Raja Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga is one of the four major Yogic paths of Hinduism, the others being Karma yoga, Jnana yoga and Bhakti yoga. Raja Yoga involves psycho-physical meditational techniques to attain experiences of the truth and finally achieve liberation, described in Hindu thought as moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth). Raja yoga is also known as Ashtanga Yoga. The term Ashtanga means eight limbs, thus Ashtanga Yoga refers to the eight limbs of yoga. It is the classical Indian system of Hindu ...

Including:

• Raja Yoga - Origin
• Raja Yoga - Concept
• Raja Yoga - Practice
• Raja Yoga - Eight limbs of Raja Yoga
• Raja Yoga - Yama
• Raja Yoga - Niyama
• Raja Yoga - Asana
• Raja Yoga - Pranayama
• Raja Yoga - Pratyahara
• Raja Yoga - Dharana
• Raja Yoga - Dhyana
• Raja Yoga - Samadhi
• Raja Yoga - Results

Read more here: » Raja Yoga: Encyclopedia - Raja Yoga

See also:

Raja Yoga, Raja Yoga - Origin, Raja Yoga - Concept, Raja Yoga - Practice, Raja Yoga - Eight limbs of Raja Yoga, Raja Yoga - Yama, Raja Yoga - Niyama, Raja Yoga - Asana, Raja Yoga - Pranayama, Raja Yoga - Pratyahara, Raja Yoga - Dharana, Raja Yoga - Dhyana, Raja Yoga - Samadhi, Raja Yoga - Results

Read more here: » Raja Yoga: Encyclopedia II - Raja Yoga - Eight limbs of Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga: Royal Yoga. The Yoga path of meditation.  Hatha Yoga is actually a branch of Raja Yoga.

(See also: Raja Yoga, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

In Raja Yoga the goal is to quieten the mind through meditation where the attention is fixed on an object, mantra, or concept.

The aim of Raja yoga meditation is to successfully establish a mental link with the supreme source of all spiritual energy and power, the Supreme Soul, with the purpose of freeing the individual soul from sorrow, misery, pain, depression, fear, anxiety, illness, insecurity and phobias, and enabling the soul to once again experience constant peace, happiness, love and lasting health and prosperity.

(See also: Yoga Systems, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Raja Yoga - The Yoga of Self Control

Raja means Ôroyal' and Raja Yoga is said to be the Ôking' of Yogas. It is the path of yoga which is mainly concerned with meditation. During practice, the yogi sits at ease to observe the mind and to silence floating thoughts. The practice induces a sense of centrality and teaches self honour and respect. One of the main beliefs of Raja Yoga is that the universe exists only for the self. It is based on the Eight Limbs of Yoga which is discussed in the Yoga Sutra.

Read more here: » Yoga Branches: Raja Yoga

The Brahmakumaris practise Raja Yoga, particularly the trataka form of meditation in order to achieve union with God. It involves keeping your eyes open and fixing your gaze on a tiny red spot with total attention. Raja Yoga gives knowledge of self and enables one to attain peace, purity and harmony.

Dawn is preceded by the darkest hour of the night. The Brahmakumaris consider the present time as the most critical period. This will be followed by a new age - the dawn in the great cycle of time. The agent of transition may be the person possessing knowledge of the true self, of a positive soul. One who reaches the highest stage of this knowledge becomes Brahma. The supreme divine being is Shiva, who is an embodiment of knowledge, peace, purity and harmony.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Raja Yoga mentions nothing about this Kundalini, but propounds a still subtle, higher path, philosophical and rational, and asks the aspirant to control the mind, to withdraw all the senses and to plunge in meditation. Unlike Hatha Yoga which is mechanical and mystical, Raja Yoga teaches a technique with eight limbs, appealing to the heart and intellect of aspirants.

Read more here: » Kundalini: Raja Yoga and Kundalini

Raja yoga, is the royal path of meditation. As a king maintains control over his kingdom, so can we maintain control over our own "kingdom"- the vast territory of the mind. In raja yoga we use our mental powers to realize the Atman through the process of psychological control.

The basic premise of raja yoga is that our perception of the divine Self is obscured by the disturbances of the mind. If the mind can be made still and pure, the Self will automatically, instantaneously, shine forth.

Read more here: » Raja Yoga: The Path of Meditation - Raja Yoga

Compiled by the Sage Patanjali Maharishi in the Yoga Sutras, the Eight Limbs are a progressive series of steps or disciplines which purify the body and mind, ultimately leading the yogi to enlightenment.

This article details the eight limbs of the Raja Yoga system, one of the four main paths of Yoga.

Read more here: » Raja Yoga: The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga

Yoga Schools: The Six Branches of Yoga

Of the six branches of yoga, only one is concerned with Prana and physical body. The rest can be seen as spiritual disciplines.

Includes: Hatha Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga and Tantra Yoga

Read more here: » Yoga Schools: The Six Branches of Yoga

The different yoga schools simply adhere to different applications of inner discipline, all of which ultimately lead to the liberation of the soul and to a unique understanding of the Divine Unity. The schools are merely named according to the yogi's objective of self-transformation and the instrument chosen for such anticipated change. The yoga schools are: Ashtanga Yoga, Purna Yoga, Integral Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Mantra Yoga,and Tantra Yoga.

Read more here: » Yoga Schools: The different Schools of Yoga

The different yoga philosophies simply adhere to different applications of inner discipline, all of which ultimately lead to the liberation of the soul and to a unique understanding of the Divine Unity. The yoga philosophies are merely named according to the yogi's objective of self-transformation and the instrument chosen for such anticipated change.

Read more here: » Yoga Philosophy: The different Yoga philosophies

The different yoga schools simply adhere to different applications of inner discipline, all of which ultimately lead to the liberation of the soul and to a unique understanding of the Divine Unity.
The schools are merely named according to the yogi's objective of self-transformation and the instrument chosen for such anticipated change.

Read more here: » Yoga: Schools of Yoga

To attain jitendriyata is to achieve full control over ones senses. This leads to what is called God-realisation. In this controlled state all pain and suffering cease permanently.

There are different paths to achieve this height: Gyan yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga, raja yoga, hatha yoga, swara yoga, nada yoga, astanga yoga; all of these lead to the same goal of achieving communion with God. The shortest and most suitable path ordained in this Kali Yuga is bhakti yoga.

Read more here: » Bhakti Yoga: Lasting Happiness Through Bhakti Yoga

The four main spiritual paths for God-realisation are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Karma Yoga is suitable for a man of active temperament, Bhakti Yoga for a man of devotional temperament, Raja Yoga for a man of mystic temperament, and Jnana Yoga for a man of rational and philosophical temperament, or a man of enquiry.

Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga or Kundalini Yoga, Lambika Yoga and Hatha Yoga, are other Yogas. Yoga, really, means union with God. The practice of Yoga leads to communion with the Lord. Whatever may be the starting point, the end reached is the same.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Yoga: The Four Paths of Hindu Yoga

Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices that originated in India, where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a means to enlightenment. Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Raja Yoga are considered the four main yogas, but there are many other types. In the West, yoga has become associated with the asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga, which are popular as fitness exercises. Yoga as a means to enlightenment is central to Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and has influenced other religious and spiritual pr ...

Including:

• Yoga - Yoga practice and intention
• Yoga - The word yoga
• Yoga - Diversity of yoga
• Yoga - Yoga and religion
• Yoga - Common themes
• Yoga - Origins
• Yoga - Hindu yoga
• Yoga - Bhagavad Gita
• Yoga - Patanjali
• Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy
• Yoga - Hatha yoga
• Yoga - Natya yoga
• Yoga - Buddhist yoga
• Yoga - Yoga and tantra
• Yoga - Notable Yogis

Read more here: » Yoga: Encyclopedia - Yoga

Bhakti yoga is the Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. Traditionally there are 9 forms of bhakti yoga. Hindu movements in which bhakti yoga is the main practice are called bhakti movements. Bhakti yoga is generally considered the easiest of the four general paths to liberation, or moksha (the others being Karma, Raja and Jnana Yoga). Bhakti yoga - The Philosophy and Development of Bhakti. Bhakti is the Hindu term that signifies a blissful, selfless an ...

Including:

• Bhakti yoga - The Philosophy and Development of Bhakti
• Bhakti yoga - The Bhagavad Gita

Read more here: » Bhakti yoga: Encyclopedia - Bhakti yoga

While Yoga evolved as a spiritual practice, in the West it has grown popular as a form of purely physical exercise. Some Western practice has little or nothing to do with Hinduism or spirituality, but is simply a way of keeping healthy and fit. This differs from the traditional Eastern view of yoga. While it is not always possible (or even desirable) to completely separate "exercise yoga" from "spiritual yoga," this article seeks to concentrate on the former. Yoga as exercise has evolved into numerous subdivisions and variation ...

Read more here: » Yoga as exercise: Encyclopedia - Yoga as exercise

Karma yoga, or the "discipline of action" is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, a holy scripture of Hinduism. One of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) by doing his duties in an unselfish manner. Karma Yoga - Concept. The Bhagavad Gita is the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna just before the battle of Mahabharata, a war between the virtuous Pan ...

Including:

• Karma Yoga - Concept
• Karma Yoga - References in Hindu Scriptures

Read more here: » Karma Yoga: Encyclopedia - Karma Yoga

This article is about the style of yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. This article is about the Ashtanga Yoga style of yoga taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. This school of yoga seeks to embody the traditional eight limbs of yoga (referred to as ashtanga or Raja Yoga) as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. Ashtanga Yoga is said to have its origin in the ancient text Yoga Korunta by Vamana Rishi, which Krishnamacharya received from his Guru Rama Mohan Brahmachari, and later ...

Including:

• Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Method
• Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Bandhas
• Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Drishtis
• Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga - Mantras

Read more here: » Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga: Encyclopedia - Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga