1Shaucha. Shaucha (शौच), purity, is one of the Niyamas of Yoga or Hinduism. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata and Patanjali's text. It may also mean to cry with tears; pointing to the cleansing crying gives when one is defiled by the sorrow caused by the departure of a relative or a friend, or after a catastrophe[1]. Purity and cleanliness are highly emphasized. Shaucha, or holistic purity of the body, is essential for health, happiness and general well-being.
External purity is achieved through daily ablutions, while internal purity is cultivated through physical exercises, including asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing techniques). The mind is purified throughout the disciplines of mindfulness and devotional yoga (Bhakti). It is through devotional (selfless) practices that the mind is cleansed and fortified by eliminating disturbing emotions like hatred, passion, anger, lust, greed, delusion and pride. 2Santosha. Santosha (skt. संतोष saṃtoṣa, "contentment, satisfaction"[1]) is one of the niyamas of Yoga as listed by Patanjali.[2] Contentment is variously described, but can be thought of as not requiring more than you have to achieve contentment. It may be seen as renunciation of the need to acquire, and thereby elimination of want as an obstacle to mokṣa. The alternate spelling samtosha is also seen. 3Tapas. Tapasya - Jain meditation in progress.[1] Tapas (tapas, Sanskrit: तपस्) means deep meditation,[2] effort to achieve self-realization, sometimes involving solitude, hermitism or asceticism;[3][4] it is derived from the word root tap (Sanskrit: तप् or ताप) which depending on context means "heat" from fire or weather, or blaze, burn, shine, penance, pain, suffering, mortification.[5][6][7] In the yogic tradition it is the fire that burns within that is needed for the sanyasi to achieve the very difficult goal of enlightenment, to foster self-control, one mindedness and focus, simplicity, wisdom, integrity.
Some of the earliest reference of tapas, and compound words from the root tap (तप) is found in many ancient Hindu scriptures, including the Ŗg Veda (10.154.5), Satapatha Brahmana (5.3 - 5.17), and Atharva Veda (4.34.1, 6.61.1, 11.1.26). Agni, the fire deity, is common at Hindu rituals such as weddings. Yoga requires tāpas (meditation, calm reflection, exercises, brooding).[32] Bhagiratha.
4Svādhyāya. Svādhyāya (Devanagari: स्वाध्याय) is a Sanskrit term in Hinduism having several meanings, including study of the Vedas and other sacred books, self-recitation, repetition of the Vedas aloud, and as a term for the Vedas themselves.[1][2][3] Svādhyāya is extolled in orthodox Brahmanism in its traditional sense as "study of the scriptures and darśanas which help the understanding of the nature of the Paramātman.
"[4] Some translators simply use the word "study" without qualifying the type of study.[5][6] Etymology[edit] Adhyāya means "a lesson, lecture, chapter; reading" (- Monier-Williams). Svādhyāya (a compound of sva + adhyāya), therefore, literally means one's own (Vedic) lesson (taught by guru), i.e. ,of one's own shakha (śākhā or recension)'. Learning one's Vedic recension[edit] As a tool for memorization, svādhyāya had a unique meaning for Vedic scholars as the principal tool for the oral preservation of the Vedas in their original form for millennia. Ongoing study of scriptures[edit]
5Ishvarapranidhana. Īśvara-Praṇidhāna (ईश्वर-प्रणिधान) represents surrender to, and love for, the divinity within the individual in Hinduism and Yoga. Etymology and meaning[edit] In its simplest form, the word is a combination of the words (sometimes hyphenated), Īśvara, meaning Lord, Controller, God, Supreme Being or Life Force, and pra-ṇi-dhā-na, meaning "attention to, love for, surrender to, faith in," or "reunion with. " "Attentiveness" and "Surrender" are both close English approximations.[1] A close literal English translation of "Īśvara-praṇidhāna" would give "Attentiveness to God" or "Surrender to God. " As one of the final or "supreme" stages of many forms of Yoga, the "surrender" aspect of Ishvara-Pranidhana is often used to describe the step, whereas "attentiveness" describes the practice. Ishvarapranidhana is surrender of the mind to Brahmam as well as dedication of all actions to the God.
Duties and practices[edit] History[edit] Community[edit] See also[edit] Notes and references[edit]