THE HINDU TEMPLE SOCIETYOF NORTH AMERICA

Šri Mahã Vallabha Ganapati Devasthãnam

Sunday, June 19Sunday, June 19thth 20162016

ASHTANGA YOGA &SIGNIFICANCE OF MUDRAS

45-57 Bowne Street, Flushing, NY 11355-2202Tel: (718) 460-8484 ext. 112 - Fax: (718) 461-8055

email: hts@nyganeshtemple.orghttps://nyganeshtemple.org

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- Program - 2nd International Yoga Day: Sunday, June 19th 2016

9:00 am - Registration- Shankha Dwani

10:00 am - Prayer- Introduction- Homage- Meditation/chanting

10:20 am - Sun Salutation Demonstration- Group Sun Salutations- Yoga Activities for Children (parallel activity)

10:45 am - Mudra Demonstration - Presentation of ‘Siva Thandava’

11:15 am - Sarala Yoga (Group participation)- Yoga Activities for Children (parallel activity)

11:45 am - Yoga at Desk (Group participation)

12:15 pm - Pranayama Demonstration and Practice

12:35 pm - Asana Demonstrations

12:55 pm - Mudra Therapy (Group participation)

1:15 pm - Brief Talk by DR. MG Prasad - ‘Ashtanga Yoga’

1:45 pm - Group Meditation- Concluding Remarks

Welcome & Felicitation of the Dignitaries

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WHAT IS ASHTANGA YOGA?- Dr. M.G. Prasad

INTRODUCTION: Yoga is an everlasting contribution of Vedic Hinduism (SanatanaDharma) to the world. Yoga is a Sanskrit word and is derived fromthe root ‘Yuj’, which means ‘to yoke’. Yoga enables the union ofindividual-self with the Universal-Self through discipline atphysical, mental and spiritual levels. The origin of Yoga is foundin the Upanishads of the Vedas and the universally knownBhagavad-Gita, which are the foundational literature of SanatanaDharma or popularly known as Hinduism.

ASHTANGA YOGA:Sage Patanjali in his Yoga-Sutras (consisting 196 aphorisms),describes Ashtanga Yoga, which consists of Ashta (eight) andAnga (parts) that are essential for complete development of humanbeings. This complete development refers to physical, mental andspiritual levels, which are found within every human being. In thewords of His Holiness Sriranga Priya Swamiji, “Yoga-Darshana isa practical discipline comprising of the conclusions andproclamations of enlightened seers (yogis) whose main concernwas helping seekers (sadhakas) to attain the normal state calledYoga in which the perceiver is established in the real state and thisis an inner experience of the inner world”.

The eight-steps given by the Sage Patanjali are briefly indicatedbelow. These together form the practical aspect of the process ofyoga. Guidance from a Yogi-Seer as True Guru plays a veryimportant role in the journey through Yoga to achieve the ultimategoal of Self-Realization.

(1) Yama: This step contains five sub-steps, which need tobe practiced in the three domains namely thought, speech andaction. The five sub-steps are (a) Non-Violence (Ahimsa)(b) Truthfulness (Satya) (c) Non-Covetedness (Asteya)(d) Continence (Bramhacharya) (e) Non-receiving (Aparigraha).

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(2) Niyama: This step also contains five sub-steps, which need tobe practiced in the domains of thought, speech and action. Thefive sub-steps are: (a) Cleanliness (Shoucha) (b) Contentment(Santosha) (c) Austerity (Tapas) (d) Scriptural Study (Svaadhyaya)(e) Surrender to God (Ishvara Pranidhaana).

(3) Ãsana: (Postures) There are hundreds of ãsanas in thescriptures and its variants. It is needless to say that all asanas areto be practiced with patience and perseverance. Many of theãsanas are derived from nature and animals. The breathingrequires coordination with ãsanas.

(4) Prãnayãma: (Regulation of Vital Force): Control andstrengthening of vital forces is focused and achieved throughproper regulation of breathing under strict supervision of an expert.

(5) Praytãhãra: In this step, the yogi practices withdrawing themind from senses and multiplicity of thoughts. The withdrawn mindis then directed towards inner-self.

(6) Dhãrana: deals with the development of the ability of theindrawn mind to focus and concentrate on a Sacred Object (suchas vision of the Guru, chosen Deity, and other Sacred forms).

(7) Dhyãna: referred as meditation, is continuous contemplationor concentration on the Sacred Object. Meditation is to beachieved like a lamp (steady mind) in the absence of flickeringwind (wavering worldly thoughts).

(8) Samãdhi: This step refers to an experience of transcendentalstate of balance and deep spiritual absorption. This is aninternalized experience of the individual. There are variousstates of experiences.

Thus we see that yoga is not merely restricted to poses andacrobatic postures with impressive demonstrations. The solepurpose of yoga is the realization of original and normal state.

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Yoga should transform one’s life. In the vision and words ofHis Holiness yogi-seer Sriranga Sadguru, “The customs andhabits, the dress and ornaments, the manners and etiquette, theconceptions of right and wrong and of good and evil, the learning,literature and the various arts like music, the political thoughts,views regarding all actions and the consecratory ceremonies,etc., of the Indians (Bharatiyas), are all permeated like the warpand woof by Ashtanga Yoga”.

ÃSANA DEMONSTRATIONSOne Ãsana demonstrated weekly

Every Sunday May 15th – Sunday, June 12th 2016

May 15th 2016 Bhujangasana: (Cobra Pose) - This pose resembles a cobra with its hoodraised and hence its name.

May 22nd 2016 Paschimottanasan: (Posterior Stretching Pose) - Paschima means posterior and Uttanameans on. In this pose you bend the upper

body over the thighs and lie on them.

May 29th 2016 Ushtrasana: (Camel Pose) - This ãsana pose resembles the camel hence itsname.

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June 5th 2016 Ardhamatsyendrasana - The matsyendrasan takes its name after the greatMatsyendra Yogi and since Ardhamatsyendrasanais not the final pose but the only the step halfway,the prefix is added to the name of final pose hencethis pose is called Ardha-matsyendrasana.

June 12th 2016Janu - Sirasãsana:(Head on Knee Pose) Mahã Mudra -In this pose the head is placed on the kneeand hence its name.

SIGNIFICANCE OF MUDRASDr. M.G. Prasad

Mudras refer to the specific positions of the fingers in our hands.The word “Mudra” in Samskritam (Sanskrit language) means anactivity that brings joy. Sometimes Mudras are also referred asyoga-postures of the fingers of our hands. It is to be noted thatevery human being is a person integrally made up of physical,subtle and causal bodies with an indwelling individual soul and theOmnipresent Brahman. Our physical body is made up of fiveelements namely fire, air, space, earth and water. These elementsas principles are represented by the five fingers of our hands i.e.thumb, pointer, middle, ring and pinky respectively. It is also notedthat among the sense perceptions the touch is only next tohearing. So fingertips of our hands do play a very important role inour life. Mudras are used for various purposes. For example the“Namaskara Mudra” (Salutation or Greeting) shown aboveindicates that the person is expressing that he or she is offeringheartfelt respects with unison to the Deity representing Brahmanin a temple or Brahman in another person.

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Varieties of Mudras There are hundreds of Mudras depending on the purpose. Mudrasare used in classical dances such as Bharatanatyam. The Mudras inBharatanatyam play a major role in story telling and also indicatenatural things such as mountains, flowers, trees, animals, etc. InHindu worship rituals Mudras are used to invoke and offer varioussacred things. The Mudras are also seen in hands of Hindu deities.The well-known Mudra of the right hand of deities is the “AbhayaMudra” which indicates “protection” to devotees. Mudras are alsoused in various yoga postures. The well-known “Jnana Mudra” withthe pointer and thumb tips touching indicate spiritually the union ofindividual self (pointer) and Supreme Being (thumb). There aretherapeutic Mudras. Mudras for therapy are aimed at correctingimbalances created between the five elements in our physical body.It is important to learn the specific Mudra aimed at particular ailment.

It is recommended that Mudras particularly for therapeuticpurposes be practiced for about 45 minutes either continuously orfor 15 minutes in three sessions. Although Mudras are tobe done in both hands, but they can be done in one hand also. It isimportant to note that when fingers are in Mudras, the tips of fingersare touching each other gently without any stress and anxieties.Also Mudras for therapeutic purposes when done properly willcomplement other treatments. It is important to note Mudras can bepracticed essentially anytime while sitting, walking and sleeping.Thus we see that Mudras play a major role in our life.

Although generally Mudras are in common practice in both fields ofdance and ritualistic worship, but Mudras for therapeutic uses arenot commonly practiced. Sri K. Rangaraja Iyengar in his book“Mudra Pravesha” says that “...that by constant and consistentpractice of Mudras, we can possibly correct the imbalances inour bodies and through which acquire good health”.

“Yoga is a science, and not a vague dreamy drifting orimagining. It is an applied science, a systematizedcollection of laws applied to bring about a definite end. Ittakes up the laws of psychology, applicable to the unfoldingof the whole consciousness of man on every plane, in everyworld, and applies those rationally in a particular case. This

rational application of the laws of unfolding consciousness actsexactly on the same principles that you see applied around you everyday in other departments of science.”

“Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; theybecome actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch yourhabits; they become character. Watch your character; for it becomesyour destiny.”

-Upanishads