59030 eb i-224 .pdf

mental activity—is the means of separating oneself from profane life and
aspiring to sacred life.

Yoga in the Vedas,UPANIÓSADS, and BHAGAVADG ̄ıT ̄A

Yoga in the Vedas

The ÓRgveda does not contain references to yoga as a system of spiritual
practice. The word ‘yoga’ in the ÓRgveda has meanings such as yoking,
connecting, and achieving the unachieved. But the theme of yoking live-
stock, and the symbolic yoking of powers is a recurring theme. The fol-
lowing hymn uses the metaphor of yoking to liken the work of sacrificial
priests to the work of farmers in their fields:

The inspired poets who know how, harness the plough and stretch the

yokes on either side to win favor among the gods.

RV 10:101:4

Agricultural and yoking metaphors abound also in the Atharvaveda, which
provides a wealth of material concerning Vedic conceptions of healing.

Homage to the ploughs (la ̄ ̇ngala), homage to thy [wagon-]poles and

yokes; let the kÓsetriya[hereditary-disease-] effacing plant fade the

kÓsetriyaaway.

AV 2:8.4 (trans. Whitney)

Pra ̄Óna, the vital energy carried by breath, is a fundamental bridge to liber-
ation in yoga, and it is extolled in the Atharvaveda:

Reverence be, O Pr ̄aÓna

to thee coming

reverence to thee going;

reverence to thee standing,

and reverence to thee sitting.

Reverence be to thee, O Pr ̄aÓna,

When thou breathest in (pranate ̄ )

Reverence when thou breathest out!

Reverence be to thee when thou art turned away,

Reverence to thee when thou art turned hither:

To thee, entire, reverence be here!

Of thy dear form, O Pr ̄aÓna,

Of thy very dear form,

Of the healing power that is thine,

Give unto us, that we may live!

AV 11:4:7–9 (trans. Bloomfield)

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