Yoga - Historical Background

The creation of Vedas is credited to Brahman the Supreme God. According to tradition, Vyasa Maharishi complied Vedas in Sanskrit and later skillfully translated by Rishis/Sages/Scholars into different Indian languages. Vedas are a collection of religious texts and are the foundation of Hindu mythology. Hindus believe that Veda texts are of Divine origin. Vedas are - Rigveda, Yadhurvanaveda, Somaveda and Adharvanaveda. Taking into account time recycling Vyasa Maharishi also wrote in Sanskrit division of time as Yugas-  krutha yugam, (Sathya yugam),  Treatha yugam, Dwapara yugam and Kaliyugam. Upanishads, Ramayana, Mahabharatham, Bagavatham, and Bhagavad Gita emerged from the Vedas.

Yoga is an ancient Indian Cultural heritage derived from Vedas which dates back to 3000 – 1900 B.C and also theological discoveries confirmed that many forms of yoga are present in Chinese and Malavan Culture. Yoga Shashram originated from Veda during Krutha yugam and thereafter was practiced in different nations in different forms and greater scale in India as its originating country. People during Krutha Yugam with orthodox philosophy in nature believed to reach Heaven (Swargam) after death. Yoga is a means to attain their life ambition. Yoga means “ Liberation of Soul “ through perfection to unite with Bramham, the Supreme God, or to unite with the universe or penetrate the mind in the infinite. This stage is called SAMADI otherwise known as Jeevanamukthi for which there is no rebirth. So people practiced yoga as a means to unite Athma (self) to Paramathma. When a person attains equanimity of mind for whom happy and sorry, good and bad, heat and cold are alike. Such a person does not require breathing as he can keep away all external elements such as air, water, food, and sound and remain unaffected and keep in Divine Bliss. This state of mind is achieved by practicing one of the yoga systems.