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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED: F.A.Q. 5
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ORIGIN OF YOGA QUESTION: What is the historical basis for the
attribution of the origins of Yoga to Shiva? It has been remarked by some
scholars that the Yoga Sutra, one of the earliest works on Yoga, only briefly
introduces the concept of God who is moreover not mentioned by name. ANSWER: Just as the Sun always and already shines
regardless of whether people's vision of him is obscured by clouds, darkness
or blindness, so also, Yoga - which is the Luminous Expression of the Supreme
Consciousness, constantly fills the Universe with its Eternal Light of Truth.
Yet because ordinary humans and other un-Enlightened beings are unaware of
the Light of Truth - much as a blind man is unaware of the light of the Sun -
it remains "underground", buried, as it were, in the innermost
recesses of un-Enlightened man's subconscious. This being so, it is the task
of a Yoga Master (who is a Master of Spiritual Illumination) to bring this
living light to the surface so that they, to whom it belongs, may see it face
to face and recognise it as their own true essence. Authentic Yogic Teaching is a living tradition based on the
higher experience of living Masters and its direct transmission to their
disciples. Written texts, valuable though they may be, are - by their very
nature - more limited in their capacity to transmit Spiritual knowledge, than
a living tradition. Even so, confusion regarding the identity of Lord Shiva
as World Teacher and Originator of Yoga can only arise if and when: (a) the
living tradition is improperly investigated or altogether ignored; (b)
scriptural tradition, or isolated fragments of it such as the Yoga Sutra, are
examined outside their proper cultural, historical and Spiritual context. A
clearer picture emerges when we adopt the Yogic view of reality which is
deeper, more complete and, therefore, closer to truth. As the Scriptures say,
Yoga can only be known by means of Yoga. First, the Yoga Sutra, which has been dated to about 180 BC -
although it is generally accepted that it contains material going back far
before that - is a very concise work dealing mainly with the
psycho-philosophical interpretation of Yogic teachings and does not constitute
a religious work as such. Second, it contradicts neither the existence of God
nor the identity of that God with Shiva. Third, in the Yoga Tradition, out of
pious respect and in recognition of Its Inexpressible Nature, the Supreme
Being is not given a name but is indirectly referred to by means of some
symbolic designation such as "Lord" (Ish,
Ishvara), "Master" (Natha),
"The Most High" (Anuttara) or simply
"He" (Sah). "Shiva" itself is
not a proper name like that given to an individual person but a technical
term expressing the concept of God, that is, the Universal Being Who - in the
experience of Yogis - has the power to help us in our Spiritual effort, hence
Shiva (Auspicious, Propitious, Good, Gracious). This Universal Being is referred to by the author of the Yoga
Sutra, Patanjali, simply as Ishvara
(Lord, God). However, the fact is that Ishvara -
along with Maheshvara (Great Lord) and Parameshvara (Supreme Lord) - is a term commonly used by
Shiva's devotees when referring to their God, a fact long recognised
by the eminent Dr. Surendranath Dasgupta,
Ph.D., in his "History of Indian Philosophy" (1922). In consequence, we cannot reasonably exclude the possibility
that the term "Ishvara" was employed in
the same sense by Patanjali himself. Indeed, we may
safely assume that this was the case. Moreover, Patanjali
does state that Ishvara (God) is Eternal, he exists
beyond time, and as such he is the Primordial Guru (Adi-Guru)
of the Ancient Sages. Not only is this in agreement with the Yogic concept of
Lord Shiva, but from a number of reliable sources we happen to know exactly
who this Primordial Guru is. In its overview of the history of Indian religion, the
Encyclopedia Britannica states that, "the cult of Shiva emerged first.
Shiva alone was called Isha or Ishvara
(Lord, God)". Professor M. Eliade's
Encyclopedia of Religion states that "In classical Hindu mythology Shiva
is generally portrayed as a Yogi who lives on Mount Kailasa
in the Himalayas [that is, in Heaven]". While epithets such as Yoga-Isha (Yogesha) and Yoganatha, meaning "Lord of Yoga", are
explained as "Names of Shiva" in the Monier-Williams
Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Thus Ishvara's
equation with Shiva as Lord of Yoga is common knowledge even in the West at
least among the educated classes. We shall now hear the testimony of the Indian tradition
itself. The renowned Yoga Teacher, B. K. S. Iyengar,
begins his book, "The Light on Yoga" with the following prayer:
"I salute Adishvara (Primeval Lord Shiva) who
taught first the science of Hatha Yoga". The
great sage of South India, Shri Ramana
Maharshi (1879-1950), referred in his teachings to
Lord Shiva as Lord of Yoga (Yogaraja) and Primal
Master (Adi-Guru, Dakshinamurti,
etc.). The Collection Of Shiva's Sayings (Shiva Samhita),
a Yoga manual compiled in about 1700, begins with the words: "I, Ishvara (that is, Lord Shiva), Lover of my devotees and Bestower of Spiritual Freedom on all beings, thus declare
the Science of Yoga." The Song Of The Lord (Ishvara
Gita of the Kurma Purana), likewise portrays Shiva as the World Teacher Who
instructs a group of sages. In his main work, The Light of the Sacred Scriptures (Tantraloka) Illustrious Master Mahamaheshvara
Abhinava Gupta, one of India's most eminent
Spiritual authorities (c. 950-1025) belonging to the North Indian Tradition
of Shiva, unequivocally acknowledges Shiva as Supreme Lord and Primordial
Guru. The South Indian Saint and Philosopher, Shri Shankaracharya (c. 800), who was one of the most influencial figures in the history of Indian religion and
philosophy, similarly eulogises Lord Shiva as the
Supreme Eternal Guru (see Dakshinamurti Stotram, Shivanandalahari,
etc.). In the Natha tradition of the first
centuries of the current era and the earlier (about 100 BC), Pashupata tradition, the Primal Lord (Adi-Natha)
is likewise identified with Lord Shiva Who is the Eternal Divine Teacher. A very important Yogic text from about the same period as the
Yoga Sutra - if not earlier - is The Revelation Of The Tremendous Wisdom God
(Vijnana Bhairava Tantra) also known as The Secret Instruction In The
Wisdom Of Shiva (Shiva Vijnana Upanishad), in which
Supreme Lord Shiva (Parameshvara) in His Tremendous
(Bhairava), Darkness-Dispelling Aspect acts as
Divine World Teacher. One of India's oldest Spiritual traditions, that of the Jains, which goes back at least 3,000 years, similarly
venerates Adi-Natha as the First Guru. Now since
this Guru's symbolic emblem is a Bull, this clearly identifies him with Shiva
who has always been associated with the Bull on account of the latter's
immemorial symbolism of sheer strength, rain-making abilities and generative
power (both "bull" and "rain" in Sanskrit are derived
from the root "Vrish", to rain as well as
to have manly power). Indeed, Shiva's symbol has been the Bull (Nandi,
Bestower of Bliss) at least from the times of the
Indus Valley civilisation. In the hymns of the Rig
Veda, Shiva in His aspect of Rudra is addressed by
the title of "Bull". Another great Teacher and religious reformer
of the Jain tradition is known by the name of Mahavira
(Great Hero) - another epithet of Shiva ("Lord of Heroes" is one of
Shiva's titles already mentioned in the Vedas). Indeed, the Hindu Wisdom-Book of Hymns (Rig Veda), dating from
the 4th millennium BC, mentions the God of Mystic Fire (Rudra) who is as bright as the Sun and has healing
powers: "We pray for joy and health and strength to Rudra,
Lord of sacrifice and hymns and balmy medicines. He shines in splendour like the Sun, refulgent as bright gold is He,
the Good, the best among the Gods!" (Ralph T.H. Griffith's translation).
Now to heal means to re-unite and make whole, that is to say, precisely the
power and function of Shiva in His capacity as Lord of Yoga or Unity. Rudra, of course, remains one of Lord Shiva's sacred
names even today. Moreover, later commentaries on the Wisdom-Books (Vedas) refer
to this Luminous Deity as Vratya-Pati, that is,
Lord of Ascetics which is another long-established epithet of Shiva. Indeed,
since prehistoric times the Sunlike God of Inner
Fire has been universally identified with Shiva, the Lord of Yogis and
Ascetics and Supreme Healer. Later Scriptures like Shvetashvatara
Upanishad (6th century BC) clearly continue this timeless
tradition. Echoes of this tradition may be found in the Great Epic of
India, Mahabharata, where the ancient Vedic term Vratya
is used in association with certain followers of Shiva. Moreover, in the
Mahabharata Lord Shiva plays a central role, in particular, as Spiritual
Teacher. Thus that portion of the epic known as Harivamsha
Purana, names Sage Durvasas
(an Incarnation or Manifestation of Shiva) as Lord Krishna's Spiritual
Instructor. Finally, the Mahabharata concludes that "Shiva is Yoga and
the Lord of Yoga. He can be approached by Yogis only". Even the Buddhist tradition acknowledges Lord Shiva as Master
of Yoga. Thus according to the Monier-Williams
Sanskrit-English Dictionary, "Maha-Yogin"
or "Supreme Yogi" is a "name of Shiva especially when
worshipped by Buddhists". The fact is that an immense scriptural body based on the same
fundamental tradition of Shiva as Lord of Yoga has been in circulation for at
least as long as the Yoga Sutra and its very existence demonstrates that in
most Yoga circles there has never been any doubt regarding the precise
identity of the Original Teacher. Although the teachings and practices of
Yoga - or aspects thereof - have long been adopted by a number of Yogic and
non-Yogic traditions including Buddhism, Christianity and Islam, to this day
the vast majority of Yogis continue to follow the Tradition of Shiva (Shiva
Agama or Shiva Dharma). Indeed, as evidenced by countless works of devotional art -
both ancient and modern - Shiva is worshipped throughout India as the supreme
example of the Archetypal Teacher (Jagad-Guru,
World Teacher) per se, not only of Yoga, Enlightenment or Spirituality, but
also of innumerable arts and crafts: dance, music, poetry, healing, love
(both Spiritual and physical), magic, archery and hunting. On the whole, therefore, it may be said that, apart from the
living tradition itself, there is sufficient scriptural and circumstantial
evidence for Shiva's identity as Originator of Yoga to be accepted as
conclusively established. Says Scripture: "In every World Age, Lord Shiva
incarnates as Teacher of Yoga (Yogacharya) and
propagates its wisdom for the Salvation of His devotees" (Shiva Purana, Vayaviya Samhita I, 32:14; II, 8:43, etc.). We have thus demonstrated that, while the Yoga Sutra
constitutes a valuable introduction to Yogic teachings, the higher truths of
Yoga are to be found in the Tradition of Shiva (Shiva Agama) itself which is
the true origin of Yoga. Nevertheless, the cultural and historical factors so far
considered can only be of secondary importance belonging as they do to the
external domain of conventional knowledge. If we enter the real World of Yoga
which is the World of Higher (Inner) Knowledge, we may acquire an even deeper
and more accurate understanding of the situation. First, there are three fundamental forms of Spiritual
Revelation or Transmission of Higher Intelligence, which Yoga identifies as
accounting for the great diversity of religious and Spiritual traditions in
the World: 1.
Revelations that are entirely the product, conscious or subconscious, of the
individual mind and hence do not count as genuine, properly speaking. 2.
Revelations that are genuine transmissions of the Universal Mind but are
misinterpreted or misunderstood by the recipient individual or group of
individuals. 3.
Revelations that are both genuine transmissions of the Universal Mind and are
correctly interpreted and understood as such by the recipient individual (or
group of individuals). Although on the relative level they appear to derive from
different spatial and temporal points of origin, at the level of non-dual, Unitive Awareness of Yogic Consciousness, all currents of
genuine Spiritual Instruction are recognised as
emanating from the same Source Intelligence. In other words, only One Teaching Entity or Guiding
Principle (Guru Tattva) is ultimately responsible
for all teaching activity. Not only this, but since all forms of intelligence are
generated by, and have their existence in, the same Universal Consciousness,
both the Transmitter and recipient of Spiritual Intelligence (or
"Teacher" and "learner") are essentially identical as
conscious projections of the same One Universal Intelligence. Yoga being, by
definition, the Spirituality of absolute non-duality (Advaita)
or Unity, this is the only Spiritually true and logically acceptable position. This Spiritual fact is accurately described in The Revelation
Of The Tremendous Freedom God (Svachchanda Bhairava Tantra), compiled in
the 5th century CE, which declares: Eternal Lord Shiva (Sada Shiva), God Incarnate, manifests Himself as both
Master and disciple for the purpose of bringing to the World the Revelation
of Truth in the form of questions and answers. In other words, Shiva, the Supreme Self instructs the
individual self (the human Soul) who is His Own Manifestation into the Yogic
Truth of Universal Unity. "In the beginning", says Scripture,
"this Universe was Atman (Spirit, Soul) alone; looking around, he saw
nothing but Himself." Thus the Lord instructs those whom He wishes to
elevate, into the Eternal Truth of the Soul's identity with the Supreme. The Supreme Instructor (Parama Guru)
is one's own Higher Self, the Divine Light shining in one's own heart. For
this reason, Scripture declares, "One should worship the Self alone as
his true World. Whosoever worships another God (than his own Higher Self),
thinking, He is one and I another, knows not. He is like a sacrificial animal
for the Gods." Identity of the human Soul with the Supreme (Shiva-Samata) is the Secret of Yoga, of true Spirituality and
of all genuine Faiths. This also solves another problem that is sometimes raised in
this context: how can Shiva or Ishvara, as a
Transcendental Intelligence existing outside relative reality, instruct a
human being who lives in a world governed by the laws of time and space? The
answer is simple enough. Since everything is created by, and has its
existence within, the all-inclusive Universal Consciousness, all genuine
Spiritual Revelation necessarily takes place on the impulse and through the
medium of that very Consciousness Itself. Indian folklore actually looks upon Patanjali
as an Incarnation of Ananta, a Serpent-like Divine
Being. Now according to an ancient tradition, Ananta
is the name given to an Emanation of Shiva. "Ananta,
King of Serpents, is Shiva" - says the Shiva Purana
(Vayaviya Samhita, II,
4:47). In Yogic terms, this means that Ananta
is the Serpent-like Stream of Spiritual Intelligence that emerges from the
deeps of the Infinite Ocean of Consciousness in order to communicate to us a
Higher and previously hidden (or unrecognised) Knowledge,
and that Patanjali himself wrote the Yoga Sutra
under the inspiration of Ananta, the Emanation of
Shiva's Universal Intelligence. By the same mechanism, the authors of the Vijnana
Bhairava Tantra, Ishvara Gita and the rest,
composed their respective works which together constitute the many facets of
the Infinite Jewel of Yogic Wisdom. This fact is further supported by Shiva's
traditional epithet of Nagesha-Natha or Lord of
Serpents: as the Universal Consciousness, Shiva is both the Source and Master
of all conscious activity, and hence of all Streams of Spiritual Intelligence
issuing, serpent-like, that is, with a wave-like movement suggesting
vibration or pulsation, from the Ocean of Ultimate Reality. In terms of Western Psychology - as expounded by Professor
Jung - this universal phenomenon may be similarly interpreted as a function
of the Collective Unconscious which, in this case, is nothing but the
Universal Consciousness (Para-Samvid) of Yogic
Psychology, called "Unconscious" because it is largely unconscious
or unknown to the Spiritually unaware personal mind. It might be noted in passing that this concept of a Divine
Serpent as mediator of Higher Knowledge is of the greatest anthropological,
psychological and Spiritual interest. Thus we find a Celestial Dragon among
the Chinese and a Plumed Serpent among the Ancient Mexicans along with the Uraeus Snake of the Egyptian Pharaohs, the Divine Python
of the Greeks, the Serpent Lord of the Tree of Truth of Ancient Sumer and last but not least, the Serpent Power (Kundalini Shakti) of Yoga
itself, all of which are but various symbolic representations of essentially
the same Divine Entity embodying Spiritual Knowledge, Wisdom, or Truth. Says Scripture: "When everything was neither
existent nor non-existent, when it was neither day nor night, Shiva alone
existed. From Him the Ancient Wisdom emanated" (Vayaviya
Samhita I, 6:39). Nor must one assume that the Yogis' choice of the term Shiva
as a designation for the all-inclusive Universal Intelligence is in any way
sectarian, dogmatic or even arbitrary. This important point has been
graciously elucidated by the Master of The Yoga Order, Gurudev
Shri Soma-Natha Maharaj as follows: the essence of all life is conscious
activity (or awareness and movement); life is also essentially good. Indeed,
the Sanskrit word Shiva means, first of all, good, benevolent, auspicious.
Second, it may be broken down into the phonemes or sound units, Shi and Va. Shi
(literally, that in which all things lie or rest - from the root "shi",
lie, come to rest, reside in) means to support, include, embrace, contain,
while Va suggests movement. In consequence, Shiva
designates the All-Including, All-Supporting Living Intelligence Which
encompasses or contains everything within Its field of awareness (and
therefore knows everything) and by Whose power everything moves. In short,
the Supreme Reality Itself. In our experience, it is a Spiritual fact that all genuine
Seekers will sooner or later accept the Universal Consciousness (or World
Spirit) as the Original Source of all Spiritual teaching or activity,
including Yoga, and it matters little what we choose to call this Source.
Thus, Vishnu, Buddha, Yahweh, Allah, Universal Being, Ultimate Reality or any
other corresponding designations, must be regarded as equally valid if and to
the extent that they are capable of evoking in the Seeker's heart a meaning
equivalent, or sufficiently similar to the aforementioned and provided that
they are conducive to an understanding among the individuals concerned, of
the fact that they all are seeking the same One Truth. (It may be noteworthy
that this has enabled people of Spirit all over the World - Hindus,
Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Pagans and Jews - to recognise
the value of Yoga as an inner Spiritual process regardless of their external
or official religious allegiance.) The term Shiva has been chosen by us in
preference to others first because it constitutes a most apt appellation for
the Universal Intelligence or Godhead - as defined above - and second because
it is supported by the Yoga Tradition itself. In the light of these considerations, the Initiation of the
Spiritual Process, called Yoga, by Lord Shiva (the Universal Consciousness)
must be admitted to be - both Spiritually and historically speaking - a
factual occurrence that no one can logically deny. However, this must not lead us to lose sight of another fact,
namely, that Yoga is not only the Spiritual process whereby the human Soul may
re-unite himself with the Universal Being from Whom he has become separated,
but also the Universal Unity itself, that is, the Unitive
Experience the Universal Being has of Himself as a Unique Undivided Reality. This Experience of Absolute Unity with Himself which is
the Supreme Being's very nature (or natural state) is the highest form of
Unity or Yoga. As such, Yoga has always existed and continues to constitute an Eternal Reality above and beyond the spatial and temporal domain of the material World (see Yoga - The World's Oldest Faith).
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