Do you wonder where yoga started? Millions around the world love yoga. It comes from ancient India. Its history goes back thousands of years. This journey will show you the awesome beginnings of yoga, making it a global hit.
Now, many worldwide do yoga, making it a big part of India’s influence.1 Just think, in 2012, over 20 million people in the US did yoga.1 Thousands of years ago, in ancient India, people began yoga during the Indus Valley Civilisation (3300 BCE to 1300 BCE). Back then, it was a spiritual way of life. The earliest mention of “yoga” was in the Rg Veda (1500-1000BCE). But it wasn’t a set practice yet.2 Not until 500 BCE did yoga become a systematic way. Its goal was to stop the cycle of birth and end suffering. The first yoga followers were Sramanas. They called their practice “tapas”. It meant doing hard work and self-discipline to master their minds and bodies.
Key Takeaways
- Yoga has a rich history dating back thousands of years, originating in ancient India during the Indus Valley Civilization.
- The word “yoga” is first mentioned in the Rg Veda, one of India’s oldest scriptures, though it did not represent a specific practice at the time.
- Yoga took on a more systematic approach around 500 BCE, with the goal of ending the cycle of birth and eliminating human suffering.
- The earliest practitioners of yoga were known as Sramanas, who used the term “tapas” to describe their disciplined, ascetic practices.
- In 2012, there were over 20 million yoga practitioners in the United States alone, highlighting the global popularity of this ancient practice.
Yoga’s Enigmatic Origins
Yoga started in the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation in India, around 3300 to 1300 BCE. People there began it as a spiritual way of life thousands of years ago.3 The oldest mention of yoga comes from the Rg Veda, India’s ancient holy text, between 1500 and 1000 BCE. Here, yoga means a chariot of war with horses yoked together.4 About 500 years later, yoga developed into a method to stop the cycle of rebirth and reach enlightenment, to end suffering.
The Indus Valley Civilization’s Imprint
The Indus Valley Civilisation, around 3000 BCE, in parts of India and Pakistan, gave an early glimpse into yoga. This was about 5000 years ago. It laid the early beliefs and traditions of yoga.
Yoga’s Earliest Mention in the Rig Veda
Between about 1500 and 500 BCE was the Vedic era, when the Vedas and other early texts were written. These laid down ideas that led to yoga. The Katha Upanishad, which was written later, between 500 and 300 BCE, used the word “yoga” as we know it today.4
Sramanas: The Early Yogic Pioneers
The first people known to practice yoga were the Sramanas, meaning “strivers”. They practiced tapas, which is voluntary self-discipline and effort. This included things like fasting and meditating.3 The Sramanas set the stage for the spread of yogic practices and later teachings through their hard work and dedication.
Sacred Texts and the Philosophical Evolution of Yoga
In the Vedas, yoga is shown as more than just physical poses. It’s a way to go beyond the body and find a connection with our deeper self. This is believed to bring spiritual freedom and a feeling of joy and unity with everything around us.2 The Upanishads, from the 8th century BCE, go deeper into the idea of yoga. They look at what our true self is, what the universe is, and the big reality, Brahman.2
The Upanishads and the Nature of Self
The Upanishads ask big questions about life. They look into who we really are, what the world is, and our link to the divine. Through yoga’s philosophy, they offer a way to understand our true self and how we fit into the big picture.5
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali come from the 2nd century BCE. They lay out the main ideas and practices of yoga. This system is called Ashtanga Yoga, with eight steps: how to live right (yamas and niyamas), body poses (asanas), breath control (pranayama), calming the mind (pratyahara), focus (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and complete unity (samadhi).25
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali show a full way of doing yoga. The yamas and niyamas are about being good and true to ourselves. Then come the poses (asanas), breath work (pranayama), and quieting our senses (pratyahara). These make us ready for deeper practices like focus, meditation, and real unity with everything (samadhi).5
Studying these ancient texts helps us see the depth and the change yoga can bring. We learn about its long history and why it still matters today.256
Yoga: A Confluence of Ancient Philosophies
Yoga inspires many traditions, just as they have influenced it. Shaivism, Tantra, Buddhism, and Jainism have deeply impacted the development of yoga.1
Buddhism’s Influence on Yoga
In the 6th century BCE, Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha). It stresses meditation and mindfulness for attaining enlightenment. These practices are seen as forerunners to yoga’s physical postures and breath control.1
Jainism’s Principles of Non-Violence
Also in the 6th century BCE, Jainism was founded by Mahavira. It shares yoga’s focus on meditation and self-discipline. The principle of ahimsa (non-violence) in Jainism mirrors yoga’s teaching of compassion and care for all beings.1
Tantra’s Energetic Explorations
Active from the sixth to thirteenth century, Tantra focused on the shakti (female energy) and the energetic body (nadi and chakra system). It offered insights on breath’s significance (pranayama) and on Kundalini yoga.1
Yoga History
Yoga has a long history in India, going back thousands of years.7 It’s tied to major religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.4 It changed over time, leading to various schools and practices.7 Yogic knowledge was passed down orally, then recorded in ancient texts.
The birth of yoga was around 3000 BCE in the Indus-Saraswati Valley in India.7 From 1900-1500 BCE, this area’s civilization weakened due to different reasons.7 The Vedas’ oral knowledge was written down between 1500-500 BCE.7 Patanjali then wrote the Yoga Sutras, defining the Ashtanga path, in the 4th to 2nd century BC.7
Near the late 1800s, yoga masters like Sivananda and Krishnamacharya promoted Hatha Yoga.7 Krishnamacharya, considered the father of modern postural yoga, especially influenced the Indian elite.7 His teachings impacted people like BKS Iyengar, Sri Pattabhi Jois, and Indra Devi, spreading yoga to the West.7
In the past, mostly men practised yoga, but in recent decades more women are practicing.7 This has shifted yoga towards more free-flowing and intuitive methods.7 Today, yoga is extremely popular and found in many places including schools, prisons, and through social media.7
The mention of yoga-like practices first appeared in the Hindu text Rigveda.4 Yoga shows up in the Upanishads too.4 The meaning of the word “yoga” as we know it now first appeared in the Katha Upanishad, written between the fifth and third centuries BCE.4 Later, it became one of Hinduism’s six main schools.4 Hatha yoga writings started to exist between the ninth and 11th centuries thanks to tantra.4 There’s debate over yoga’s beginning: either rooted in the Vedic period or a mix of ideas.4 In the West, yoga often means Hatha yoga for health, relaxation, and fitness.4
The Bhagavad Gita and the Yogic Path
The Bhagavad Gita stands as a key Hindu scripture, valuable in the yogic world. It was written around 5000 BCE. This text dives into several yoga tradition paths like karma yoga, bhakti yoga, and jnana yoga.8 In the Gita, Sri Krishna shares profound teachings with Arjuna, guiding him on dharma (duty) and moksha (soul liberation). These teachings help lead a right and fulfilling life.8 Its wisdom has guided many, including Mahatma Gandhi, Aldous Huxley, and Ralph Waldo Emerson.8
Sri Krishna’s Teachings on Dharma and Moksha
The Bhagavad Gita holds 700 Sanskrit verses and falls within the Mahabharata, written in the third or fourth century BCE.8 It highlights the term yoga over a hundred times, showing its central role. The Gita delves into yoga tradition elements like karma, dharma, soul, universe, and moksha.8 It presents Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Jnana Yoga as the primary yoga philosophy. Understanding these philosophies is key to spiritual growth.8
The Bhagavad Gita clarifies that yoga is much more than just physical postures. It’s a complete practice that aligns the mind, body, and soul with the universe for spiritual advancement.8 In the Gita, Lord Krishna describes yoga as the way to surrender and connect to the ultimate reality. It is a path to achieve our life’s primary aim.8
The Gita’s structure is designed to guide readers through various yoga paths. It explains Karma Yoga in the first six chapters, then Bhakti Yoga, and Gyan Yoga. This sequence offers a wide spiritual insight.8 It serves as a roadmap to elevate awareness through key yoga practices like devotion, knowledge, duty, and meditation.8 The Gita underscores the value of selfless service and devotion, leading to a deep understanding and eventually liberation.8
Western thinkers and scientists have also tapped into the Bhagavad Gita‘s wisdom. Through it, the Gita’s impact has transcended Indian borders.8
The Revival of Yoga in Modern Times
In the early 20th century, yoga became popular in the West thanks to Indian teachers. Leaders like Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda shared the practice with Westerners. They presented yoga as a way to know oneself better and to change inside.9
Swami Vivekananda’s Pivotal Role
Swami Vivekananda was a key Hindu monk in spreading yoga worldwide. He made powerful speeches and wrote inspiring texts about yoga. He saw it as a practice for anyone, no matter their background or beliefs. Thanks to his clear messages and personality, yoga started to really take off in the West.
Yoga’s Surge in the West
The 1960s and 1970s were big for yoga as part of a movement against the mainstream. Leaders like Swami Satchidananda and B.K.S. Iyengar made it more popular.9 In the more recent past, yoga has become even easier to try. There are now many places to practice, like studios and online classes. This has let more people enjoy the many good things about yoga, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally.9
Yoga’s Transformative Journey
Yoga has traveled a long path of change, from ancient times in the Indus Valley Civilization10 to its worldwide appeal today. For centuries, it’s been a part of human culture and history11. Yoga has mixed with, and influenced, various ways of thinking and different religions like Hinduism. It’s also been shaped by Buddhism, Jainism, and Tantra.
The organization of yoga began with Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It grew with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. In our recent history, Swami Vivekananda brought yoga back to the forefront10. In the West, yoga changes to suit different cultures. This has led to many styles, but its essential teachings and power remain unchanged.
Yoga comes from ancient India and has changed over time. It includes activities for the body, mind, and soul11. The aim is to find unity with yourself and the world. People do yoga for many reasons. Some do it to ease stress or become physically fit. Others explore its spiritual layers11.
Breath control is a core part of yoga, called pranayama. It helps balance the body and mind11. Pranayama links the body and spirit, helping people connect with their inner self11. Yoga is more than postures; it’s a way to live mindfully, with kindness and understanding11. Living the yogic way can make life more balanced and satisfying11.
Yoga helps people feel connected to themselves, others, and the world. It brings inner peace and harmony11. Practicing yoga can turn people into sources of light and love. They can spread positivity and kindness everywhere11.
The Enduring Legacy of Yoga
Yoga’s legacy is built on timeless wisdom. It stays relevant across cultures and times. The Vedas, Upanishads, and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are key texts. They offer deep insights on the self, universe, and self-realization.12
Yoga’s Timeless Wisdom and Relevance
Yoga includes ethical guidelines, physical postures, breath control, and meditation. These help with personal growth, stress management, and finding spiritual meaning. In a changing world, yoga’s holistic view remains vital. It aids in finding balance, harmony, and connecting to the sacred.
Hatha Yoga stands out as the oldest yoga form.12 Indian texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Shiva Samhita, from the 12th to 17th centuries CE, are still studied. Its roots go back to 500 BCE in texts like the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Today, Hatha Yoga’s holistic health approach impacts many. It’s a vital guide for balance and change in life.
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Source Links
- https://completeunityyoga.com/blogs/yoga/yoga-history
- https://www.shvasa.com/yoga-blog/history-of-yoga
- https://medium.com/@neha22tiw/evolutionwho-invented-yoga-unraveling-the-enigma-a52f7af0b1ec
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoga
- https://medium.com/@apyogaindia/understanding-yogas-roots-a-history-and-philosophy-6957102e2842
- https://erickimphotography.com/blog/2023/11/24/history-of-yoga/
- https://www.lilyrussoyoga.com/briefhistoryofyoga
- https://medium.com/@spkulsari/the-importance-of-yoga-in-bhagavad-gita-8688b2f0abad
- http://www.ijstm.com/images/short_pdf/1485838299_N578_IJSTM.pdf
- https://www.doyogawithme.com/blog/what-are-origins-yoga
- https://www.donnamaltz.com/blog/embracing-the-transformative-power-of-yoga-a-journey-to-wellness-and-peace
- https://lizardyoga.com/hatha-yoga-oldest-form-of-yoga/
