The founder of yoga - Hiranyagarbha

The founder of yoga - Hiranyagarbha

Many yoga students consider Patanjali to be the father of yoga - however, Patanjali was a sage who compiled the Yoga Sutras and adopted various ideas about yoga that had come before, such as Ashtanga or the eight-limbed path. It is more useful to view Patanjali and his teachings as a gateway to older, older teachings.

The ancient texts tell us that the original founder of Yoga Dharshana (yoga vision or philosophy) was Hiranyagarbha, which means the golden embryo in Sanskrit. This is stated most importantly in the Bhagavad Geeta, the most important text of the Mahabharata.

According to certain lineages, the chief disciple of Hiranyagarbha is the sage Vasishta, who is responsible for the Yoga Vasishta, considered one of the greatest writings on yoga philosophy.

The Yoga Vasishta incorporates ideas from Yoga philosophy, Samkhya philosophy, Jain philosophy, Buddhism and Vedanta. The text is a discourse between Vasishta and Rama and is said to have been written before the Ramayana. It is also said to be one of the most important scriptures related to yoga.

There is a specific belief that one can achieve spiritual enlightenment by simply reciting the verses of Yoga Vasishta.

The book's dialogue is Rama as a spiritual seeker on the path to enlightenment, speaking to the great enlightened sage Vasishta. When you read the conversation, you also read the direct path to the truth.

A very important concept - Vairagya in Sanskrit - or detachment is used as a starting point for explaining the philosophy.

The Yoga Vasishta describes seven stages to enlightenment. The first is subheccha or longing for the truth. The second is Vicarana or proper inquiry. The third is Tanumanasa or slowing down of mental activities. The fourth is Sattvapatti or attainment of truth. The fifth is Asamsakti, where the yogi performs his duties or dharmas without the feeling of attachment to them or expectation of them. The sixth is Padartha Abhavana, where the yogi sees Brahman and unity everywhere. Eventually the yogi attains turiya or permanent samadhi or enlightenment

Some now come back to the founder of yoga and say that the ancient texts - the Vedas, the Upanishads, etc. - refer to Hiranyagarbha as God himself.

In the Rigveda, Hiranyagarbha is described as the god of gods and mentions that there is no one who accepts him. Ancient scriptures also call him Brahman or the soul of the universe.