Wednesday, April 11, 2012

PATANJALI YOGASUTRAS - CH.3..Vs.27,28,29,30 - Samyama on SUN, MOON, POLE STAR and Manipura Chakra


PATANJALI
YOGASUTRAS

CHAPTER.3.

VIBHUTI PAADHA

Vs.27

Bhuvana  Jnanam Surye Samyamaath


Ø  bhuvana = universe, worlds, planets
Ø  jnanam = knowledge (of)
Ø  surye = (on) the sun
Ø  samyamaath = By performance of samyama on

By performance of Samyama on the Sun, the Sadhaka attains the knowledge of the worlds (or Universe). How does one do Samyama on Sun?

One view is - that Sun in this sutra - is that part of our body / consciousness which is identified with Sun and is more under influence of the Sun.

Some identify it with Sex organs, or muladhara Chakra, or with Suryanadi (or Pingala)controlling the right nostril breathing.

Surya Nadi and Chandra Nadi start at Muladhara. From there, they criss-cross all over the body, meet at all the intermediate chakras and finally converging at the Ajna Chakra.

At Nostril level, the right nostril is associated with the Sun, or Suryanadi, which controls its functioning. Slightly hotter air flows through it, compared to left nostril.

Pranayamas focusing only on breathing through either one of the nostrils (closing the other nostril) thus gives benefits associated with it. Pranayama on Surya or Chandra nadi independently – should not be done for too much time, in one go. About a minute or two are enough. Then, there should be a gap of time. This is a safety precaution for pranayama on Surya / Chandra nadi done independently. Up to this time level, its benefits are excellent. Pranayama with only the right nostril heats up the body – and is recommended when there is chillness around.

Pingala Nadi (corresponds to Surya nadi) travels on right side of body and is the flow of male energy in the body. Ida, corresponding to Chandra nadi, travels on left side and controls female energy. But, both cross each other at each major chakra point.

Surya Meditation is built into various regular practices. At Brahma muhurtha in early morning hours, Sadhaka must perform his dhyana, which is basically Sun Meditation. It is done facing East, and concentrating on the first rays of the sun, with closed eyes. Many Yogis are  said to attain the capability to live without food and water –doing this surya meditation, which comes very effortlessly to many.

In recent past, one meditator by name Prahlad Jani, was in the news. He was tested in labs  – and is found to survive without food, water, urination and defecation for a long time. He claims that – he has been surviving without food and water for several decades now.

From the description  of what he says – he is evidently performing surya meditation effectively. This routine practice ends with Surya Namaskara in the early morning hours, a physical practice which gives enormous flexibility to all body organs. A recital of Aditya hridayam, a hymn dedicated to Sun, also is a part of this.

The question arises – is Patanjali referring to all this, or, to something else. My strong conviction is – he is referring to all this – AND SOME THING MORE.  Patanjali’s Samyama is absolute consciousness on a single object – in this case, the Sun. Whether you concentrate on external sun or internal sun – is not material. Ultimately, all concentration happens in mind – and not outside. Samyama happens inside mind. And, once the threshold of Meditation passes a certain level, every cell of the body participates in meditation – and becomes one with the object of meditation.

Body consciousness is totally displaced by meditation consciousness. The object of Meditation gradually loses its significance and then – only the consciousness remains, with all qualities of the object. As we saw in previous Samyamas, when Sadhaka does Samyama on elephant, its whole strength becomes his. Every cell of him responds like an elephant – not just the mind.

Samyama is just that. Involve your totality in the Meditation – and then, it happens. Don’t seek the result. Involve totally and become that.

Now – when we do Samyama on Sun –Our consciousness travels along with Sun’s rays. Wherever Sun’s rays go – our consciousness and knowledge extends to it. Actually, we don’t know Sun at all; we only know Sun’s rays. We do Samyama on the rays of Sun – and thereby gain the knowledge of all worlds to which the Sun’s rays travel. Meditation in Brahma Muhurtha makes it instantly clear.

Vs.28


Chandre Taaraa vyooha Jnanam

Ø  chandre =  On the Moon
Ø  taaraa = of  stars
Ø  vyuha = System, their arrangement (vis a vis each other)
Ø  jnanam = knowledge

When  Sadhaka performs Samyama on  Moon, his knowledge extends to the arrangement of stars.
Moon is so near and so small. Stars are so far but so big. So, how does Samyama on Moon who is so near lead to knowledge of arrangement of stars which are so far? Is Patanjali ignorant of these distances and sizes?
Yogi’s botheration is not with externalities, distances and sizes. He meditates on his perceptions only. He starts with what his five senses and mind tell him. Only that imprint of what he sees and perceives -  is available to his mind. It is good enough for the meditation.
Second point is – all that is outside us, is also inside us, in miniature form. We are a  replica of the Universe in a miniature form. All human beings are inside us. All animals are inside us. All planets and stars are inside us. We see them inside us only.
We do not see the stars, planets or human beings outside. We see only their miniature forms, their images - inside us.

Vs.29


Dhruve thath gati jnanam

Ø  dhruve =  By Samyama on the Pole star
Ø  thath = their
Ø  gati = movement
Ø  jnanam = knowledge

Pole star is a significant star. It is visible at a single place always – and gives us guidance about movement of other stars. Even routine examination of the sky and relative positions of other stars with reference to Pole star – gives us huge knowledge about their movements.

Many persons are capable of telling the time correctly at night by looking at the star positions, relative to Pole star.

Samyama is nothing but extending the attention / concentration on the Pole star some more and doing Samyama on it. The Samyama will reveal to the Sadhaka about the trajectories of various other stars in the sky.

Vs.30


Naabhi Chakre kaaya vyooha jnanam



Ø  naabhi =  navel point
Ø  chakre = the chakra (doing Samyama on )
Ø  kaaya = of the body
Ø  vyooha = systematic arrangement
Ø  jnanam = knowledge


Navel centre is special in our body. It was at this centre – that we were connected with the mother – for all of our needs – until we were born. In many ways, it is the centre of the body. It has all the intelligence about the systemic arrangement of the Sadhaka’s  body.

When Sadhaka does Samyama -  on his navel centre – all the knowledge about the systemic arrangement of his body – is revealed to him.

The chakra at the navel point is called Manipura chakra. The sound “ram” (rum) – activates this chakra. The chakra meditation on Manipura is performed with chanting of this sound in a particular way.

Samyama is done – not as chakra dhyana but with dharana on the navel chakra – proceeding further into dhyana and Samadhi.

In yogic parlance, Manipura Chakra is depicted as a ten-petalled circular chakra – with an inverted triangle in the middle. Prana Sakthi from it is radiated to all directions by “Samana” vayu, which is said to stabilize and regulate the prana sakthi in all organs. Samana – means equilibrium; vayu means the air which carries it. One can see the Yogic posture of Buddha and other yogis, who meditate with Palms pressing on manipura chakra.

Samana vayu is always active in carrying equilibrium power to all organs. Sadhaka  follows the path of this chakra in his Dharana and Dhyana – and acquires deep knowledge of how all organs in the body work.

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