Raja means Royal; thus Raja Yoga
is the Royal road of yoga. Raja Yoga
generally refers to the Ashtanga Yoga
of Patanjali.After the 11th century A.D., when
Hatha Yoga came into prominence,
the word Raja Yoga was coined to
distinguish it from the more physically
oriented Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga
worked more with the energy/Prana,
whereas Raja Yoga dealt more with
Consciousness. Hatha Yoga was more
preparatory in scope, whereas Raja
Yo g a went far beyond.Ashtanga Yoga has eight steps:
i. Yama - ethical preparation
ii. Niyama - cultivation of attitudes
iii. Asana - psychophysical practices
iv. Pranayama - control and regulation
of bio-energy
v. Pratyahara - control of senses
vi. Dharna - focussing and entering the
mind
vii. Dhyana - meditation - delving deep
into the sub-conscious, to purify it
viii. Samadhi - trance consciousnessIn these the first five are considered
preparation and the last three as
the Raja Yoga proper. It was Swami
Vivekananda who referred to the
Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali as RajaYoga, and then it became freely used
by other writers.The Hatha Yoga Pradipika says that
without Raja Yoga, Hatha yoga is
inauspicious (III.126).Raja Yoga is for higher spiritual
practices. It is the path of absorption
in the Self. It is the path of gaining
complete control of the mind and
modifications. It is the path of the
highest human evolution. It is the path
of meditation.Some writers say that other types of
yoga are included in Raja Yoga, that
is Laya Yoga, Mantra Yoga and Hatha
Yoga. All other types of yoga have
something to contribute, but for the
fullness of yoga experience, Raja Yoga
is indicated. And Patanjali has provided
us with the roadmap to this highest
yoga.hat is
WRaja Yoga?
Promil and Harry Sequeira