Yoga in the Mythology

1. Yoga in the Mythology: Puranas

2. Yoga in the Mythology: Puranas
The Puranas are a group of sacred writings which contain a wealth of mythological,
historical, philosophical, ritualistic, scientific and not least yogic traditions. Ideally a
Purana – the word means ‘ancient’ –should deal with five topics:
• sarga – creation
• pratisarga – dissolution
• vamsa – genealogy (of gods and saints)
• manvantara –description of the word – ages
• vamsa –anucarita – genealogy of kings
Most of the important puranas deal with Yoga in a more or less detailed manner,
e.g. the Visnu, Bhagavata, Markandeya, Agni, Matsya, Garuda, Siva, Bhagavata,
Markandeya and the Garuda Purana.

3. Yoga in the Mythology: Puranas
Siva Purana
The Siva purana speaks of three types of yogis who worship Siva:
• kriya yogi – who is engaged in sacred rites
• tapo yogi – who desists from hurting others and practices sense withdrawal and
also performs various kinds of worship;
• Japa yogi – who always performs japa (recitation) and is free from all desires and
maintains all the observances of the other two types as well. Japa is practised
with the five syllable mantra of Siva: namah Sivaya, homage to Siva.
Elsewhere in this text five divisions of yoga are mentioned:
• mantra yoga – concentration on the meaning of the mantra

4. Yoga in the Mythology: Puranas
• sparsa yoga – as above plus the practice of the control of the life force
(pranayama)
• bhava yoga – the recitation of the mantra is dropped
• abhava yoga – the universe is contemplated
• maha yoga – the nature of Siva is contemplated.
Bhagavata Purana
The yoga enunciated in the Bhagavata Purana follows closely the theistic line of the
Bhagavad Gita. Yoga is primarily the wholehearted contemplation of the supreme
Narayana or Krsna, who is considered the supreme refuge of yoga. Krsna is depicted
as outlining the method of this yoga. From this description it is evidence that this
particular teaching incorporates a good deal of breathing techniques, characteristic

5. Yoga in the Mythology: Puranas
• A triple yoga is taught: jnana is valuated higher than karma which is meant for all
those who have not yet acquired perfect distaste for worldly objects.
Markandeya Purana
Yoga is also dealt with in the Markandeya purana which speaks in detail about the
qualities of a person suitable for yoga and the environmental conditions necessary
of success in its practice. The body is recognized as an important instrument for
making spiritual progress. According to the text the mark of perfection in yogi is
that sat in which no being fears him, nor does he fear others. The yogis are
subdivided according to the predomi nance of either of the three gunas. They are
also distinguished by their achievement on the path.

6. Yoga in the Mythology: Puranas
• Pratibha – stage – the yoga
comprehends all the sacred
scriptures and others branches of
knowledge
• sravanda – stage – he known all
the whorls and their meaning
• daiva – stage – he perceives
everything including the deities
• bhrama – stage – his mind is fickle
and without proper support which
impedes his progress.