Many different disciplines have been described in the ancient Hindu scriptures. These include:
Although these disciplines cover topics as varied as medicine and architecture, they are all based on the same well defined principles and rules.
Vedic Disciplines are centred around the five basic elements, known as the 'Panch-Mahabhuts'. It is believed that even Gods take a human form, to acquire these elements, of which the human body consists. These five basic elements are:
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Darshan Shastra' >> '
Upangs'
'Darshanshastra' explains the state of human existence, as a stream of consciousness, it has five sub-branches called the 'Upang(s)'. The upangs make up the five disciplines of, Music, Astrology, Ayurved, Yoga and Vastu. These disciplines have corresponding elements that share similar attributes, as illustrated below:
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EQUIVALENT CHARACTERISTICS
Yoga
The word '
Yoga' comes from the Sanskrit word 'YOJ', which means, 'To Unite'. The final aim of Yoga is to unite the individual self, with the universal self. In the ancient text, four types of Yogas have been described, these are:
- Hath Yoga
- Laya Yoga
- Mantra Yoga
- Raj Yoga
Yoga as it is practiced today is considered to be a combination of Hath and Raj Yogas and is known as, 'Stanga Yoga'.
The yogic practice of 'Pranayam' , refers to streams of energy or 'Nadis', in the body. Loosely, 'Nadis' correspond to veins, arteries and capillaries, or the respiratory and circulatory systems. The 'Ida' and 'Pingala' nadis carry the Sun current and the Moon currents, respectively, to different parts of the body. A third nadi, the 'Shushumbhna', is a very fine, brilliant thread running through the spinal cord along which the 'Kundalini', or 'Sleeping Serpent' ascends. Awakening the Kundalini is the highest step in Tantrik practices.
According to Vaastu Shastra, natural energies such as solar, gravitational, magneticetc flow from the North - East direction. This flow of energy corresponds to 'Ida' an is auspicious. On the other hand the South - West is inauspicious and corresponds to the the yogic flow, 'Pingala'.
