18 Yogas in Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavadgita, the “Song Celestial”, endeavours to coalesce various paths to Mukti or salvation. It is quintessential of the Prasthanatrayi which includes Brahma Sutras and Upanishads. The Rishis believed that no single path is universal and suitable to all seekers.
They insisted that each path varies according to the Samskaras or tendencies of the seekers. Lord Krishna enumerates different paths but uses the word Yoga rather than Marga to designate each path.
Yoga is a Sanskrit word, which means to join, join two or more things into one. So, yoga is about the experience of oneness and the feeling of harmony. Patanjali, the author of Yoga Sutras, says,
“Yogah ChittaVritti Nirodhah”, – Yoga is the controlling of the modifications of the mind. In other words, Yoga is a technique to control movements of the mind.
Definition of Yoga as per Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna gives a new definition of yoga in the Bhagavad Gita.
- He defines it as “Samatvam Yoga Uchyate” – equanimity is yoga, that is one should remain unaffected by the weals and woes in life. This equanimity of mind is the ultimate objective of yoga.
- In another verse, he says, “Yogah karma sukaushalam”, which means yoga is skilful action.
A man can perform any action with great skill and devotion only when he is not motivated by any desire for reward and is dedicated to God. He defines yoga variously in accordance with the context. He enumerates as many as 18 yogas in Bhagavad Gita:
- 1. Arjuna Vishada Yoga,
- 2. Sankhya Yoga,
- 3. Karma Yoga,
- 4. Jnana Yoga,
- 5. Karmasanyasa Yoga,
- 6. Aatmasamyama Yoga,
- 7. Gyanavigyana Yoga,
- 8. Aksharaparabrahma Yoga,
- 9. Rajavidyarajaguhya Yoga,
- 10. Vibhuti Yoga,
- 11. Visvaroopasandarshana Yoga,
- 12. Bhakti Yoga,
- 13.Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga,
- 14. Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga,
- 15. Purushotthamaprapti Yoga,
- 16. Daivasurasampath Vibhaga Yoga,
- 17. Shrddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga,
- 18. Mokshasanyasa Yoga.
3 Best Yogas
Of these, three Yogas are the most important, namely: Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.
While the Jnana yoga is not within the reach of the multitude, Karma yoga is the yoga of action. It considers righteous living as a prayer to God. It emphasises selfless service. Bhakti yoga stresses the consubstantiation of the individual with the Universal. It underscores the state of Sayujya which is a total merger with God.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti, that is devotion, is a universal phenomenon. It is not unique to India. There are as many different modes of expressing this devotion as there are religions and their followers. Innumerable poets, singers and composers wrote and composed many poems, songs etc. trying to capture various moods of the gods and their devotees.
Thus, intense longing and irrepressible urge to unite with the divine characterises all forms of human creativity in India and this accounts for the overwhelmingly rich repertoire of Indian arts such as music, painting and literature. Before we discuss what is bhakti and its various manifestations, it may be useful to trace its origin and growth in India.
