15. Rules of Yoga

The Yogopaniṣads suggest certain rules and regulations for the successful practice of yoga. The upaniṣads like Triśikhibrāhmaṇa, Śaṇḍilya, Amṛtanāda etc. describe the essentials for the practice of yoga such as seat, maṭha etc.^[1] The seat of the yogi should be made up of wood covered with kuśa or darbha or with the skin of deer or black antelope. The Amṛtanāda mentions that the yogic place should be the monasteries of sages or the areas very near to villages, fruits and flowers. It also emphasizes the presence of sages also. This is also mentioned in the Darśanopaniṣad and the Yogatattvopaniṣad. It suggests that the ground should be safe and cleansed with cowdung or the like. These upaniṣads refer to the asanas like svastikā, padmakā, gomukhā etc. and the need of reciting japas for the resistence of evil influences.^[2]

Besides these the Yogopaniṣads suggest certain food habits like the avoidance of salt, mustard, acid or sour things, hot astringent and pungent things, vegetables, asafoetida etc..

These are stated in the Yogatattva as:

yogavidhnakarāhāraṃ varjayedyogavittamaḥ |
lavaṇaṃ sarṣapaṃ cāmlamuṣṇaṃ rūkṣaṃ ca tīkṣṇakam ||
śākajātaṃ rāmaṭhādi vahnistrīpathisevanam |
prātasnānopavāsādikāyakleśāṃśca varjayet ||
abhyāsakāle prathamaṃ śastaṃ kṣīrājyabhojanam |
godhūmamudgaśālyannaṃ yogavṛddhikaraṃ viduḥ || ^[3]

The Darśanopaniṣad ensures less food as convenient for the practice of yoga. The circumstance s such as approach of fire, sexual intercourse, travel, early morning bath, fasting, bodily efforts etc. are detrimental to the yogi. Again the things which can not be discarded are the dieting of milk and ghee as primary food. Eating of cooked wheat, green gram and rice are treated as the most efficient food for the development of yoga.

The Bhagavatgīta also recommends some similar food habits by saying:

kaṭvāmlalavaṇātyuṣṇatīṣṇarūkṣavidākinaḥ |
āhārā rājasasyeṣṭā duḥkhaśokāmayapradāḥ || ^[4]

The yogi should overcome certain obstacles for the successful practice of yoga. Sloth, bragging, interaction with bad people and souls, craving for women or other worldly things etc. should be avoided by a yogi with the help of the virtue accumulated by the religious merit and also through the uttering of praṇava.

Besides these descriptions of certain do’s don’ts and obstacles in the yoga practice, the Yogopaniṣads narrate the achievements or rewards to be acquired through the practice of yoga.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Tri.Br.Up.89-91, Śān.Up. I.5-1, Amṛ.Up.17-19

[2]:

Dar.Up. I.54, Y.tat.Up. 32-35

[3]:

Yogatattva-upaniṣad 46-48

[4]:

B.Y.179