Significance of Samyoga

Samyoga, as defined in various traditions, refers to the combination or union of substances, particularly in Ayurveda, where it emphasizes mixing foods or drugs to enhance qualities not achievable when used alone. This concept extends to health, illustrating how particular food pairings can impact digestion, potentially yielding either beneficial or harmful effects. Samyoga is crucial in understanding the interactions between different elements, guiding effective treatments and dietary choices by highlighting the importance of compatibility in combinations.

Synonyms: Union, Conjunction, Connection, Merging, Combination, Integration, Fusion

In Dutch: Samyoga; In German: Samyoga; In Finnish: Samyoga; In Spanish: Yoga samurái

The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.

Buddhist concept of 'Samyoga'

Buddhism Books

In Buddhism, Samyoga signifies the union or association that drives beings to seek connections with pleasurable objects, reflecting attachment and desire as central themes in the pursuit of satisfaction and experience.

Significance in Theravada (major branch of Buddhism):
Theravada Books

(1) Union or association leading beings to desire connection with particularly pleasurable objects.[1]

Theravada is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Hindu concept of 'Samyoga'

Hinduism Books

Samyoga in Hinduism emphasizes the conjunction of substances, particularly food, knowledge, and sensory experiences. It highlights the impact of combinations on health, cognition, and the principle of unity across different elements, influencing digestion and perceptions.

Significance in Ayurveda (science of life):
Ayurveda Books

(1) Samyoga is the connection between Artha, Indriya, Mana, and Buddhi, and it is required for Jnanotpatti, and it is analogous to nervous system synapses.[2] (2) This process involves substances in a dominant quantity, differing from another process where the quantity of substances is the main distinction between them.[3] (3) Samyoga is what Gangadhara says Yukti defines which Dravyas should be merged, differing from Yukti, Prithaktva, and Samavaya.[4] (4) This is one of the factors that determines the utility of food, which refers to the combination of two or more food items, like Ghrita and Madhu, according to the text.[5] (5) Samyoga is a term formed by Upasarga Sam, Yuj Dhatu, and Khanj Pratyaya, signifying conjunction, union, combination, and intimate union, which is an important tool for physicians and pharmacists.[6]

Ayurveda is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Ayurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Significance in Vedanta (school of philosophy):
Vedanta Books

(1) The conjunction or connection between cognitive knowledge and the object it refers to, considered a fundamental aspect of cognition.[7]

Vedanta refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).