"Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodha" (योगश् चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः) is the foundational sutra of Patanjali’s Yog

  🧘‍♂️ Tirumalai Krishnamacharya: The Father of Modern Yoga In the vast landscape of Indian spiritual traditions, few names shine as brightly as  Tirumalai Krishnamacharya  — a man who almost single-handedly revived, reshaped, and repopularized yoga in the 20th century. Revered as the  Father of Modern Yoga , Krishnamacharya’s influence can be seen in nearly every style of yoga practiced today around the world. 📍 Early Life and Education Born in  1888  in the town of  Muchukundapura , in Karnataka, India, Krishnamacharya was a child prodigy. By the age of 10, he had memorized entire sections of the  Vedas . His formal education spanned an impressive range — he mastered  Sanskrit ,  Ayurveda ,  Vedic philosophy , and  yogic scriptures . In pursuit of deeper yogic knowledge, he traveled to Tibet and studied for over seven years under the guidance of his teacher  Ramamohan Brahmachari , deep in the Himalayas. There, he lear...

 Kaivalya (कैवल्य) is the ultimate goal in Yoga Darshana (the philosophy of Yoga), especially as described by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. The word "Kaivalya" comes from the Sanskrit root "kevala", which means "alone," "isolated," or "absolute." 🔷 Meaning of Kaivalya Kaivalya refers to the state of absolute liberation, where the soul (Purusha) is completely free from the bonds of matter (Prakriti) and all forms of suffering, illusion, and attachment. 🔷 Key Aspects of Kaivalya: 1. Separation of Purusha and Prakriti According to Yoga and Samkhya philosophies, Purusha (pure consciousness) is entangled with Prakriti (material nature). Through deep yogic practice, this entanglement is ended, and Purusha realizes its true, independent nature. This realization is Kaivalya – pure, isolated consciousness, untouched by anything external. 2. Beyond Mind and Ego The mind (manas), ego (ahamkara), and intellect (buddhi) are all considered part of ...

  🌿  Pancha Klesha: The Five Roots of Suffering in Yogic Philosophy Understanding the Inner Obstacles That Cloud Our True Nature In the timeless wisdom of the  Yoga Sutras of Patanjali , the journey to inner freedom begins with self-awareness. Central to this path is the concept of  Pancha Klesha —the five fundamental afflictions that disturb the stillness of the mind and bind us to suffering. These kleshas are not external enemies, but subtle inner forces that distort perception and deepen the illusion of separation. Through yoga, we learn not to fight them, but to understand, dissolve, and transcend them. 1.  Avidya (अविद्या) – Ignorance “The root of all suffering is ignorance.” Avidya is not simply a lack of knowledge; it is a misidentification of what is impermanent as permanent, what is impure as pure, what is painful as pleasurable, and what is not the Self as the Self. It is the veiling of truth—preventing us from recognizing our divine essence. All othe...

 Panch Prana in Yoga and Ayurveda (The Five Vital Airs/Life Forces) In yogic philosophy and Ayurveda, "Prana" refers to the vital life force or energy that permeates the body. "Panch Prana" refers to the five primary types or functions of this vital energy, also known as the five Vayus (winds or airs). They govern different physiological and energetic functions within the body. Balancing these five Pranas is considered essential for physical and mental health. The five Pranas are:  * Prana Vayu:    * Location: Primarily in the head, lungs, and heart region.    * Function: Governs inhalation, reception (of air, food, senses, thoughts), and forward/inward motion. It's the fundamental energy.  * Apana Vayu:    * Location: Below the navel, in the pelvic region.    * Function: Governs elimination (excretion, urination, menstruation, ejaculation), downward and outward movement. It grounds energy.  * Samana Vayu:    * Locati...

  Me and My Yoga Mat Me and My Yoga Mat: A Sacred Relationship Some find sanctity in temples, others in nature. For me, it lives in a quiet, unassuming space: my yoga mat. Just a strip of rubber and thread — and yet, it holds stories, struggles, and silent transformations. We’ve spent countless hours together. It has seen me at my strongest, and held me through my softest unraveling. Beyond Function, Into Ritual To the untrained eye, it’s just a mat. But to those who practice — truly practice — it becomes something far deeper: A mirror. A witness. A sanctuary. It has received my sweat in the fires of flow. Cradled my spine in surrendering stillness. Held my breath when it trembled with grief, and echoed my joy in moments of radiant presence. It has never asked for perfection. Only presence. No Applause, No Audience There are no filters on the mat. No titles. No performance. Just the raw truth of breath and body. Here, I am allowed to begin again — without needing to explain or impr...

  "Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodha"  (योगश् चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः) is the foundational sutra of  Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras , and it translates to: “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.” 📖 Breakdown: Yoga (योग) : Union or discipline. Chitta (चित्त) : The mind, including consciousness and subconscious layers. Vritti (वृत्ति) : Fluctuations, thoughts, or mental modifications. Nirodha (निरोधः) : Restraint, suppression, or cessation. ✨ Deeper Meaning: This sutra defines yoga as a state where the constant chatter and disturbances in the mind are stilled. When thoughts no longer disturb the still lake of consciousness, the practitioner experiences their true self (Purusha). Yoga is stillness, deep and wide, A tranquil sea where waves subside. No thought disturbs, no winds arise— The self reflected in clear skies. In silent depths the truth is found, Where mind no longer spins around. The echoes fade, the noise withdrawn, Revealing soul, untouched by dawn. Not in movemen...