its end results – irrespective of failure or success.
On other had, bhakti yoga would require a modicum of faith in God as a pre-requisite.
and of course, dhyana yoga and gyana yoga can never be impracticable and are always relevant, since they lead to peace, concentration, focus, reliev stress.
So, any or all yoga methods are relevant and applicable in today’s times.
P.S- I have great love for 4 Krishnas of MB and great respect for Vidur. The rest of the cast falls somewhere in the spectrum between tolerable to intolerable.
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But don’t you think 21st Century is knowledge based century so gyana yoga will be most dominant factor in modern times??????????????????????
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Knowledge still needs to be put into practice, which is where karma/actions will matter.
and knowledge needs to be absorbed with full concentration, so dhyana too becomes a necessity. So they are all interlinked.
What we get on Google isn’t knowledge, that is information. What we glean from all that info is education. And knowledge would be a step higher.
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Your reply to comments are as enjoyable as your posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, you are absolutely right each one is inter-connected with others so if we really interested to uplift our self we must practice each one of them.
It is always pleasant experience to talk with you………
Wishing you all the best………………
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Thank you, Swajith.
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A beautiful post filled with knowledge about the good effects of yoga, that perform miracle for the mind, body and soul. I feel yoga is a way of life and would be good if we can see its good effects for everyone:)
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Yes, indeed. I wish someone would rescue it from the unnecessary ‘religion’ tag attached to it. Yoga is, as you said, a way of life – and should be for all humanity.
I read some very humorous ‘alternative’ yoga twists, inclusing Doga (to be practiced alongside ur pet dog) and Smoga (to be done on a surf board), not to mention power yoga with its criss cross weight bearing exercises.
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Clear elucidation of Krishna’s teachings, sweetly timed in the context of International Yoga Day, that resonated worldwide. Let us hope the movement gains greater momentum, and people everywhere realise its value, without allowing religious dogma to get in the way. Post creation, the first man and woman looked outside and ended up dividing the planet to over couple of hundred countries, they looked up and created numerous gods and goddesses. Now what remains is to look inwards and align with cosmic power that is the fount of all creation, through Krishna’s over five thousand year old prescription to the whole world of diffident Arjunas…best wishes, sweety…
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Thank you so much for the kind words. Yes, I hope this is not a one day affair with Yoga, and that people adopt to it as a daily necessity. Over and above, I hope they retain the dignity associated with the word, rather than market it as a commodity.
It is fascinating that inspite of Krishn exalting the soul over the body, he still teaches how to use the human perishable body to focus its senses towards the final goal – the upliftment of the soul.
Such wisdom, and spoken so impromptu!
I’m also very grateful to Arjun for asking so many questions and exploring so many topics. Eventually, its the questioning mind that can open up whole new worlds.
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A beautiful and enlightening post. Your post made me want to read the Srimad Bhagawad Gita once again. Being a huge devotee of Lord Krishna, I always rely on the Gita whenever I feel lost. I wish all of us try to inlculcate these 4 yogas in our everyday lives to attain inner tranquility and harmony.
A great read, dear. Stay blessed 🙂
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Thank you so much.
B. Gita is a lifestyle mantra, a savior. It almost seems like Krishn is directly addressing the Kaliyuga us with our myriad problems, instead of speaking to Arjun 5000 years ago.
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You have written very Well and Lucidly on the subject, my Dear Sweety! Kudos.
The graphics You present truly bring out the message. …I would suggest that You also give the quoted texts in Devnagri.
I do believe Your audience will profit if You would write on All the Six schools of Indian philosophy. …I never seem to get the time!
Much Love, Blessings, and Regards.
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Thank you so much for the high praise!
Is there a software needed to put text in Devanagari? I guess so.
I really am not qualified enough to expound on 6 schools of Indian philosophy. I merely write on what touches my heart and what seems relevant and practicable in today’s crazy world. But thank you so much – again – for the honor.
For now, I’m trying my best to practice what I wrote. Its quite a task.
But definitely worth it.
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Hello, Sweety! …Yes, I came across a govt sponsored Hindi typing tool years ago. But I do not how to use it directly in the internet. I prepare things in photoshop and post them.
I had learnt about the famous 6 schools more than 30 years ago. Have forgotten much. So can’t do it Justice.
Kudos about living the Great Teachings. That is what matters Most.
Honour? You deserve every bit of it!
Much Love and Blessings, my Dear! 🙂
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Ah, Life offers so much to learn. As I get older, I’m aware of how little I know, and how much vast remains in unknown zone.
Thank you again and again. Your support remains a boost.
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Nice to hear from You again, Sweety! What, Age, You, You at my Grand Daughter’s age, to see from Your photographs! I really Wonder and am Impressed by Your accomplishments, my Dear, during this short time.
A Doctor, an Author, Well Learned, and a Very Nice Person!
Love and Blessings. 🙂
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Thank you. Blessings are always welcome.
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Interesting and informative. Years ago I read 4 booklets published by Ramakrishna mission one each on the Four Types of Yoga – Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Jnana Yoga. I found they gave me excellent conceptual clarity on the subject. And I agree all these can be invoked and practiced by a single individual to help him develop himself as a ‘whole’ human being.
Thanks Dr. Sweety 🙂
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Yes, clarity is of prime importance – and from the right source. Otherwise, with info overdose, one may end up being thoroughly bewildered with too many options, too many paths, too many conflicting statements.
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Wow. I was really unaware of this, though I am very much fond of mahabharata. Great! Yoga is to connect with the inner self. This post is full of knowledge. 🙂 Thank you Dr. Sweety.
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You are most welcome. There’s a limitless wealth of knowledge hidden in our epics. Unfortunately, most TV serials and films , waste the opportunity of their vast reach and visual impressions. They waste time in showing rich sets and clothes and heavy dialogue, but don’t devote as much time to words and wisdom within epics.
Yoga as we know it is merely tip of iceberg. Its not at all limited to asanas.
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Yes. Very true. Through television if the knowledge is spread, people will be really wealthy. They will gain the wisdom the epics hidden behind the front-end storyline. 🙂
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Unfortunately, its the wrong storylines that get presented in glamourized avatars. People don’t bother to read the root epic, but rely on whatever drama is presented to them in easily accessible ways.
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