Datttreya Yogastra

Datttreya Yogastra, in a dialogue form between Snkriti and Lord Datttreya, is a unique classical yogic text. It imparts the right concept and rational knowledge of yoga with a heavy focus on practice with great effort. It clearly outlines that everyone is entitled to yoga practice regardless of one's age, sex, faith and belief, sect and cult and tradition and religion, and robe and physical appearance.

Regarding the four stages of yoga, the text mentions rambha, ghaa, paricaya and nipatti avasths. Of the Hahayoga practices, it elaborates mainly eight bandhas and mudrs which are mahmudra, mahbandha, khecari mudr, jladhara, uddiyna and moola bandhas, viparitakarana and vajroli.

Of yamas and niyamas the Yogastra regards that laghvhra (eating less) and ahims are supreme respectively. Of all the asanas, practice of padmsana alone is highly recommended and also regarded as the destroyer of all diseases.

The Yogastra emphasizes that one can not achieve success in yoga just by reading scriptures, by wearing special garbs/dresses, by repeating mantras and by worshiping Gods and deities, but by constantly practicing it without sloth.

Datttreya Yogastra regards pryma as an important practice in yoga sdhan. Padmsana is highly recommended for the practice of pryma. The techniques of pryma are fully elaborated with the inclusion of the practice of three bandhas and sahita kumbhaka (with the retention of breath) for the purification of nis. It is further described that when the nis are purified, the signs of success in the body of yogi become visible. When kumbhaka practice is prolonged gradually every day, the yogi finally attains kevala kumbhaka that is the ultimate goal of pryma practice.

The text also explains that when kevala kumbhaka is achieved, the yogi experiences several signs in his body and attains some minor siddhis. This is called the rambha avasth (stage). When kevala kumbhaka is perfected through further practice, he attains ghaa avasth. This is a very important stage in which prna and apna, manas and pra and tm and paramtm are united. It instructs further that the yogi in this stage should practice pratyhra. While practicing pratyhra, the yogi feels unity will one and all and also he attains miraculous powers, but he is advised neither to be attached to them nor to disclose them.

The text further elaborates that when perfection is attained through practice on five elements, the yogi attains supernatural powers like anima, etc. Then the yogi should continue his practice of meditation first on sagua brahma and then nirgua brahma so he can finally attain the culmination of yoga, nipatti avasth in which he realizes the union with God. After achieving his union with God, at this stage, the yogi as per his wish may leave his body or he may wander as a jvan mukta (one who is liberated while living) in this universe.

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