SCHOOLS OF YOGA

SCHOOLS OF YOGA
The word 'yoga' has been so much used and misused recently that it seems to have lost it's sancity.
The world 'yoga' is derived from the root 'yuj' meaning joining together. It is transformation of human consciousness into divine consciousness. Yoga is a means of leading one to introspection reflection and meditation. Yoga aims at making the inner experiences a basis for life rather than theory or scriptures. It is an art of being. Yoga teaches order and discipline in life and actual day-to-day living.
Despite of all worldly things and comforts. Body needs are few and can be met, but desires, which are generated in his mind are endless and recurring. When one's desire is fulfilled, another raises it's head and this process goes an adinfinitum. Satisfaction and happiness receds from the sight like a mirage or like a musk deer running in search of fragrance which is really coming out from it's own body.
When there are no thoughts a state of thoughtless or egolessness dawns. All systems, yoga and religions have aimed how to overcome from sufferings, miseries and always remain in the state of bliss. To achieve this state, different methods are employed. There are four main paths to suit. Four main kinds of temperaments. Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga. Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga.
There are many different methods of yoga, all leading to the same goal of self-realization. The methods vary so as to accomodate varying tempraments and capacities, but they are like different spokes of a wheel, they all meet at the same centre-self realization. The different paths of yoga are not mutually exclusive, they merely represent a difference of emphasis. In Bhakti yoga, are included Japa Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Ajapa-japa. There are Laya Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Turiya Yoga, Sahaj Yoga, Tantra Yoga etc.
Let us briefly consider some of these different paths –
1. Bhakti Yoga – The yoga of devotion
This path is known as the path of love & devotion. It is the path of self surrender, of devoting and dedicating all of one's resources to attaining the ultimate reality. The control of emotions is the key in the path of worship (Bhakti Yoga). In modern world, man is tossed up and down due to emotional onslaughts.
The path of bhakti is boon to gain control over emotional instabilities by proper harnessing the energy involved in it.
2. Karma Yoga – The Yoga of Action
This path teaches one to do one's own duty skillfully and selflessly, dedicating the fruits of his action to humanity. This Yoga helps us to live successfully in the world while, uneffected by worldly feeters.
The path of Karma Yoga involves doing action with an attitude of detachment to fruits of action This makes man release himself from the strong attachments and thereby brings in him a steadiness of mind which verily in Yoga.
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Jnana Yoga – the Yoga of knowledge
This path involves intense discrimination knowledge dawns on one who persistently discriminates between the real and the unreal, between the transient and the everlasting, between the infinite & the finite. This path is tread by only a fortunate few who systematically contemplate the higher and subtler realities of life.
The path of Jnana Yoga is apt for the keen intellectuals and is centred around the analysis of Happiness. Basic questions are raised even involving the intellect itself to reach the very basis of intellect.
Hatha Yoga –
Ha & tha are symbolic syllables used to indicate the flow of breath in the right and left nostrils which represent pingla and ida nudhis. Hatha yoga deals mostly with exercises for the body and breath which prepare the student to become aware of his internal status. Hatha exercises are designed in such a way that the body becomes an instruments for treading the path of the higher yoga.
Raja Yoga – The royal path
This highly scientific path was systematized by the codifier of Yoga. Patanjali. By following it one learns to control his desires, emotions and thoughts as well as the subtle impressions that lie dormant in the unconscious. It unites the individual to the cosmic reality by means of the eight rungs in the ladder of Yoga which are systematically explained and described.
The aspirant finally gains the eighth rung called samadhi.
The Yoga of mind culture or Psychic control (Raja Yoga) gives a practical and easy approach to reach higher states of consciousness. It is based on the Antranga Yoga of Patanjalis Astanga Yoga system. Patanjali Yoga sutras is the eight-limbed yoga popularly known as Astanga Yoga which gives a comprehensive and systematic approach for developing the mind.
The eight limbs are :
Yama
Niyama
Asana
Pranayama
Pratyahara
Dharana
Dhyana
Samadhi
Thus, the four streams of Yoga help man to develop the personality at four different levels physical, mental, intellectual and emotional and simultaneously bring about spiritual progress. Most of the other methods of Yoga-Laya Yoga Japa Yoga. Mantra Yoga, Kundalini Yoga etc. are permutations and combinations of these basic methods of yoga.
Mantra Yoga – In the deep state of meditation the highly accomplished sage in ancient times received certain strands, sounds which are traditionally transmitted to the student and which are to be used as objects of concentration. There are many varieties of Mantra which help the student in purification, concentration and meditation.

Kriya Yoga :
The world Kriya means 'activity' or movement and refers to the activity or movement of consciousness Kriya also refers to a type of practical or preliminary practice leading to total union, the final result of practice.
Kundalini Yoga – These are various manuals and methods for awakening the serpet like vital force that remains sleeping in the city of life in every human body. This is highly technical subject for which one needs the guidance of competent teacher.
CONCLUSION
Unity in Diversity – It is quite likely that a beginner get confused looking at a host of yogic text enumerating several methods of yogic text enumerating several methods of yogic practices. For this purpose one has to understand the basic unity among these methods. There is a unity in all these methods since –
All these paths lead independently to the same goal.
There is the same structural transformation.
Thus 'Unity In Diversity' forming the core of the Indian culture offers a grand note cohesiveness among various practices.
Thus 'Yoga' is a vital tool for the development of human, probably more relevant in the modern scientific are than ever before.
Reference Book
Divine Light by S.K. Das
Yoga it's basis and applications by Dr. H.R. Nagendra
The Royal path by Swami Rama
The Foundation of contemporary yoga by R.H. Singh