Niyama is the second limb of the
eight-part Ashtanga Yoga. The Sanskrit
word Niyama has many meanings. The
right one in the context of yoga is rule
or discipline that must be observed.
Together
with the Yamas (restraints), the Niyamas make up the Dos and Don’ts of
spiritual living.
How many are the Niyamas?
Like
the Yamas, the Niyamas are also five.
Together they make up something like the Ten
Commandments of spiritual living.
What are the Five Niyamas?
The
five Niyamas prescribed in the Ashtanga
Yoga is:
1.
Saucha:
Cleanliness
2.
Santhosha:
Actually means Happiness/ Joy – with respect to yoga it means contentment because contentment leads to joy
3.
Tapasya:
Austerity
4. Swadhyaya:
Self Study – wrongly interpreted as studying the scriptures but actually study
of one’s own Higher Self or Supreme Self or Self through introspection, meditation, etc.
5.
Ishwarapranidhana:
Worship of God or the Supreme Self
If
we notice the Niyamas are expressed
in the positive – something to be done or observed like Cleanliness, Austerity,
etc. Therefore they are termed as “Dos”.
We will examine the Niyamas
in-depth in separate posts as they merit detailed study.
Benefits of Practicing the Niyamas
Practice
of Niyamas is not only essential for
progress in yoga but they bestow extraordinary powers on the practitioner.
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