The Sanskrit word raja means king or royal. It is the King of Yogas. Raja yoga focuses on attaining enlightenment through meditation and energetics. In this form of yoga, the yogi sits in a meditative pose and silences their mind by restraining the wayward thoughts, and eventually enters into a thoughtless state. Swami Swatmarma in Hatha Yoga Pradipika says the aim of Hatha Yoga (physical form of yoga) is to attain Raja Yoga. It means the asanas and pranayama we practice have the ultimate purpose to build a foundation for raja yoga practice.

1. RAJA YOGA
BY DR SHIVAM MISHRA
DR SHIVAM MISHRA ( WWW.SKMYOGA.COM)

2. RAJA YOGA
 The Sanskrit word raja means king or royal. It is the King of Yogas. Raja yoga focuses on attaining
enlightenment through meditation and energetics. In this form of yoga, the yogi sits in a meditative pose
and silences their mind by restraining the wayward thoughts, and eventually enters into a thoughtless
state.
 Swami Swatmarama in Hatha Yoga Pradipika says the aim of Hatha Yoga (physical form of yoga) is to
attain Raja Yoga. It means the asanas and pranayama we practice have the ultimate purpose to build a
foundation for raja yoga practice.
 Raja Yoga follows a dualistic philosophy of differentiating the self from absolute reality, however, it
eventually makes the yogi take the path of self-realization. By working through the mind, the practice of
Raja Yoga paves a way to discipline, self-control, concentration, mental peace, and inner joy. It is a
unique form of yoga where one doesn’t need any mantras or rituals to be followed and can be practised
anytime and anywhere.
 Raja Yoga was popularized by Swami Vivekananda who put it at par with Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It is
noteworthy to mention here that Raja Yoga has been mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita as one of the
paths to enlightenment but has been used as another name for enlightenment. But over time, with the
efforts of some notable scholars, Raja Yoga got recognition as a separate path and is now counted as
one of the 4 paths of yoga.
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3. ASHTANGA VS RAJA YOGA
 Ideally, there is no difference between Ashtanga Yoga and Raja Yoga and they can be used
interchangeably. The concept of Raja Yoga follows the principles of eight-limb yoga or Ashtanga Yoga
that was compiled by Patanjali. By practising the eight-limb yoga, the practitioner can reach an
enlightened state of consciousness or samadhi.
 The following are the eight limbs of Raja Yoga:
1. Yamas (self-control or restraints) – ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness) asteya (non-
stealing), brahmacharya (chastity) and aparigraha (non-possessiveness).
2. Niyamas (discipline or observance) – saucha (purity), santosha (contentment), tapas (self-
discipline), svadhyaya (self-study), ishvarapranidhana (devotion or surrender).
3. Asana (physical poses or exercise)
4. Pranayama (controlled breathing exercise)
5. Pratyahara (sense withdrawal from external objects)
6. Dharana (concentration)
7. Dhyana (meditation)
8. Samadhi (complete realization or super consciousness)
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4. RAJAYOGA :-YOGAOF MIND
 Raja yoga is mainly concerned with following a path of self-discipline and practice. Just like how a king
acts independently, with self-confidence and assurance, in the same way, practising Raja Yoga will
make the practitioner autonomous, independent and fearless.
 This ancient system of meditation helps us achieve a higher state of consciousness by bringing back the
state of inner peace and reviving the good qualities and virtues inside us. You are adopting methods to
control your mind and opening it to find self-awareness, true peace, and happiness.
 With a calm and controlled mind, you will have a good relationship, will do the right things, and focus on
correcting the self rather than others; fostering healthy mental well-being. Your body will automatically
relax and your focus will be on the mind rather than the matter. You will see a shift in the way you view
yourself and have a deep understanding of the connection between the Self and the Supreme Power.
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5. THE 5 STAGESOF MIND
 Since Raja Yoga involves using the mind, practising one-pointed concentration (Dharna) is an essential
premise before starting the Raja Yoga meditation. Holding one thought for a longer period will not only
strengthen the mind but will make the mind one-pointed. The fewer the thoughts, the more peace you
will have.
 In Patanjali’s yoga sutra, the mind is said to move through 5 states in general. These are;
1. Kshipta – the mind is in a scattered state
2. Mudha – the dull and forgetful state of mind
3. Vikshipta – concentrated yet a mildly scattered state of mind
4. Ekagra – prolonged practice makes the mind one-pointed; focused or meditative state of mind
5. Niruddha – fully controlled state of mind
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6. HOWTO PRACTICE RAJAYOGA MEDITATION?
 Raja yoga meditation is not much different from any other meditation style. You meditate with open eyes
while engaging your mind to experience inner peace and freedom. The unique Raja Yoga meditation
technique will make your mind your best friend, change your viewpoint, and help you better connect
your ‘self’ to the higher power.
 Here are the steps of Raja Yoga Meditation.
 Locate a peaceful space
 Meditation is best done in a calm and peaceful environment. It can be a room in your house, your
garden, or your backyard, a place with no distractions will be beneficial. Also, it is recommended that
you practice meditation at dawn when the noise is less and the air is fresh. The peace and tranquility will
help you throughout the day.
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7.  Sit in a comfortable position
 A position where you can relax and it for a longer duration is of utmost importance. If you’re
uncomfortable, your meditation practice will be hampered frequently and your mind will not be able to
concentrate. Sitting crossed-leg on the ground is the best way to get into a meditative state.
 You can also use a rolled blanket or a cushion to support your posture or if need be, sit on a chair. The
ultimate goal is to feel stable and comfortable to carry on with the meditation without constant fidgeting.
 3. Bring your mind to the present
 While most meditation is done with closed eyes, Raja Yoga instructs you to open your eyes and
concentrate on a focal point. You can focus on a vase, a pen stand, a flower, a strand of grass, a
drawing on the wall, or a candle flame. By focusing, you will slowly be able to withdraw your senses
from everything around you. You will be either focusing on your breathing rhythm or the chosen focal
point.
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8.  Channelize your thoughts
 When you are building your concentration, you will have multiple thoughts running around your mind,
which is a natural process of the brain. You should not put effort into reflecting on them, rather
acknowledge them and let them pass. Each time a thought comes up, let them pass and come back to
your point of focus. Here, patience is the key!
 5. Pick a positive thought
 In the myriad of thoughts that are coming up, you need to create a peaceful thought on which you can
meditate. The thought can either be related to a situation you are currently facing or a general thought
that will instill positivity. For example ‘I am a peaceful soul’, ‘I will not let my worry control me’ or ‘I am
happy with my life’ etc.
 You will slowly start to notice that this thought is making you feel refreshed and radiating through your
entire being. It will ultimately lead to the path of understanding and realization. You may still face the
onslaught of a few distracting thoughts, but you should let them pass and continue meditating on your
positive thought.
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9.  Keep the feeling of peace
 Once you have finished the meditation, maintain the peaceful feeling you gained from the positive
thought. As you go through your day with that tranquility, you will find it easy to overcome any situation
or challenge. And if at any point in time you feel like you are losing your peaceful state, take out some
time to again meditate on a positive thought.
 You can start by practicing this meditation technique for at least 20 minutes a day. However, this time
frame doesn’t mean that you should rush with it. Meditation is very subjective and different people will
take different time to adjust. Have the patience to build your mental strength.
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10. BENEFITSOF RAJAYOGA MEDITATION
 Reduces stress and anxiety
 Other forms of yoga mostly deal with controlled breathing exercises for better mental well-being
whereas Raja Yoga deals with managing and controlling the mind. When the mind is in a state of
calmness, you will be in better control of your emotions and thoughts. You will be able to control your
outburst and reaction in stressful situations.
 2. Diminishes negative habits
 The Raja Yoga meditation invokes positive qualities like happiness, bliss, knowledge, peace, love,
calmness, and power. The positivity will encourage the mind to think in the right direction and remove
negative thoughts and patterns from the inside. With everything going in the right direction, the negative
habits will automatically be eradicated from your life.
 3.The mind becomes clear and focused
 When practising Raja Yoga meditation, you are required to let go of distracting thoughts and encourage
sitting in silence. By removing the clutter in the mind, you can have clarity of mind and become more
focused in life. It also helps with finding the reason and purpose of life.
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11.  Increased memory and concentration
 When you stay in the present, you are essentially helping yourself in enhancing your memory and
concentration. Raja Yoga meditation encourages you to stay in the present by practising open-eye
meditation and focusing on a particular point. The mind’s one-pointedness aids in adding value to the
work and provides us with a better result.
 5. Improved quality of sleep
 You tend to lose sleep when your mind is in chaos or you are experiencing anxiety or stress. Through
Raja Yoga meditation, you are training your mind to think positively and focus on the right thoughts. This
helps in calming your mind and clearing negative thoughts and improving the quality of sleep.
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12. CONCLUSION
 With the help of Raja Yoga, you will learn to appreciate silence and learn how to live with respect,
dignity, and trust. Even though it is a complex form of yoga, in its essence it is a form of union of the
mind-body-soul. It is a reminder that we are one with the Supreme Power and Raja Yoga is the way to
purify our mind and soul to bring forth the beauty and divinity of the Self.
DR SHIVAM MISHRA ( WWW.SKMYOGA.COM)