Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga & Raja Yoga

OK, back to the original digression..... I'll appreciate any comments....

quick recap...
we have 4 major periods of development in Indian thought... Vedic Period, Epic Period, Sutra Period and Scholastic period or Period of elaboration of Vedanta. According to Dr.Radhakrishnan, this period is still continuing but the actual development of thought already declined during the 17th century.

After Vedas and Epics, came the Sutras where we have systematic explanation of the earlier works and also new theories and thesis developed during this period. During this period, new ways of life and new social systems gained widespread popularity mainly because of the opposition to the existing social structure. Charvaka's (also known as Lokayata's) Nastikatvam, Buddhism & Jainism were the main new fields of thought that emerged strongly. Charvaka's Brihaspati sutra in its original form was destroyed but it was proved that the charvaka philosophy existed since the days of rig Veda. (References to charvaka were found in Harappa and Mohenjo Daro) we also know about this through other texts. Bhagavad Gita refers to this indirectly in chapter 16:8 while describing divine and demonic natures. Other sources where this is referred to is Mahabharata : Shanti Parva, Salya Parva. Vishnu Purana and Manu smiriti.

While these (Nastika, Buddhism & Jainism) were considered un-orthodox systems of schooling the Vedic systems were considered orthodox.
Since we mostly follow Vedic system, let's focus on that

The 4 Yogas or ways of life - (Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Raja Yoga) mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita are given a systematic and logical explanation during this period.

Jnana Yoga was explained by various Rishis in the theories of Samkya, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Yoga, Purva mimamsa and Uttara mimamsa.
we'll get back to details of Jnana Yoga pertaining to today's education later...

Bhakti Yoga: It is said that one of the easiest way to salvation (Moksha) is Bhakti Yoga. The Bhakti relationship between man (or woman) and god is described in six different forms:

1. Madhura Bhava - Romantic Love (Like that of Krishna & Radha),
2. Kanta Bhava - Love of wife for husband (Like that of Sita or Rukmini & Rama or Krishna),
3. Shanta Bhava - Love of child for parent,
4. Vatsalya Bhava - Love of a parent for child (Like that of Sita towards Sons)
5. Sakhya Bhava - Friendship (Like that of Kuchela & Krishna)
6. Dasya Bhava - Affection of servant for his master (Like that of Hanuman in Ramayana)

In the highest aspect of Bhakti Yoga, the devotee goes for "Total surrender to god" Bhakti leads to the total dissolution of "I" or the ego which is considered the cause of all problems.

Lord Chaitanya (His followers started the ISKON), Tulsi Das, Meera Devi, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (His followers started RK mission) are considered the greatest exponents of Bhakti Yoga

Karma Yoga : According to Karma Yoga, one attains salvation through unselfish actions - "Nishkama Karma". A Karma Yogi may or may not believe in God or in any religious doctrine.

Karma Yoga according to Bhagavad Gita:
a. No person will reach a state of actionlessness (Nishkarmata) by shunning Karma
b. Karma is the nature of beings in creation - (Bhagavad Gita 2:47)
c. One who controls the desires of flesh and does "Nishkama Karma" is honorable person.
d. Look at me, "I am God". There is nothing I have to do in the three worlds, There is nothing in the three worlds I need or I can't get. Still I work all the time.
e. One Should do his duty (Svadharma). One will meet with disaster if he or she does some one else's duty. Svadharma, however despicable is better than someone else's duty (Para Dharma).
f. The senses are good, Mind is better than senses. The soul is better than mind.
g. He who performs unattached actions by surrendering them to me will be untouched by sin, just like water drops on a lotus leaf do not wet it.
h. Actions do not taint me nor do I have any desire for the fruits of actions. He who knows me in this way, no action is binding on him

Raja Yoga: Patanjali's Yoga Sutras have the unique distinction of being a part of both Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga. This shatters the myth (created by westerners) that each of these paths to god realization are separate and cannot be intermixed.

Raja Yoga in essence is a very scientific path of God realization. In this path god is more or less treated as "Pure Energy"
Patanjali described Yoga as "Chitta-Vritti-Nirodha" meaning controlling the modifications of mind.
According to Dr.RK the main interest of Patanjali is not metaphysical theorizing, but the practical motive of indicating how salvation can be attained by disciplined activity.

As per Patanjali, Chitta (mind or consciousness) undergoes modifications when it is affected by objects through the senses. We have as many "Chittas" as there are selves. The ego (Ahamkara) is different from the self and is dependent on the experience of the world. The life of ego is restless and unsatisfied, being subject as it is to the five afflictions:
1. Ignorance or the mistaking of the non-eternal with the eternal
2. The erroneous identification of oneself with the instruments of the body and mind
3. Attachment to pleasant things
4. Hatred of unpleasant things
5. Instinctive love of life and dread of death.

When the self is freed from chitta it withdraws itself into its own pure nature.
Patanjali explains Yoga sutras in 4 chapters, Samadhi pada, Sadhana Pada, Vibhuti pada, Kaivalya pada. He gives us the eight fold method (Asthanga Yoga) of : abstention (Yama), observance (Niyama), posture (Asana - This is called Hatha Yoga), breath-control (Pranayama - Kriya yoga, perfected by Paramahamsa Yogananda is an advanced form of Pranayama), withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara), fixed attention (Dharana), contemplation (Dhyana) and concentration (Samadhi)" for salvation. Apart from Yoga Sutras, Patanjali also wrote books on Medicine and Grammar. The most widely known Yoga today through out the world, Patanjali's Raja & Hatha Yoga described in 150BC gives us an idea of the depth of the knowledge our ancestors possessed 2000 years ago.

Finally, Dr.Radhakrishnan says "Through yogic practices, one can attain super normal powers. The classical authors do not encourage the acquisition of these powers, as they consider spiritual calm and moral virtue to be superior to magical powers, which are only incidental to the attainment of the true goal of spiritual freedom.

During the sutra period, The age of Tamil Sangam (500 BC -500 AD) began in South India. Sage Agastya wrote Agattiyam, first known Tamil grammar. Tolkappiyar wrote Tolkappiyam. Purananuru, also on grammar, stating that he is recording thoughts on poetry, rhetoric, etc., of earlier grammarians, pointing to high development of Tamil language prior to his day. He gives rules for absorbing Sanskrit words into Tamil. Other famous works from the Sangam age are the poetical collections Paripadal, Pattuppattu, Ettuthokai Purananuru, Akananuru, Aingurunuru, Padinenkilkanakku. Some refer to worship of Vishnu, Indra, Murugan and Supreme Siva. All the literature composed during the first sangam was washed away by a great flood...

Different languages originated because there were different tribal groups and not everybody was allowed to learn the brahmi script & Sanskrit language. So, common man in India (Ashoka's empire) for most part understood Pali (and /or prakriti) and in the south common man had different languages under different rulers Pandyas(TN), Cheras (Kerala), Cholas (Coromandel).

Potential Timeline of Language Development:
1. Vedic Sanskrit (4000-400 B.C.E.)
2. Classical Sanskrit (400 B.C.E.onwards; post-Panini)
3. Prakrit/Pali (Brahmi script) (400 B.C.E.-1000 C.E.)
4. Hindi and other Sanskrit derivatives (Devanagari Script)... (1000 C.E.-onwards)

This period (Sutra period) not only saw the emergence of new religions and evolution of other great philosophies within Sanatana Dharma. But the emergence of sciences as we know them today as part of Jnana Yoga. It is after this period that Sanatana Dharma started emerging as a religion.

Towards the end of the sutra period, In the south, Thiruvalluvar wrote the "Thiru Kural" which talks about virtuous living... explaining the Dharma, Artha and Kama of living.... he happens to be a sudra (Weaver).... but people took to his system more eagerly because it relates to the common man.