Aryans who entered India [-1500] had polytheistic religion {Hinduism}.
truth
Truth cannot use words, images, or things, only personal experience. Finding true reality requires human endeavor.
universe
Universe is product of divine will and desire of the One to become many. The world body contains upper, middle, and lower regions. Upper region {garuda} has multitude of heavens, with celestial musicians, female apsarases, and bird-like atmosphere gods. Heavens have rulers {Indra, ruler}. Souls earn merit and abide in heaven as gods during time between reincarnations. Middle region has man and beasts. Lower world contains Dravidian fertility gods who attend Shiva and Kubera, titans, ghosts, monsters, goblins, and water gods appearing as serpents.
holidays
Saraswati Puja honors Saraswati, goddess of learning and fine arts, on 5th day of new moon in January or February.
Holi is advent of spring, dedicated to Kama, god of love, on full moon in March. People spray colored powders and waters.
Sivaratri honors Shiva, on 14th day of new moon in March.
Janmastami is birthday of Krishna, 8th day of new moon in July or August.
In west India, Ganesh Chaturthi or Coconut Day is in honor of Ganesh, in August or September. In Bengal, Durga Puja is triumph of good over evil, in September or October. In north India, Dussera is Rama's victory over Ravana, in September or October.
Dewali or Festival of Lights is Rama's return from exile, after victory over Ravana, in October or November.
treasures
Hinduism has six treasures. First, mental quiet, then sense restraint, then end to sense qualities, then endurance, then concentration, and then perfect faith. People should master their minds and bodies, to eliminate all outside influences.
life
Hinduism identifies four areas of human life: artha, kama, dharma, and moksa. In Hinduism, life is ascetic, monastic, and meditative. There are periods of praying, yoga, daily rituals, and worship.
life: stages
In Hinduism, life has four stages: student, householder, retirement for meditation, and poor sage. The first two stages require the first three life-area skills, such as living in village and participating in civilization. After performing all duties, finishing raising family, and losing skill in craft, retirement to the forest is third life stage. In old age, people concentrate on self and need skills of the fourth life stage to prepare for death.
duty and reward
In Hinduism, people should do their duty, without need for reward. People should be indifferent.
ritual
In Hinduism, taking part in ritual acts, such as weddings or traditional crafts, gains solemnity and higher sense of life.
One should live one's proper dharma perfectly {Act of Truth}. Perfect faith and wisdom have power to accomplish magic. People gain satisfaction from duty and participating in the Law.
Villages had practitioners {vaidya} of Herbal Medicine {ayurveda}.
religious or meditation teacher {guru, Hinduism}.
health {egg symbol}.
Phallic shape {lingam} is symbol of Shiva.
eternity {lotus symbol}.
Ritual syllable OM or AUM, meaning silence, expresses the four consciousness states in its four Sanskrit letters {OM} (AUM).
The five arrows {Panca Sayaka} represent the five senses. Devi Lalithambika holds five arrows representing the five tanmatras or subtle elements.
Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva {trimurti}.
Hinduism has gods {Hindu gods} {gods, Hinduism}.
Aditi is equivalent to Rhea.
Adityas are twelve minor sun gods who rule the months.
Agni is god of fire or sacrificial fire. Agni in Sanskrit, ignis in Latin, and ogon' in Russian all mean fire.
Ananga is Kama as bodyless, and so is about abstract love.
Asvins or Divine Physicians are Nasatya and Dasra, twin sons of Saranyu, goddess of Dawn, and Surya, god of Sun.
Atman is Self as Creator. Brahma is the Creator.
Brahmanaspati, Brhaspati, or Brihaspati is god of prayer and ritual devotion, and guru to Indra.
Devi is Mother Goddess.
Dyaus Pita is sky or Father Heaven and is like Zeus in Greek, Jupiter in Roman, and Tyr in German mythology.
Ganesa is Lord of Hosts, Shiva's son, guide of the soul, and breaker of the way.
Indra, god of thunderbolt and war, is king of the gods and slew Vrtra. Indra is like Zeus in Greek mythology.
Kala is the Absolute.
Kali is Sakti, the Black Goddess, the Great Power, or the Mother.
Kama is god of Love.
Krishna (black), Dark One, or Govinda is prophet of the Bhagavadgita and is the same as Vishnu.
Kundalini is the primal World Force in selves.
Manu is ancestor of man.
Maruts are storm-beings.
Matsyakanya, Satyavathi Devi, or Anantha Lakshmi is mermaid.
Mitra is god of friendship and alliances. Mitra is like Mithra in Persia.
Namuci is the cosmic magician: "He who does not let go".
Padma is Mother Goddess.
Parvathi or Sakti is consort of Shiva.
Prajapati is life-force itself, the need to create, the need not to be alone, and "Lord of Creatures".
Prithivi is the earth.
Pushan or Puchan is god of meeting.
Rati is mate of Kama and is goddess of sensual delight.
Rbhus are craftsmen.
Rudra is god of storm and wind, and sometimes death as part of Shiva.
Sakti is goddess of time, eternal power, and consort of the gods.
Savitar is sun as life-giver.
Shiva or Siva is god of eternity or universe, the destroyer, the cosmic dancer, and master yogi.
Soma is sacred potion or sacred plant itself.
Surya is sun god. Surya is like Apollo in Greek mythology.
Ushas is the dawn. Ushas is like Eos in Greek and Aurora in Roman mythology.
Varuna is god of the dead and one of the Adityas. Varuna is like Uranus in Greek mythology.
Vac is the word.
Vasanta is Spring.
The sage Vasudeva is father of Krishna and Balarama and had Devaki and Rohini as consorts.
Vayu is the wind.
Vishnu is the preserver, supreme god in Upanishads.
Vishvadevas are all gods.
India clans have an ancestor {Bharata}.
Creator {Brahma} lives one hundred years of Brahma. Brahma created Kumara.
Gods have a king {Indra, king of gods}.
Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara {Kumara} are four spiritual beings that must be also material.
Ramayana has a hero {Rama}.
King of underworld has a messenger {Yamdoot}.
People are now in the fourth and worse World Age, Kali Yuga, of present time cycle {Hindu ages}.
Each of the 14 eons {Manvantara} has Manu: Svayambhuva Manu, Svaracisa Manu, Uttama Manu, Tamasa Manu, Raivata Manu, Caksusa Manu, Vaivasvata Manu or Manu Vaivasvate, Savarni Manu, Daksa Savarni Manu, Brahma Savarni Manu, Dharma Savarni Manu, Rudra Savarni Manu, Deva Savarni Manu, Indra Savarni Manu. Current eon is the seventh {Vaivasvata Manu}. One mahayuga has four ages {yuga}. One Manvantara has 71 mahayugas. After Manvantara is Sandhi Kala.
The four ages {Yuga} are Kali Yuga or Iron Age [began -3102], Dwapar Yuga, Treta Yuga, and Satya Yuga or Krita Yuga, the last age.
The Word {verbum} is reality {panlinguistic monist}, as both language and world. Sanskrit grammarians developed this philosophy.
Shad Darshanas or Shad Darsanas {Six Systems} {Six Schools} are the six sides of orthodox Hinduism: Samkhya or Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa or Purva Mimamsa [250], Vedanta or Uttara Mimamsa, Vaisesika or Vaiseshika, and Nyaya.
Vedas {Vaidika} {Vedic philosophy} contain search for underlying unity of universe.
many
The physical world contains antagonistic forces, which nonetheless need and depend on each other. Good and evil derive meaning from their differences. Existence derives meaning from non-existence. Thus, all shapes and forms depend on, and relate to, each other.
one
Essence or One has diversified and become dynamic, balanced, and full of opposites. The One can become many and still be one.
body
Vedic philosophy identifies body parts and functions with universe parts and functions. Universe and human has same inner form. Universe and human are parts of unity. People natures and fates link to cosmos nature and fate.
sacrifice
Ritual of sacrifice is about link between universe and human.
personality
Vedic philosophy searches for the basis of personality. People have motivation, have animation, sustain themselves, and have inner nature. Knowing true and real Essence can bring power, magic, courage, peace, happiness, eternal life, and/or strength. By going inward to inner consciousness, people can escape from fear, pain, and death in world.
gods
Gods possess knowledge of true Essence and so have power. Gods possess powers of self-transformation or self-transmutation but only in certain ways and into certain forms. People can personally contact these powers through gods and thus gain powers themselves.
Hinduism {Agama Hindu Dharma} can be in Bali and among Tenggerese people of east Java.
Hinduism has an important book {Bhagavadgita}.
detachment
People should do all things as duties or rituals {detachment, Hinduism}, because everything is deterministic. People should not do things to reach goals or satisfy wants. People should not act as agents. People should do and think only of act itself, not of consequences or effects. People should keep on acting but should act selflessly. Austerity, alms, and offerings are duties and should not have feelings of sacrifice, pride, or reservations.
self
Self is the same as the One. Bodily changes, feeling, will, desire, rewards, or punishments should not affect Self.
transformation
All things are only temporary, formed by transformations of the One in playful dream-like foreordained games, dances, or illusions. Divine power produces all things by its transformations.
unity
The One is Creator, Maintainer, and Destroyer of universe. The One is indifferent to humans and all desires and attachments.
karma yoga
Yoga of Selfless Action {karma yoga} concentrates on one's inner Self, because One and Self are same thing. Because all arises from the One, people should surrender to, and merge with, the One. People should do their duty and perform the work of the One in the world.
Krishna
In Bhagavadgita, Krishna (Dark One), in human form, persuades prince to return to duty as soldier and leader.
Jayanta [880] wrote Nyayamanjari, about a system {Kusumanjali}. Gangesa [1200] wrote Tattvacintamani about Navya-Nyaya school in Navadvipa, Bengal. Annambhatta [1650] wrote Tarkasngraha. Visvanatha [1650] wrote Karikavali or Bhasa-pariccheda, with commentaries Dipika and Siddhanta-muktavali (Principles of Muktavali).
The Six Systems of Hinduism have an oldest system {Samkhya} {Sankhya}.
duality
World and human nature are separate. The world of matter {praktri, Samkhya} is completely separate from the infinite number of light-like conscious eternal selves {purusa, Samkhya}.
duality: matter
Matter is one thing but manifests itself in three gunas: tamas is inertia or tiredness, rajas is activity or pain, and sattva is harmony, tension, or pleasure.
duality: self
Self that associates with matter binds to the samsara endless round of birth and death. To disassociate Self from all matter, one can follow stages through proper techniques. Yoga can stop mind's spontaneous activities. Mind has ability to transform itself into whatever it senses, feels, or remembers, and always does so. Yoga can end restless transformations, which fix on the unreal. Yoga stills all senses, emotions, and thoughts and instead substitutes concentration on innermost being. Ending restless transformations reveals inner self.
cause and effect
Cause and effect are one. Effects re-form causes.
human body
Body has five senses, brain, life span, strength, breathing, intuition, and ego or consciousness.
knowledge hindrances
Five hindrances block true knowledge. Avidya is ignorance, thinking that conscious mind is and gives truth. Asmita is the idea that ego or mind is true Self. Raja is attachment, sympathy, interest, affection, love, and desire. Dvesa is hate, dislike, and repulsion. Abhinivesa (toward life) is desire to live.
mind
Mind activities include accurate perception through inference and testimony, inaccurate perception, fantasy, sleep, and memory.
organs of action
Humans have five organs of action: speaking, grasping, moving, evacuating, and reproducing. These and the five senses are gates or openings of body to outer world. Intelligence, ego, and judgment make up the "inner organ" that controls these gates.
prana
Five prana spirits or life-breaths are exhaling, inhaling, digesting or equalizing, ascending, and pervading. They maintain the body. Pranas continue after death, carrying previous impressions and nature of being.
self
Self is pervasive in the body, unchanging, eternal, not compound, unmoving, uninvolved, free, uncaused, uncausing, and infinite. Self appears to be alive, as reflected in matter's activity, but it is not. The "inner organ" of one's matter controls the life-process. Person's mind can know the light of the Self, but mind does not associate with Self at all. People cannot realize Self, because mind always distracts. Stopping mind gives clear view of Self.
unconsciousness
Yogis use asceticism, learning, prayer, and surrender of Self to the One to isolate self from world. People disengage selves from all matter and realize their isolation. All motion and action are part of matter and so end. Yogis reverse usual unfolding of matter, which starts with praktri, then makes subtle matter, and then makes actual matter, which has the most tamas. Self finally stands passive and individual, unconnected to rest of universe. People then abide in eternal unconsciousness.
history
Kapila or Bhagavatam wrote Sankhya Sutras and founded a school. Asuri was disciple of Kapila. Pancasika was disciple of Asuri and wrote sutras. Isvara-Krsna [400 to 500] wrote Sankhya-karikas or Sankhya-saptati. Gaudapada [700] wrote Sankhya-karika-bhasya. Vacaspati [840] wrote Sankhya-tattva-kaumudi about Sankhya-karika-bhasya. Aniruddha [1400 to 1500] wrote Sankhya-pravacana-sutravrtti about Sankhya-karika-bhasya. Vijnana-bhiksu [1650] wrote Sankhya-pravacana-bhasya. Sankhya-sara has comments about Kapila's Sankhya Sutras.
The Six Systems of Hinduism include a school {Mimamsa} about Veda liturgy and rituals. The sound of Sanskrit in hymns and repeated holy words, such as "Om", has meaning and is magic.
history
Jaimini [200] wrote Mimamsa-sutras, such as Purvamimamsa-sutra, and founded mimamsa. Sabara Svamin [400] wrote bhasya on Mimamsa-sutras. Prabhakara [650] wrote Brhati about Sabara bhasya. Kumarila Bhatta [700 to 800] wrote Sloka-varttika, Tantra-varttika, and Tuptika about Sabara bhasya. Salikanatha [600 to 700] wrote Prakarana-pancika and was Prabhakara's pupil. Parthasarathi [900] wrote Sastrapradipika (Scriptural Texts on Light). Madhva-Vidyaranya [1350 to 1380] wrote Nyaya-mala-vistara. Laugaksi Bhaskara [1600 to 1700] wrote Arthasangraha.
The Six Systems of Hinduism include a school {Nyaya} about logic and argument.
knowledge
Knowledge has four sources: perception, inference, analogy, and credible testimony. Inference is the only way to true knowledge. Inference is of three kinds. One is from cause to effect. Another is from effect to cause. Third is from perception to abstract principle.
causes
Three cause types are material or inhering cause, formal or shaping cause, and instrumental cause.
syllogism
Syllogisms have five parts: proposition, cause, cause example, cause recapitulation, and proposition restatement {conclusion, Nyaya}. This syllogism type uses the principle of invariable association.
source
Nyaya depends on Nyaya-sutra by Gautama or Aksapada.
history
Gautama, Gotama, or Aksapada [-550] wrote Nyayasutras and founded Nyaya. Vatsyayana [400] wrote Nyaya-bhasya about Nyayasutras. Udyotakara [600 to 700] wrote Nyaya-varttika about Nyaya-bhasya. Vacaspati [841] wrote Tatparyatika about Nyayasutras, Nyaya-bhasya, and Nyaya-varttika. Udayana [984] wrote Tatparyatika-parisuddhi.
The Six Systems of Hinduism include a school {Vaisesika} about atomistic cosmology. All substances, immediate qualities, universals, absences, movements, associations, differences, and inherences are atoms. All knowable things have atoms. All world atoms are fleeting and changing. Soul is not in time or space and so is eternal.
cause and effect
Cause makes something new emerge from itself.
source
Vaisesika depends on Vaisesika-sutra of Kanada.
history
Kanada, Uluka, or Acarya [-600] wrote Vaisesika Sutras and founded Vaisesika or Aulukya. Prasastapada [400 to 500] wrote Padartha-dharma-Sangraha bhasya, which expands on Vaisesika-sutra. Sridhara [991] wrote Nyayakandali. Vyomasiva wrote Vyomovati commentaries on Laksanavali of Prasastapada. Udayana [984] wrote Kiranavali. Vallabhacarya [1000 to 1100] wrote Nyayalilavati mixing Vaisesika and Nyaya. Sivaditya [900 to 1000] wrote Saptapadarthi. Visvanatha [1650] wrote Bhasa-pariccheda and Siddhanta-muktavali (Principles of Muktavali).
The Six Systems of Hinduism include a school {Vedanta} that modifies Vaidika or Vedic philosophy and depends on Upanishads.
schools
Vedanta has many schools, with different monism-dualism positions. Samkara is largest school and is intellectual Hinduism, with no myths, just meditation.
cause and effect
Cause is real, but effect is illusion. Change is illusion.
creation story
Brahman split into male and female and procreated.
enlightenment
The final stage of finding union with Brahman is state of pure rest, with end to mind transformations. People can know Brahman only by intuition. Enlightenment ends need for knowledge or reasoning, which are both illusions. Enlightened people have serenity, dignity, and majesty. They do not act in world. Any lingering karma carries on acts until they complete. They have become like Brahman and continue playing without participating or feeling affected. They are like sleepwalkers, indifferent to all things and actions. They are beyond time and silent.
gods
In Vedanta myths, the god Vishnu dreams. First, Vishnu makes Brahman, creation-principle and all-one, from his world-womb at his navel. Lotus located at navel is dreamed world of Vishnu. Vishnu is the humane preserver.
Rama, Krishna, and Buddha are Vishnu incarnations. Rama married Sita.
Devaki is virgin mother of Vishnu.
Shiva is the destroyer, dissolver, and reproducer.
Gods are only symbols or visible signs of powers, not channels for them.
intuition
People cannot know Brahman by ordinary knowledge, only intuition.
self stages
People find Self and understand true reality by proceeding through stages, using several methods to remove layers that hide the Self. Before starting, people should have good morals: doing good works without thought of reward or punishment, practicing yoga for ability to concentrate intensely, and studying Vedas for preparation.
After getting ready to search for Self by good morals, first method is to study texts and teachings, to use method of refutations to disprove erroneous inferences and analogies. Erroneous inference is that world is dual or plural. Other erroneous inferences attribute qualities or attributes to things. This method teaches that fears and desires are also needless and unreal.
Second method is meditation on Brahman, reflecting on reading. People feel personally conscious of God and know God as omnipotent and omniscient.
Third method is concentration on one thing to end mind's restlessness and end thought. People lose ego and see the identity of all things, because God is in all and in self. This state is pure sattva, with all tamas and rajas eliminated from self.
Fourth method is state of no consciousness, in which subject and object become one, so consciousness merges with Self. People, realizing that even sattva is delusion, achieve state of anonymity, complete loss of Self, and pure being.
suffering
People can accept pain and suffering by knowing that they are temporary and illusory.
unity
Because Brahman is in everything, all things balance and have harmony. Brahman includes all pairs of opposites. Evolutionary or dialectic processes make pairs of opposites. As opposites interact, world emanates from Brahman.
history
Badarayana or Bhasyakara [-500 to -200] wrote the Brahmasutras of Vedanta. Sankara or Iamkara [788 to 820] founded Advaita School. Atreya, Asmarathya, Audulomi, Karsnajani, Kasakrtsna, Badari were early Advaita sages. Bhaskara [996 to 1061] founded Bhedabheda School. Yadava-prakasha or Bhedabheda taught Ramanuja [1000]. Ramanuja [1017 to 1127] founded Visist-advaita School. Madhva [1238 to 1317] founded an Advaita school. Nimbarka [1000 to 1100] founded an Advaita school. Srikantha [1270] founded Saiva-visist-advaita School. Sripati [1400] founded Bheda-bhedatmaka-visist-advaita School. Vallabha [1479 to 1544] founded Suddh-advaita School. Suka [1550] founded Bhedavada School. Vijnana-bhiksu [1650] founded Atma-brahm-aikya-bhedavada School. Baladeva [1725] founded Acintya-bhedabheda School.
The One can manifest as material things, known objectively {adhidaivam}.
The One can manifest as individual self, known subjectively {adhyatman}.
In Vedanta, the 'causal' body can be in silent, dreamless, unchanging, and painless state of bliss {bliss} {ananda}. The blissful state feels conscious.
In Vedanta, Self {atman, Vedanta} is people's inner principle.
veils
Self makes illusory sheaths or veils of consciousness from body, life, and mental processes. These consciousnesses are not the Self, and the Self cannot be object of consciousness.
Actual human body has waking consciousness. Waking state has terror, illusion, pain, and change.
The 'subtle' body has dreaming consciousness and includes the life-force or life-breath {prana, Vedanta}, corresponding to air or breath. It also includes sense qualities or perception. It also includes reason or understanding. Dreaming state has terror, illusion, pain, and change.
The 'causal' body can be in a state of bliss {ananda, Vedanta} or ignorance {avidya, atman}. Both are silent, dreamless, unchanging, and painless. Ignorant state is like death and unconsciousness. Blissful state feels conscious.
Self
Self must remove these veils to reveal itself and go beyond consciousness. Self feels merged with Brahman.
Universal Self {atman-brahman} is inactive, rather than participating in and animating world. It encourages asceticism and monasticism, replacing the life affirming, joyful feeling in Hindu religion. It is the only reality. The rest is pure illusion.
In Vedanta, the 'causal' body can be in a state of silent, dreamless, unchanging, and painless non-consciousness {avidya, Vedanta}.
Ignorant state is like death and unconsciousness. Ignorance is physical-world instances, or universal pervading influence in physical world. In second sense, avidya is Brahman in personal role as Shiva-Vishnu, making life, evolving, maintaining, creating, destroying universe, and pervading all things. Brahman is like the Self, which makes its veils. As soon as people realize either Brahman or ignorance, they lose the realization, as Self merges with Brahman. Ordinary knowledge cannot know ignorance.
Impersonal spirit, essence, power, or energy is in everything and is unified Self {Brahman}. It is form and is formless. It has no properties {neti neti, Vedanta}. It is Holy Power, true reality, the One, or Essence. It is infinite, is all things, is identical in all things, is immanent in all things, and animates all things. It is creation principle. Primal force makes all temporal objects, events, and phenomena. Vishnu created it in dream. It retains consciousness of itself. It is omniscient and omnipotent. It is the Universal or highest God. All things are Brahman manifestations. Brahman has different degrees or spheres of power. It is rhythmic, cyclic gestures, game, play, dance, or illusion and is of no importance.
mind and world
Physical-world manifestations, including mind and thoughts, and spiritual world, of gods in their realms, will always continue, just as the One itself will continue. People ordinarily perceive the illusions as many separate things, not as the whole. Brahman can transform into any manifestation, and human minds continually transform. All manifestations and transformations are illusions, not true reality.
Self
Underlying both world and mind is higher Brahman or Self, unmoving, unchanging, and serene. The true Brahman remains separate, aloof, impersonal, and inactive. Brahman perceives the illusion as whole, with clarity and serenity {sattva, Vedanta}, unmoved by tamas or rajas. Brahman is cause of the world. Knowledge of Brahman leads to final emancipation. Sages differ about nature of Brahman, relation between individual and Brahman, nature of release, and method to attain liberation.
Previous actions have residues {karma, Vedanta}. Sages can become free from rebirth cycle, but karma causes all others to have endless reincarnation.
People can have consciousness {samadhi, Vedanta} of duality of Self and mind.
In first samadhi, mind sees Brahman, has cosmic consciousness, and feels the power of the One in oneself, but it comes from outside.
In second samadhi, one feels no duality, only complete silence.
Falling into an unconscious state as one begins to lose vision of Brahman can block second state. Distraction by other sense impressions can block second state. Desires, needs, likes, dislikes, or memories from unconscious mind can block second state. Pure enjoyment of first state can block second state, showing that mind still does not have enough discipline.
Books {Upanishads} concentrate on Self and interior world.
Souls transmigrate from one body to another, seeking union with Brahman {Vishnuism}. Brahman dies to give birth to the world, the one becomes many, and then all things die to return to Brahman, the many become one.
People should live ascetic life {yama, Hinduism}. General rules for ascetic life include non-violence {ahimsa}; word, thought, and deed truth and identity {satya, Vedanta}; no stealing {asteya}; celibacy; and possession rejection. Special practices {niyama} can achieve ascetic life: cleanliness, contentment, equanimity, austerity, indifference to desire, study, meditation, and devotion to personal god. Correct yoga body postures {asana} help, as does yoga breathing control {pranayama, Vedanta}.
The Six Systems of Hinduism include a school {yoga} that evolved from Samkhya.
method
Yoga has a meditation method, in eight steps, to bring mind to its essence by removing objective things. Samkhya yoga practice has four levels. The most ancient, simple, and lowest is observance of practices, rituals, and duties. The next level is to be insightful practitioner and have ability to truly concentrate. The next level is to be successful practitioner and to have truly suppressed mind. People reach this level by shedding tamas and rajas, leaving only sattva. Tamas and rajas, as unconscious and ego force, cause all hindrances to true knowledge, as dynamic opposes inert. Last level is to search for Self. This stage happens when one realizes that sattva only reflects Self and true Self is beyond it.
history
Patanjali [-200 to 300] wrote Yoga-sutras and founded Yoga. Sanatkumara and Jaigisavya wrote Yogashastra. Vyasa [400] wrote bhasya on Yogasutras. Tattvavaisaradi [850] wrote Vacaspati Misra, on Vyasabhasya. Yogavarttika [1650] wrote Vijnana-bhiksu, on Vyasabhasya. Bhasvati [1800 to 1900] wrote Hariharananda Aranya, on Vyasabhasya. Sankara wrote Yogabhasyavivarna, on Vyasabhasya. Rajamarttandavrtti [1000 to 1100] wrote Bhojadeva, on Yoga-sutras. Yogasutrapradipika has Bhavaganesa, on Yoga-sutras. Yoga-sutra-vrtti has Nagoji-bhatta, on Yoga-sutras. Yoga-mani-prabha has Ramananda Yati, on Yoga-sutras. Yoga-siddhanta-chandrika (Yoga Principles) has Narayana Tirtha, on Yoga-sutras. Yoga-sudhakara [1700 to 1800] has Sadasiva Brahmendra, on Yoga-sutras.
Stages correspond to body centers {chakra}, lying along spine.
Yoga {Kundalini yoga} can be a method to end sense qualities and suffering by purgation, cleanliness, concentration, and exercises and achieve union with universe, perfect self-knowledge, and isolation from all other souls. Kundalini yoga takes practitioners through stages {Lotus Ladder} from everyday dullness, to sex, to power and achievement, to compassion, to conquest of self and sex, to vision of God, to pure ecstasy.
Yogis can claim prophecy, levitation, astral projection, and other mental skills {siddhi, Yoga}.
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Date Modified: 2022.0225