The word yoga is somewhat misunderstood because modern yoga is completely isolated from Yoga Sutra. The correct terminology is Raja Yoga preached by great sage under eight paths (ashtanga yoga), among them, one is asana. Humankind is practicing yoga exercise not aiming at or to realize God, but their attention is fixed on only one idea - longevity. In this article, an attempt was made to understand the native meaning of yoga.
Ashtanga yoga practiced to ascent into the God within us namely - yama (self-trust), niyama (self-study), asana (right posture for meditation), pranayama (breath witnessing), pratyahara (thoughtless stillness), dharana (oneness in-universe), dhyana (deeper meditation), and samadhi (cosmic union with supreme). Our present yoga system preaches effortful and painful body and mind control by maintaining various unnatural postures. When Raja Yoga is practiced truly,…
