YOGA SASTRAM-2; QUESTION & ANSWER FORMAT

 HARI! OM!

Q. 1.  1. Inside the cage of the body, how many nadis are present?                                                           a. 36000        b. 72             c. 72000             d. 48000                                                                                   A.1. 72000 Nadis are present inside the Human Body.

Q. 2. What is the cause for the extroverted nature of the mind?                                                                   a. Vasana of the pleasures of sense objects ;   b. Prana; c. Both a and b ; d.Neither a nor b                  A.2. The cause for the extroverted nature of mind is – Option c, i.e  a. Vasana of the pleasures of sense objects & b. Prana

Q. 3. Among the following which chakra has 16 petals                                                                             a. Ajna  ;  b.  Anahata  ;   c. Svadishtana ;  d.Vishuddi                                                                           A.3. The chakra which has 16 petals is the Vishuddi chakra.

Q. 4. What is the place of Ajna chakra?                                                                                                      a. Back of the neck ;                                                                                                                                  b. Between the eyebrows                                                                                                                          c. Back of the naval                                                                                                                                    d. Back of the heart                                                                                                                                 A.4. The place of the Ajna chakra is Option b. Between the Eyebrows.

Q. 5. What is the name of the bandha in which the throat is contracted?                                                   a. Jalandhara bandha ; b. Udyana bandha ; c. Maha bandha ;  d. Vajroli                                                A.5. The name of the Bandha in which the throat is contracted is Option a. Jalandhara bandha.               

Q. 6. List other words that denote Raja Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga

Q. 7. Compare and explain Ida Pingala Sushumna

Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna nadis are the three principal energy channels running from the base of one’s spine and to the head, opening into the Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) Sushumna is in the center with Ida on the left and Pingala on the right of it

Ida nadi ends at the left nostril and is the lunar, cooling, feminine, yin, introspective energy channel. Pingala nadi ends at the tip of the right nostril and is the solar, masculine, heating, active yang element of the two twinned channels

After intersecting each other at various energy points of the subtle body, Pingala Nadi merges with the Ida Nadi at the Third Eye chakra. Since the Pingala Nadi is linked with the Sun, therefore, its vibrational quality color is red.

·         Ida Nadi – left channel – left nostril – right brain – Parasympathetic nervous system – rest & relax.

·         Pingala Nadi – right channel – right nostril – left brain.

·         Sympathetic nervous system – fight & flight.

·         Shushumna Nadi – both channels – both brains – neutral.

Pingala nadi controls essential life processes and imparts vitality, efficiency and strength. It is associated with extroversion, masculine energy, the left (logical/linear) side of the brain, and the right side of the body. Pingala nadi energy must be balanced by the ida energy, which is creative and introverted

The sushumna nadi connects the first muladhara chakra to the seventh sahasrara chakra, and is the path for the ascent of kundalini energy up from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. It is considered the central channel for the flow of prana throughout the body

Activating the sushumna?

Inhaling, breathe as if the breath flows from the base of the nostrils inward to the point between the eyebrows (the ajna chakra). Exhaling, let the breath seem to flow from the ajna chakra, back to the base of the nostrils. Breathe back and forth along this central stream as you gradually relax your mind.

Kundalini pulls the energy that lies dormant at the base our spine up to the crown of our heads, creating an upward flow of energy and balancing our chakras and energetic bodies. Kundalini allows for the free flow of energy up through the chakras, leading to an expanded state of consciousness

Q.8. Explain about Para Vairagyam given as an explanation of Patanjali Maharishi in Hatha Yoga Pradeepika.                                                                                                                                             A.8. तत्परं पुरुषख्यातेर्गुणवैतृष्ण्यम् ॥ १६॥ PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS, 1.16."tatparam purushakyateh gunavaitrisnyam" meaning that Para Vairagya or supreme non-attachment is that state wherein even attachment to the qualities of nature (Sattvas, Rajas and Tamas) drops, owing to the knowledge of the Purusha

para vairagya is the realization of the true means to happiness and self-fulfillment. Once a yogi realizes that material objects and life in the material world are temporary, the yogi can achieve moksha, the release from the karmic cycle of rebirth into the material world.

Sutra 1.15, दृष्ट: अनुश्रविक : विषय वितृष्णस्य वशीकार संज्ञावैराग्यम्  Patanjali turns to Vairagya (detachment) drsta anusravika visaya vitrsnasya vasikarasamjna vairagyam translated as “Renunciation is the practice of detachment from desires.” Vairagya provides for energy withdrawal inward. The first stage of Vairagya is to learn to observe oneself.

Q. 9. Explain about the effect of Nadopasana with examples as mentioned in Hatha Yoga Pradeepika.

A.9. Nadopasana is the practice of music for spiritual uplift. Worshiping the primordial sound AUM. Nada represents the life breath & Agni emanating from combination of Prana & Agni.

The God Almighty is an embodiment of Nada as -Nadatanuh, Nada Rupi, Nadatmaka, Nadalola etc.

Great Saints as Thyagrajar or Trimurthis sought Paramananda or supreme bliss through Nada and Nadopasana, by rendering compositions and highlighting their importance.

In one of his compositions, Raga Sudha Rasa, Saint Thyagraja, says, Those great souls, who have knowledge of svara, nada and pranava or omkara are ever free from all worldly bondage. He also says that the nectar of nada (the nadasudharasa) gives the nadopasaka,(the devotee of nada) the blessings of yaga (worshiping the deity through the sacred fire), Yoga (the power of concentration and balanced mental and physical health), tyaga (sacrifice or renunciation), and bhoga (joys, mundane and divine).

In another composition, Nada Loludai, Tyagaraja describes nadopasana as the path followed even by the Trimurti – Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesha – the seers and saints for the attainment of supreme bliss (parmananda).

Q. 10. How many types of Mudras are there? What are they?

A.10. There are about 399 mudras in various disciplines. In Yoga categorized under:

Hastha – Anjali Mudra, Dhyana Mudra, Vayu Mudra, Shunya Mudra, Prithvi Mudra, Varuna Mudra, Sakthi, Mudra, Prana Mudra, Apana Mudra, Chin Mudra, Yoni Mudra, Bhairava Mudra, Vishnu Mudra etc

Mana – Shambhavi Mudra, Nasikagra, Kechari Mudra,Akashi Mudra, Shanmukhi Mudra, Unmani Mudra etc

Kaya – Prana Mudra, Yoga Mudra, Pashini Mudra, Manduki Mudra etc

Bandha – Uddiyaa, Mula, Jalandhara

Adhara – Maha Mudra, Ashwini Mudra, Vajroli, Sahajoli Mudra,Maha Bheda Mudra, Maha Vedha Mudra etc