Two Yoga Samhitas

This ebook is a compilation of two classical yogic texts Gheranda Samhita and Goraksha Samhita. A brief introduction to them is given below. About Gheranda SamhitaGheraṇda Samhita is a classical yogic text. Its author is Sage Gheraṇda. The form of yoga he taught in Gheraṇda Samhita is called Ghatastha Yoga. Initially, it deals with the body, prana and the mind through various yogic practices step by step and finally, leads to Atmajñana (knowledge of the Self). What is Ghatastha Yoga? It simply means body based yoga (ghata - body, stha -based, yoga - yoga). In this body as ghata abide prana (the vital energy), mind (with its four components) and five senses, heart (feeling, emotion, attachment) and an independent atma (the Self which is regarded as the source and support of all beings). Therefore, according to Sage Gheraṇda Ghatastha Yoga begins with the body, creates balance and harmony on the pranic, mental and emotional levels for higher level of awakening and finally, leads to samadhi, the Self-realization which is the ultimate goal of human life. About Goraksha Samhita The name of the great Yogi Goraksanatha is not unfamiliar at all. He is a highly acknowledged and honored Siddha Yogi, renowned by spiritual masters in the past and present. His name is mentioned by Svami Svatmarama in his classical text Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Chapter One, Verses 4 and 5). He is also one of the yogis mentioned in the Puranas and yogic texts. He is well known as Guru Gorakhanatha, and a highly respected, revered and worshipped spiritual master in India and Nepal. The followers of the Natha Tradition worship him as the incarnation of Lord Siva, and say that the nine Nathas and eighty-four Siddhas belong to Adinatha, Lord Siva. So, he is also called Siva Goraksa, the founder of the Natha Siddha tradition. Originally, the science of Hatha Yoga was discovered for the expansion and evolution of human consciousness, and for the accomplishment of the ultimate goal of human life and yoga, moksa (liberation) and samadhi (the super conscious state), respectively. According to Goraksa Samhita, the objective of Hatha Yoga is to create a harmonious balance between the physical body, prana (the vital energy) and the mind. It is said that when the impulses generated by this harmonious balance stimulate the awakening of the Kuṇdali Sakti, only then is the evolution of consciousness or union between Siva and Sakti possible. This accomplishment is the sole objective of the teaching of Goraksa Samhita by Guru Goraksanatha. It is hoped that this compilation will be helpful to all yoga lovers, yoga sadhakas, yoga teachers and yoga professionals to understand the traditional yoga, its objective and practice for attaining peace, harmony and spiritual development for one and all.