Practice of Yama and Niyama during Auspicious Days

By H H Maa Purnananda

Yogashchittavrittinirodhah. – 1.2
Tada Drashtuh Swaroopeavasthaanam. – 1.3
Ahinsaasatyaasteyabrahmacharyaaparigrahaa Yamaah. – 2.30
Shauchsantoshtapahswaadhyaayeshwarpranidhaanaani Niyamaah. – 2.32
– (Maharshi Patanjali Praneetam Yogdarshanam)

Last year, on the auspicious day of Ajaa Ekaadashi that fell on 29th August’24, the beautiful Vaahan-Deepsthambh was erected right in front of Sree Ishwar here at SISS. This year it fell on 19th August’25. The Divine Vehicles (Vaahan) of Sree Brahma, Sree Vishnu and Sree Maheshwar, the Divine Swan (Hansa), the Divine Eagle (Garuda) and the Divine Bull (Nandi) respectively, constantly remind us to be regular in religious and Spiritual practices, humbly serve the Divine causes and carry-forward (that is what the term Vaahan signifies) the message of the Supreme Divinity by practicing and living a virtuous life. Subsequently, the Divine Light (Deepstambh), constantly reminds us to let the Light of Consciousness (Gnyan Pradeep) radiate from within.

So significant indeed! To get a glimpse of Sree Ishwar within our own heart, we need to practice what Maharshi Patanjali says in the given “Sutras”. Significantly, the above-mentioned relevant Vaahan-s also symbolise the same.

While beginning to explain the discipline of Yog, Maharshi Patanjali commences by defining the term “Yog”, which simply means “union (in Spiritual field – with the Divine Consciousness)”. The definition given by Him includes the practice primarily required to attain Yog; where He says “Yog” is attained by “conscious cessation of the vibration-modes of thought-flow” termed as “Chittavritti Nirodh”.

Nandi, the Divine Bull symbolises one who carries forward (Vaahan) the Divine message for practice of 5 Yama-s namely Ahinsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigrah. Though seemingly violent by nature, the Divine Bull Nandi surrenders humbly at the Holy- Feet of His Ishtadev Bhagwaan Shiv to serve Him as His Vaahan; expressing Ahinsa. Always seated facing Lord Shiv, Nandi never loses the sight of His Ishta; expressing His commitment to Satya. No matter how large, huge or big would be the veil of false, unreal or lies, Truth always stands greater; it can never be concealed, it surely gets revealed! Thus, Nandi’s huge appearance symbolises Asteya, the Truth which is revealed. Brahmacharya essentially means revelling constantly in Brahman, the Absolute Reality. Hence, not losing the sight of His Ishta even for a blink, Nandi constantly revels in His Ishta Lord Shiv; symbolising perfect Brahmacharya. Nandi, the devotee par-excellence, is one of the greatest examples of an Aparigrahi. He is one who keeps nothing for Himself, offering all that He has to His Ishta Lord Shiv; exemplifying Aparigrah. Thus, the 5 Yama-s are practiced to cultivate restraint of the 5 Karmendriya-s (5 sense organs of action).

Garuda, the Divine Eagle symbolises one who carries forward (Vaahan) the Divine message for practice of 5 Niyama-s namely Shauch, Santosh, Tapa, Swadhyay and Ishwar Pranidhaan. Though seemingly dirty by nature, the Divine Eagle Garuda surrenders humbly at the Holy- Feet of His Ishtadev Bhagwaan Vishnu to serve Him as His Vaahan; expressing Shauch, purity sustained by close association with the Lord. Serving selflessly His Ishtadev whenever and however required, Garuda remains ever content, hence is the symbol of Santosh. Has unmatched ability to dive sharply down on earth from the heights of the sky to swiftly pick-up the required object and fly back high up. Thus Garuda symbolises Tapa, the ability to take-up hard tasks required for self-evolution. Being well-established in Santosh and Tapa, Garuda cultivates self-introspective nature; thus, constantly being aware of Himself, Swadhyay happens to be the natural outcome of His dedication to the Lord. Complete surrender is the key to being an able instrument of the Lord, without which, it is not possible to serve the Lord. Thus, the pure, content, hardworking and introspective Garuda represents the best example of Ishwar Pranidhaan, complete surrender to the Lord. Thus, the 5 Niyama-s are to be practiced to cultivate restraint of the 5 Gnyanendriya-s (5 sense organs of perception).

When the Karmendriya-s and Gnyanendriya-s are thus tamed, the seeker thereafter gets prepared for the Sacred Path of Spiritual pursuit. Hansa, the Divine Swan, symbolises one who carries forward (Vaahan) the Divine message for practice of enhancing discriminative ability, Vivek, to differentiate between the Real and the unreal that would lead to cultivate dispassion, faith, inner peace and so on, which would ultimately culminate into Chittavritti Nirodh. Thus, establishing the mind-intellect equipment well in the vibration-less mode, the seeker would be able to take the higher flight towards the Ultimate Goal, the Supreme Self. Hansa serves Its Ishtadev Lord Brahma as His Vaahan; being the pure, brilliant and efficient devotee of Lord Brahma, the very Source of the Divine Creation.

While worshiping Sree Ishwar, the Primeval Cause of Creation, at Sree Ishwar Darshan Mandir here at SISS, let us always offer our humble prayers to these Divine Vehicles as well, who, while holding the Sacred Deepjyoti, remind us of the Sadhna-s that are to be practiced on the Divine Path to shed ‘Jeevattva’ and attain the Divine ‘Jyoti’ of ‘Ishwarattva’. Surely, we have a definite reason to practice Yama and Niyama daily; and definitely on auspicious days!