Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s2.3

v2.c12.s2.3

Very early in their history, the Indians developed a combination of physical and mental exercises and named it Yoga. Material evidences from archaeological excavations indicate that Indians during the Indus Valley Civilisation were well-versed in the art of meditation. In *Rigveda*, the meaning of word "Yoga" already appears in the present sense of self-cultivation and well-being and not in the original sense of "to bind" or "to unite". Referring probably to the earliest Yoga practitioners, the *Atharaveda* mentions that they were ascetics who obtained magical/supernatural powers. There are several explicit references to Yoga in the *Taittiriya Upanishad*. The *Shvetashvatara Upanishad* further elaborates various postures and breathing methods of Yoga as well as places connected with its cultivation, frequently encountered illusions in its practice, its contemporary practical uses and ultimate goal that one should aspire to achieve. Appearing later, the *Maitri Upanishad* provides more advanced details of basic branches of Yoga and especially formulation of its earliest "ix classified category"; ie Prāṇāyāma (control of breath), Pratyāhara (withdrawal/ control of senses), Dhyāna (meditation), dharana (concentration of mind) and tapas/jnāna (consciousness/speculation). The Hindu holy book *Bhagavad Gita* may have been originally composed during the 4th or 3rd century BCE. It categorises Yoga into several types, like "Jnāna Yoga", "Karma Yoga", "Rāja Yoga" and "Bhakti Yoga". It also explains essentials of the other concepts like *prāṇāyāma* and *dhyāna* which formed categorised Yoga into two categories - *Karma Yoga* and *Jnana Yoga* and listed eight stages or eight fold paths for its practice of yoga: 1. Respect for others (*yama*), 2. respect for yourself (*niyama*), 3. body posture (*āsana*), 4. breath control (*prāṇāyāma*) 5. withdrawal of senses (*pratyāhāra*), 6. concentration (*dhāaraṇa*), 7. contemplation/meditation (*dhyāna*) and 8. ecstasy (*samādhi*). This is the classification of the Indian Yoga system.