HISTORY OF YOGA
The actual origins of Yoga are lost in the annals of time. Stories tell of Shiva teaching the rishis the practice of yoga including thousands of yoga postures, which were then passed on through generations by oral teaching. But the physical aspects of yoga were subsidiary to the philosophical and spiritual teachings.
The ancient seers were not bound by concepts of gods, superstition or idolatry. The foundation of the original teachings seems to suggest `a sense of the Divine in all as the Self of all beings` (David Frawley – Wisdom of the Ancient Seers). This non-dual concept is now known as Advaita.
In general the development of yoga is divided into a number of eras corresponding with particular developments in Indian cultural and religious life.
From the very beginning of human society we have evidence of activities and rituals that recognized man`s connections with forces of nature. This became the root of a continuing `animist` and Shaivite tradition which has waxed and waned since time immemorial to the present day. Although not a physical practice like modern ideas of yoga, this ancient wisdom of subtle forces, balanced energies and our links with natural rhythms is still central in our understanding of yoga. It is likely that the Puranas, stories of the mythology were being created.
Pre-Vedic Age 6.500-4.500 BCE. Archaeological findings of figures seated in meditation poses, and oral teachings that perhaps existed for hundreds of years before being written down during this time, suggest that with early urbanization and the growth of towns in the early Neolithic period the basic teachings of yoga were already becoming laid down.
Vedic Age 4,500 – 2,500 BCE The major writings defining the wisdom traditions, the Vedas, date from this period. The Rig Veda is thought to be the oldest and is a series of Sanskrit hymns of mythology, philosophy and religion. Other Vedas are Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. The Ayur Veda also from this period is concerned with health and lifestyle.
Brahmanical Age 2,500 – 1,500 BCE Urban society became more organized and the caste system developed. The priestly cast increasingly dominated Vedic culture suppressing much of the early Shaivite, animist tradition. The Brahmana writings date from this period and are concerned with theology, mythology and ritual. The Aranyakas were texts of ritual for forest dwelling ascetics.
Upanishadic Age 1,500 – 1,000 BCE. The Upanishads are sacred scriptures designed to be studied, debated and understood in a more accessible way than the Vedas.
Epic Age 1,000 – 100BCE. Developments in this period saw further development of religio-philosphical ideas, leading to establishing teachings of Yoga and the system known as Samkhya. Jainism and Buddhism developed.
Classical Age 100 BCE - 500CE. The Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali, (including the 8 step astanga of Yoga), the Brahma-Sutra of Badarayana, and Samkhya-Karika of Ishvara Krishna were written in this period.
Tantric/Puranic Age 500 – 1,300CE Tantra created a yoga for the current age of Kali (the dark age) incorporating ancient animistic popular ideas and rituals along with new ideas and ideals which included renewed recognition of the feminine force known as Shakti.
Sectarian Age 1,300 – 1,700CE Recognition of the feminine principle lead to the development of Bhakti yoga – the yoga of devotion and still the most popular aspect of Hindu practice. This period marks the increasing impact of colonialization by Christian European nations.
Modern Age 700 –1950sCE. In spite of cultural violence by colonisers and Christian missionaries, Hinduism remains the main religio-philosphical system across India. In the 19th C Hindu spirituality became increasingly studied by western scholars. Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 lit a touch paper of world interest in Hindu wisdom, Yoga and the teachings of Vedanta. About the same time the physical benefits of the yoga style of exercise began to develop and spread into the mainstream Physical Culture movement.
1950-present. In our increasingly secular world, and one where physical fitness and health have become `big business` it might be thought that modern Yoga has lost its spiritual roots. Certainly there has been a divergence between `fitness` yoga where any hint at spirituality is denied, and the astanga (8 limbed) yoga of Patanjali, or the Raja (meditation) yoga of the great spiritual teachers of all ages.
Like all great ideas Yoga will continue to grow, develop and react to changing circumstances in the world. The ethical basis of Yoga, the Sanatan Dharma (Eternal Truths) will indeed be eternal.
The actual origins of Yoga are lost in the annals of time. Stories tell of Shiva teaching the rishis the practice of yoga including thousands of yoga postures, which were then passed on through generations by oral teaching. But the physical aspects of yoga were subsidiary to the philosophical and spiritual teachings.
The ancient seers were not bound by concepts of gods, superstition or idolatry. The foundation of the original teachings seems to suggest `a sense of the Divine in all as the Self of all beings` (David Frawley – Wisdom of the Ancient Seers). This non-dual concept is now known as Advaita.
In general the development of yoga is divided into a number of eras corresponding with particular developments in Indian cultural and religious life.
From the very beginning of human society we have evidence of activities and rituals that recognized man`s connections with forces of nature. This became the root of a continuing `animist` and Shaivite tradition which has waxed and waned since time immemorial to the present day. Although not a physical practice like modern ideas of yoga, this ancient wisdom of subtle forces, balanced energies and our links with natural rhythms is still central in our understanding of yoga. It is likely that the Puranas, stories of the mythology were being created.
Pre-Vedic Age 6.500-4.500 BCE. Archaeological findings of figures seated in meditation poses, and oral teachings that perhaps existed for hundreds of years before being written down during this time, suggest that with early urbanization and the growth of towns in the early Neolithic period the basic teachings of yoga were already becoming laid down.
Vedic Age 4,500 – 2,500 BCE The major writings defining the wisdom traditions, the Vedas, date from this period. The Rig Veda is thought to be the oldest and is a series of Sanskrit hymns of mythology, philosophy and religion. Other Vedas are Yajur Veda, Sama Veda and Atharva Veda. The Ayur Veda also from this period is concerned with health and lifestyle.
Brahmanical Age 2,500 – 1,500 BCE Urban society became more organized and the caste system developed. The priestly cast increasingly dominated Vedic culture suppressing much of the early Shaivite, animist tradition. The Brahmana writings date from this period and are concerned with theology, mythology and ritual. The Aranyakas were texts of ritual for forest dwelling ascetics.
Upanishadic Age 1,500 – 1,000 BCE. The Upanishads are sacred scriptures designed to be studied, debated and understood in a more accessible way than the Vedas.
Epic Age 1,000 – 100BCE. Developments in this period saw further development of religio-philosphical ideas, leading to establishing teachings of Yoga and the system known as Samkhya. Jainism and Buddhism developed.
Classical Age 100 BCE - 500CE. The Yoga-Sutras of Patanjali, (including the 8 step astanga of Yoga), the Brahma-Sutra of Badarayana, and Samkhya-Karika of Ishvara Krishna were written in this period.
Tantric/Puranic Age 500 – 1,300CE Tantra created a yoga for the current age of Kali (the dark age) incorporating ancient animistic popular ideas and rituals along with new ideas and ideals which included renewed recognition of the feminine force known as Shakti.
Sectarian Age 1,300 – 1,700CE Recognition of the feminine principle lead to the development of Bhakti yoga – the yoga of devotion and still the most popular aspect of Hindu practice. This period marks the increasing impact of colonialization by Christian European nations.
Modern Age 700 –1950sCE. In spite of cultural violence by colonisers and Christian missionaries, Hinduism remains the main religio-philosphical system across India. In the 19th C Hindu spirituality became increasingly studied by western scholars. Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 lit a touch paper of world interest in Hindu wisdom, Yoga and the teachings of Vedanta. About the same time the physical benefits of the yoga style of exercise began to develop and spread into the mainstream Physical Culture movement.
1950-present. In our increasingly secular world, and one where physical fitness and health have become `big business` it might be thought that modern Yoga has lost its spiritual roots. Certainly there has been a divergence between `fitness` yoga where any hint at spirituality is denied, and the astanga (8 limbed) yoga of Patanjali, or the Raja (meditation) yoga of the great spiritual teachers of all ages.
Like all great ideas Yoga will continue to grow, develop and react to changing circumstances in the world. The ethical basis of Yoga, the Sanatan Dharma (Eternal Truths) will indeed be eternal.
