Bhakti yoga is described as the topmost yoga system. While Ashtanga yoga practiced today focuses on personal benefits from physical postures and loses the connection to the Supreme. Bhakti yoga is easier to practice as it does not require renouncing the world or difficult practices like controlling the mind and senses. Anyone can perform bhakti yoga by chanting God's names. It fosters a loving relationship with Krishna and working for His pleasure. Purification occurs more quickly in bhakti yoga. The ultimate achievement is attaining Krishna and returning to His abode, unlike other yoga systems.

1. TOPIC: “WHY ASTANGA YOGA PRACTICED IN
MODERN TIMES IS A CHEATING EXERCISE
EASE OF PRACTICING BHAKTI YOGAAND
HOW IT IS THE TOP MOST YOGA SYSTEM.”

2. • What is Ashtanga Yoga?
When jnana-yoga increases in meditation on the Supersoul by different physical processes, and
the mind is on Him, it is called astanga-yoga.
(Gita 6.47, purport)
• One has to drive out the sense objects such as sound, touch, form, taste and smell by
the pratyāhāra process in yoga, and then keep the vision of the eyes between the two eyebrows
and concentrate on the tip of the nose with half-closed lids. There is no benefit in closing the eyes
altogether, because then there is every chance of falling asleep. Nor is there benefit in opening the
eyes completely, because then there is the hazard of being attracted by sense objects. The
breathing movement is restrained within the nostrils by neutralizing the up-moving and down-
moving air within the body. By practice of such yoga one is able to gain control over the senses,
refrain from outward sense objects, and thus prepare oneself for liberation in the Supreme.

3. • Based on text 6.2, Lord Krishna mentions that yoga as
linking oneself with the Supreme and that one can never
become a yogī unless he renounces the desire for sense
gratification.
• But in the modern practice of Ashtanga yoga, the yoga
itself is practised detailing the personal benefits one
derives by performing the physical postures taught. It
never teaches about Supreme and our connection with
him but there are misguiding gurus who teach pupils that
one is god. Therefore, the concept of renouncing the
desire for sense gratification is lost.

4. • Challenges in Ashtanga yoga
In astanga yoga the practitioner has to go through different stages of eightfold yoga system. The
eightfold yoga system includes yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna
and samādhi. The process of elevation is gradual here. In Bhagavad Gita 6.11-6.14, Lord Krishna
explains how astanga yoga should be practiced.
• śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya
sthiram āsanam ātmanaḥ
nāty-ucchritaṁ nāti-nīcaṁ
cailājina-kuśottaram
• tatraikāgraṁ manaḥ kṛtvā
yata-cittendriya-kriyaḥ
upaviśyāsane yuñjyād
yogam ātma-viśuddhaye

6. • To practice yoga, one should go to a secluded place and should lay kuśa grass on the ground and
then cover it with a deerskin and a soft cloth. The seat should be neither too high nor too low and
should be situated in a sacred place. The yogī should then sit on it very firmly and practice yoga
to purify the heart by controlling his mind, senses and activities and fixing the mind on one point.
• Rules for practicing astangayoga are difficult & impractical for the present age.
• samaṁ kāya-śiro-grīvaṁ
dhārayann acalaṁ sthiraḥ
samprekṣya nāsikāgraṁ svaṁ
diśaś cānavalokayan
• praśāntātmā vigata-bhīr
brahmacāri-vrate sthitaḥ
manaḥ saṁyamya mac-citto
yukta āsīta mat-paraḥ

7. • One should hold one’s body, neck and head erect in a straight line and stare steadily at the tip of
the nose. Thus, with an unagitated, subdued mind, devoid of fear, completely free from sex life,
one should meditate upon Me within the heart and make Me the ultimate goal of life.
• Moreover, to practice astanga yoga one has to leave his home which may not be possible for all.
For women to leave home and live in a secluded place to practice astanga yoga will be very
difficult.
• Further in contrast to words mentioned by Sri Krishna though there are some yogis who practise
yoga in secluded places,trying to fix their mind without wavering, we don’t find them to have
Krishna as their object of desire. They try to act God or get lost in the process by thinking they
can become god by doing such penance. We also see how they use their yogic powers to do
magic tricks such as lifting oneselves in air etc,. Therefore, practice of such yogic practices in the
name Ashtanga Yoga is clearly not what Lord mentions in the Gita.

8. Bhakti-yoga
• Yoga is more than just physical exercise. The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root Yuj which
means to link up with, or combine. Bhakti is derived from the Sanskrit word bhaj, which means –
loving service. Bhakti-yoga means to connect to the Supreme by means of loving devotional
service.
• Bhakti-yoga focuses on developing our dedication, service and love for the Divinity, Lord Krishna.

9. Ease of practicing Bhakti yoga
1. Anyone can do Bhakti Yoga
There is no prerequisite to perform Bhakti Yoga. Men, women, young, old, Hindus, non-Hindus, Indians,
non- Indians everyone is eligible to perform Bhakti Yoga. In Bhakti Yoga the most important
requirement is that one has to chant the holy names of Krishna like the Hare Krishna Mahamantra and
follow four regulative principles of no meat eating, no gambling, no intoxication and no illicit sex.
2. Easy to Control mind and senses in Bhakti Yoga
In all the other three yoga process karma yoga, jnana yoga and astanga yoga - one has to put in a lot
of efforts for practicing sense and mind control. But in Bhakti Yoga the emphasis is not much on
sense and mind control, but the emphasis is more on using the senses and mind in serving Krishna.
Now when the senses and mind are absorbed in serving Krishna then the senses and mind
automatically gets purified. And for the practitioner of Bhakti Yoga it becomes easy to control the
purified senses and mind.

10. 3. Bhakti Yoga is about relationship with Krishna
In Jnana Yoga and Astanga Yoga the process is to renounce the world,
renounce the relationship. So, it is not pleasing to heart. But in Bhakti
Yoga the emphasis is on developing everlasting relationship with
Krishna and Krishna's devotees, so it is pleasing to the heart.
4. One works for Krishna's pleasure
In Niskama Karma Yoga, once does work just as a matter of duty
without any desire for result. But in Bhakti Yoga one does work for the
pleasure of Krishna. For example, Srila Prabhupada was always
engaged in work, but he did it for the pleasure of Krishna and so Srila
Prabhupada was always joyful. We see in Ramayana Hanuman worked
hard for Lord Rama's pleasure. Similarly, Arjuna fought the
Mahabharat war for the pleasure of Krishna.

11. 5. Krishna reveals knowledge in Bhakti yoga
Śravaṇam (hearing) and kirtanam (chanting) is important part of Bhakti Yoga. A Bhakti Yogi relishes
the pastimes of Lord Krishna and its philosophical explanation. Hearts get purified by regularly
hearing Krishna's pastimes. And gradually the knowledge is also revealed to the Bhakti Yogi that they
are souls parts and parcel of Krishna. A Bhakti Yogi gradually understands his constitutional position
as the servant of Krishna and understands that this material world is temporary. He also understands
about this world and how this world functions.
śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam
arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam
Rather than
• yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi.
9 is better than 8
The 9 step process of Bhakti Yoga is far more practical, proven, appropriate method to develop love
of Godhead than the complicated 8 step process of Ashtanga Yoga.

12. 6. Purification is easy and much quicker in Bhakti Yoga
• In Karma yoga, Jnana Yoga and Astanga Yoga purification takes lots of times, sometimes many
lifetimes. But in Bhakti Yoga one gets quickly purified especially if one gets association of pure
devotees. Mrugrari, the cruel hunter, got purified by the association of sage Narada.
Similarly, hippies who were indulging in many sinful activities got purified by the
association of Srila Prabhupada.

13. 7. In Bhakti Yoga one attains Krishna and goes back to
Krishna's abode
In Karma Yoga and Jnana Yoga one may come to the stage
of Brahman realization. So a Karma Yogi and Jnana Yogi
after leaving the body will merge into Brahman effulgence.
In Astanga Yoga one may come to the stage of Paramātmā
realization. An Astanga Yogi as per his consciousness gets
the next destination after leaving the body. But it is only in
Bhakti Yoga that one may have Bhagavan realization.
Bhagavan realization is topmost, and it includes Brahman
and Paramātmā realization. A Bhakti Yogi can only attain
Krishna and return back to Krishna's abode, Goloka
Vrindavan.

14. Bhakti yoga is the top most
Srila Prabhupada explains, "The culmination of all kinds of yoga practices lies in bhakti yoga. All
other yogas are but means to come to the point of bhakti in bhakti-yoga.
Yoga actually means bhakti-yoga; all other yogas are progressions toward the destination of bhakti-
yoga."Bhagavad Gita 6.47 purport.

15. • The path of bhakti-yoga is developed through a variety of activities. These include mantra
meditation, or the chanting of the names of God. The chanting is done either individually on
beads (japa) or in community by chanting mantras accompanied by music (kirtan). The study of
sacred texts such as the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, associating with like-minded
spiritual aspirants, eating sanctified vegetarian food, and living in a way that upholds the
principles of truthfulness, mercy, austerity, and cleanliness, are all core practices for a life of
follower of bhakti.
• Srila Prabhupada has repeatedly said that bhakti yoga is not meant only for a particular section of
people. It is a science of self realization. Our faith can change, our eternal identity cannot.
Bhagavad Gita helps us uncover our real identity. We have falsely identified ourselves with
bodies but bodies are temporary and will vanish in due course of time, we will not. We are eternal
and our constitutional position is to be engaged in loving devotional service of God, or Lord
Krishna. This is the lesson and lifestyle one learns in bhakti yoga. Let the world joyfully embrace
this sublime teachings and become peaceful and happy.