Yama Niyamas

Yama Niyamas are a set of rules framed by the ancient Yogis to be followed not only by a Yoga student but by each and every individual. But some of these rules are hard to crack and cannot be followed as such. They are primarily meant for the purification of mind.

Yamas:--There are five rules in this category.

1. Sathya (Truth)---To be followed in words and deeds.

2. Ahimsa (Not kill)---Ahimsa not only involves physical killing of creatures but also the mental and physical torture one’s action and words causes to others. We should abstain from that.

3. Astheya---Longing other’s possessions and trying to get them. This is theft, the principle taboo.

4. Brahmacharya (celibacy)---This is a nut hard to crack. Everybody cannot follow this.

5. Aparigraha (Greed)—There is no meaning in amassing wealth more than what we need. We cannot take them along while we go for our final journey.

Niyamas:-

Niyamas form the day–to-day activities we do. There are five rules in Niyamas.

1.Soucham (cleanliness)---Always keep the body and mind clean. It includes personal hygiene and keeping away of all negative thoughts from mind.

2.Santhosham (Happiness)—Lift up your innate pleasure from underneath and always try to keep a smiling face.

‘You may think that you cannot smile at a person who is your enemy. But why can’t you think you have no enemies?’

3.Tapas (Penance)---Here it only mean doing ones familial and social responsibilities in a right way.

4.Swadhyaayam---Ignorance is not a sin, but to keep faulty knowledge is. Read good books written by ancient sages and tear off the veil of darkness that covers up our mind.

5.Eeswarapranidhanam (prayer)—It is done as per one’s religious and social belief. But we all pray concentrating our mind on the Supreme Being, the Almighty. Atheists can also pray focusing their mind on some objects which they prefer.

Here let me point out a fact. As we proceed with the Asanas and Pranayama, gradually all these things will come to us on their own.