Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga

Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga – These 2 yoga systems are related. To understand both, one needs to understand the subtle energy called “Kundalini” which falls under the category of Tantra, an ancient Indian concept based on the intertwining of Siva with Shakti. Generally, since Siva is the static element, the practice centers around Shakti, the mobile and creative principal and this practice is called “Srividya”. The practice of Srividya revolves around the awakening of the Kundalini from its position in the mooladhara and guiding it to its union with Siva at the sahasrara. Both yoga systems have much in common but both use different approaches to moksha or Samadhi. Both systems use asana, pranayama and dhyana as tools to reach Samadhi. But, the preparatory system is very different.

The difference between Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga are given below;

Hatha Yoga	Raja Yoga
External system of preparation, also called kaula marga (noble path)	Internal system of preparation, also called samaya marga (time path)
Coerces kundalini from mooladhara to sahasrara	Coaxes kundalini from mooladhara to sahasrara
Kaula marga considers Siva static, worships Shakti, the creative energy.	Samaya marga advocates the sameness of Siva and Shakti.
Individual’s preparation consists of shatkriya, mudra, yantra, beej-mantra.	Individual’s preparation consists of yama and niyama
Based on 64 tantras	Based on 8 steps or ashtanga
At an extreme level, this also includes practices such as kapalika, ksapanaka and other tantric practices.	There is no extreme level in Raja Yoga

Hatha Yoga – (Hatha = coercing + yoga). Hence Hatha Yoga is a form of yoga practice where the Kundalini is coerced to move from the mooladhara to the sahasrara.

This is a metaphysical system of achieving salvation. The major difference between this system and other systems of Yoga is that, while in the other systems the identity is slowly funneled into isolation; in Hatha Yoga, the body, mind, endocrine/ circulatory and nervous systems are toned and honed, after which the kundalini energy is forced through the central channel or sushmnanadi across various subtle vortices to the sahasrara. There is no western equivalent or logic which can explain the functioning of this form of Yoga.

Some of the important cleaning tools in Hatha Yoga are:

Shatkriya: or Shatkarma (shat = 6 + kriya = actions) are 6 cleaning actions which are meant to purify the body. They are neti, dhauti, nauli, trataka and kapalabhati. To understand why these 6 exercises are considered important hatha yoga cleansing exercises, one should understand the vayus. Vayus are forces or energies which control certain bodily functions. The table below shows the correlation between the vayus and the Shatkriya

Vayu	Chakra	Spinal area	Function	Kriya
Prana	Ajna		Ingestion and life	Trataka
Apana	Svadishtana	Cervical	Excretion & sexuality	Nauli
Vyana	Anahata	Thoracic	Circulation	Kapalabhati
Udana	Vishuddhi	Lumbar	Nervous	Neti
Samana	Manipura	Sacral	Digestion	Dhauti
Brahmana	Mooladhara	Coccyx		Basti

Mudra: Mudra’s control the flow of prana. It’s important to recognize that prana, like any flow, operates in a circuit. When it reaches the ends of the body, it has to either flow out or back into the body. When it flows out, it is lost, when it is directed into the body, it acts like a capacitor, increasing prana levels in the system. The hands and legs are partitioned to affect certain parts of the body. So, when certain parts are touched, the prana flow is drained, redirected or congested, like any electrical system.

The major locations from where prana can be redirected are hands, feet, tongue and tip of the nose. The hands have many types of mudras to redirect prana, depending on where the phalanges meet or are joined. The legs are used in asana position to redirect the flow of prana. For the tongue, kechari mudra is used, and for the nose, nasikagra mudra or nasikagra drishti, which means gazing at the tip of the nose is used. Another worthwhile mudra for the nose is the positioning of the fingers in nadi-shuddhi pranayama, where the the flow of prana is facilitated by the mudra.

Yantra: The use of Yantra is more difficult to explain. Yantra are diagrams which have specific meanings for delivery of certain results.

Mantra: Mantras are very relevant to development in Hatha Yoga. Mantras are used to isolate the visual and kinesthetic elements of consciousness by use of repetitive audio stimuli.

There are a series of syllables and sounds which activate certain chakras. These are called beejakshara mantras and are learned under a Guru.

Raja Yoga – translates to Yoga for a King, more because it is a more practical way to reach salvation and can be integrated into normal living. Raja Yoga consists of 2 parts – Kriya Yoga or Action Yoga and Samayama Yoga or Salvation Yoga. The first part or Kriya Yoga is primarily focused on integrating one’s personality with action, bring physical fitness and with it increased awareness after which the identity is slowly isolated from the environment through progressive denial of stimulus of any kind. I am maintaining a blog on the Kriya aspect of Raja Yoga and more details can be read at the link given herein - http://yoga-shala.blogspot.in.

What you should know after reading this blog;

Ø  What is Hatha Yoga? What is Raja Yoga?

Ø  What is kundalini? What is prana?

Ø  What is common and what are the differences between Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga?

Ø  What are shatkriya, mudra, yantra and mantra?

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