Yoga Upanishads (study)

by Heena B. Kotak | 2003 | 172,541 words

Hinduism Hindu Philosophy Yoga

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Summary: This essay studies the Yoga Upanishads—lesser-known segments of Vedic literature dealing with yoga practices and philosophy. While major Upanishads have historically garnered attention, the Yoga Upanisads are highlighted as a treasure trove for understanding Yoga’s philosophical, ethical, physiological, and psychological dimensions. The thesis aims to shed light on these texts by critically analyzing their content, comparing them with other prominent Yogic texts like Patanjala Yoga Sutras, Gheranda Samhita, and Hathayoga Pradipika.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Yoga Upanishads (study) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Warning! This document has not been proofread. However, for each page you can (and should) verify the text with the original source PDF file.

Statement Number 1

Statement Number 2

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction

. Part 1 - Regarding the word ‘Veda’

. Part 2 - The classification of Vedas

. Part 3 - Regarding the word ‘Upanishad’

. Part 4 - Derivative Explanations of the word Upanishad by scholars

. Part 5 - General Contents of the Upanishads

. Part 6 - About the Age of the Upanishads

. Part 7 - Number of the Upanishads

. Part 8 - Traditional Authorship of the Upanishads

. Part 9 - Language and Style of the Upanishads

. Part 10 - Origin and Development of Upanishadic Thoughts

. Part 11 - Major and Minor Upanishads

. Part 12 - Divisions of The Upanishads

. Part 12 - Divisions of the Upanishads

. Part 13 - Meaning of the word ‘Yoga’

. Part 14 - Origin and History of Yoga Shastra

. Part 15 - Aim of Yoga

. Part 16 - Subject Matter of Yoga

. Part 17 - Vedanta and Yoga Upanishads

. Notes and References for chapter 1

+ Chapter 2 - Brief survey of the 20 Yoga Upanishads

. Part 1 - Summary of the Advayataraka-upanishad (Advayatarakopanisad)

. Part 2 - Summary of the Amrtanada-upanishad (Amrtanadopanisad)

. Part 3 - Summary of the Amrtabindu-upanishad (Amrtabindupanisad)

. Part 4 - Summary of the Kshurika-upanishad (Ksurikopanisad)

. Part 5 - Summary of the Tejobindu-upanishad (Tejobindupanisad)

. Part 6 - Summary of the Trishikhi-brahmana-upanishad (Trisikhibrahmanopanisad)

. Part 7 - Summary of the Darshana-upanishad (Darsanopanisad)

. Part 8 - Summary of the Dhyanabindu-upanishad (Dhyanbindupanisad)

. Part 9 - Summary of the Nadabindu-upanishad (Nadabindupanisad)

. Part 10 - Summary of the Pasupata-brahma-upanishad (Pasupatabrahmopanisad)

. Part 11 - Summary of the Brahmavidya-upanishad (Brahmavidyopanisad)

. Part 12 - Summary of the Mandala-brahmana-upanishad (Mandalabrahmanopanisad)

. Part 13 - Summary of the Mahavakya-upanishad (Mahavakyopanisad)

. Part 14 - Summary of the Yogakundali-upanishad (Yogakundalyupanisad)

. Part 15 - Summary of the Yogacudamani-upanishad (Yogacudamanyupanisad)

. Part 16 - Summary of the Yogatattva-upanishad (Yogatattvopanisad)

. Part 17 - Summary of the Yogashikha-upanishad (Yogasikhopanisad)

. Part 18 - Summary of the Varaha-upanishad (Varahopanisad)

. Part 19 - Summary of the Shandilya-upanishad (Sandilyopanisad)

. Part 20 - Summary of the Hamsa-upanishad (Hamsopanisad)

. References and Notes for chapter 2

+ Chapter 3 - Analytical and Critical study of 20 Yoga-Upanishads

. Part 1a - Various Types of Yoga in the Yogopanishads—Introduction

. Part 1b - Obstacles to the practice of Yoga

. Part 1.1 - Description of Taraka Yoga

. Part 1.2 - Description of Mantra Yoga

. Part 1.3 - Description of Raja Yoga

. Part 1.4 - Description of Sadanga Yoga

. Part 1.5 - Description of Ashtanga Yoga

. Part 1.6 - Description of Pancadashanga Yoga

. Part 1.7 - Description of Hatha Yoga

. Part 1.8 - Description of Laya Yoga

. Part 1.9 - Description of Jnana-Karma yoga

. Part 1.10 - Description of Samputa Yoga

. Part 1.11 - Description of Dhyana Yoga

. Part 1.12 - Description of Vedhaka-traya Yoga

. Part 1.13 - Description of Samadhi Yoga

. Part 1.14 - Description of Hamsa Yoga

. Part 1.15 - The Four Stages of Yoga

. Part 2 - Eligibility for the path of Yoga

. Part 3.1 - Restraint (Yama) according to the Yoga-Upanishads

. Part 3.2 - Observances (Niyama) according to the Yoga-Upanishads

. Part 3.3 - Posture (Asana) according to the Yoga-Upanishads

. Part 3.4 - Breath Control (Pranayama) according to the Yoga-Upanishads

. Part 3.5 - Withdrawal (Pratyahara) according to the Yoga-Upanishads

. Part 3.6 - Concentration (Dharana) according to the Yoga-Upanishads

. Part 3.7 - Meditation (Dhyana) according to the Yoga-Upanishads

. Part 3.8 - Absorption (Samadhi) according to the Yoga-Upanishads

. Part 4.1 - Measurements of the Body

. Part 4.2 - Description of the Vital airs (Prana)

. Part 4.3 - The Nadis (vital channels)

. Part 4.4 - Description of the Plexus (Cakra)

. Part 4.5 - Kundalini (the serpent power) according to the Yoga-upanishads

. Part 5.1 - The Mudras (gestures) in Yoga-upanishads—Introduction

. Part 5.2 - The Khecari Mudra and Mantra

. Part 6.1 - Description of the Mulabandha technique

. Part 6.2 - Description of the Uddiyana-bandha technique

. Part 7.1 - The concept of Pranava in the Yoga-Upanishads—Introduction

. Part 7.2 - Various ways to Meditate on Pranava

. Part 7.3 - Pranava, as a means for removing the obstacles

. Part 7.4 - The Form of Nada—The inner mystical sound

. Part 7.5 - Accomplishment of the Nada distinctly

. Part 7.6 - Application of the mind to the Nada

. Part 8 - Achievements (Siddhi) according to the Yogopanishads

. Part 9 - The concept of Ishvara in the Yogopanishads

. Part 10 - The concept of Guru according to Yoga-upanishads

. Part 11.1 - Dawning of the knowledge (Jnana-utpatti)

. Part 11.2 - Seven Stages of knowledge

. Part 11.3 - Relation between Yoga and Jnana

. Part 11.4 - Real form of knowledge and Spurious kind of knowledge

. Part 11.5 - The real form and Functions of Vidya / Avidya

. Part 12 - Liberation (Mukti) according to Yoga-upanishads

. Part 13 - The Concept of Mind (Mana) in Yoga-upanishads

. Part 14.1 - The Concept of Jiva in Yoga-upanishads

. Part 14.2 - States of Consciousness in Yoga-upanishads

. Part 15 - The Concept of the Atman in Yoga-upanishads

. Part 16.1 - The concept of Brahman in Yoga-upanishads—Introduction

. Part 16.2 - Sabda Brahma and Para Brahma

. Part 16.3 - Brahman and Creation (according to the Yogopanisads)

. Part 16.4 - The concept of the World according to the Yoga-upanisads

. References and Notes for chapter 3

+ Chapter 4 - Comparative study of the Yoga-Upanishads with the other Yogic texts

. Part 1 - The Patanjala Yoga Sutras and Yogopanisads

. Part 2 - The Gheranda Samhita and Yoga-upanisads

. Part 3 - The Hathayoga Pradipika and Yoga-upanisads

. References and Notes for chapter 4

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Last Updated: 17 May, 2025

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