Yoga Yajnavalkya

Anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of yoga should read, study and incorporate the teachings of this essential yoga text. The translator states that this text is especially revered in yoga circles. Once you read the chapters it will be become evident why this is so. Emphasis is laid on different types of pranayama, dharana and pratyahara. In addition to describing the different types of pranayama, the text described five types of pratyahara and four types of dharana. Special emphasis is made on methods of utilizing these limbs of yoga to cause the ascent of kundalini up the susumna, the central subtle channel, towards the crown of the head. These methods are carefully described and can be practiced by anyone in conjunction with the use of yoga postures and the other limbs of yoga. The explanations are made explicit and read like a how-to-do manual. The translation is in clear, readable English. There is a Roman transliteration of the original Sanskrit. The greatest benefit are the footnotes, drafted by the translators of the book. They are intelligent, meaningful, and greatly aid the understanding of the text and general Vedic and yoga philosophy. The translator states that this is an”ancient” text but gives no idea as to the dating. There is no doubt that the antiquity of this text is a legitimate claim, because it is cited as authority for such later texts as the Hathayogapradipika. It also formed the basis for Krishnamacarya’s Makaranda Yoga, an excellent text on hatha yoga and which is unfortunately out of print. This book is recommended without qualification and will provide a great aid to the understanding of a daily yoga practice.

I attended a 5 day training by A.G and Indraji Mohan. That gave a lasting awareness of how to use breath in asanas, which has made a world of change in the yoga I do. After reading this book and really enjoying the roman transliteration (still don't read Sanskrit), I am sure this book is a treasure which I will compare with other books in the process of learning enlightenment. I have the other books A.G Mohan wrote and have watched some of his youtubes. I recommend you read and notice how authentic and valuable the Mohans' teachings are.

An amazing source on YOGA with emphasis on prana and liberation. It was interesting to cross check what I have achieved so far with some of the outlined potential results within the book and also learn a lot of new (to me) techniques. I would recommend this translation to any one who is interested in YOGA.

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Thank you

The book is great. Unfortunately it's really cheaply made and I had pages fall out on the first read. Can't pretend that didn't disappoint me at all. But the book, the translation, all of that was excellent. So I feel bad I have to give it a 3

this is a piece of yogic texts that one of the greatest yogis of the 19th-century found and lived by.. Christian mature area was the man responsible for teaching both Iyengar and Pataki Joyi, and especially I anger was the single man most responsible for bringing Hatha Yoga to America – notwithstanding earlier attempts. In this book is one of those texts for yogic seriousness – for those who have the Shiva Samhita and they go around Geranda Samhita and the Hatha Yoga Pradikipa. it is certainly not a book for the beginning yoga student.

Had this title on my wishlist for a long time and when I got it I wondered why I waited so long. I bought it because desikichar mentioned it in his book as a hugely important text respected by his father krishnamurti. It is an awesome text essential for any hardcore student of yoga, happy reading!

Essential read for the Sadhaka.

This book extended my expectations

An excellent read for any yogi.

There are many sides to yoga, and many yogas too. The book shows there are more sides to the eight limbs of yoga than what is tersely mentioned in Patanjali Yoga Sutras, and could serve as a corollary to it, perhaps. It is not for the beginner in yoga.

Vajnavalkya ist ein erleuchteter Yogi, der seiner Frau den yogischen Weg der Befreiung erläutert, nachdem sie ihn darum gebeten hat. Das ist im Wesentlichen der Inhalt des Buches, welches von A.G. Mohan zusammen mit seinem Sohn übersetzt wurde. Die Schrift soll älter als Pantanjalis Yoga Sutren sein und lt. Krishnamarchaya einer der wichtigsten Quellen im Hatha Yoga überhaupt. Das Buch ist in zwölf Kapitel untergliedert und enthält neben der englischen Übersetzung den Originaltext in Sanskrit sowie die romanische Transliteration. Zusätzlich gibt es zu jedem Kapitel umfassende Kommentare (in Englisch) als Fußnote sowie eine ausführliche Einleitung. Nur die Englische Übersetzung würde die 171 Seiten auf vielleicht 100 Seiten oder weniger schrumpfen lassen. Doch diese Seiten haben es in sich! Manches ist nicht einfach zu verstehen und ehrlich gesagt habe ich den Inhalt noch nicht vollständig durchdrungen. Dennoch halte ich den Inhalt als sehr umfassende Hatha Yoga Lektüre! Es werden die Marma Punkte (Energiezentren) erklärt, Pranayama, lediglich 8 (!) Asanas (Körperstellungen), Meditation bzw. verschiedene meditative Zustände, die Nadis (Energiekanäle), Vayus (die Winde bzw. Energietröme), Reinigungspraktiken sowie Bija Mantras. Wenn Du tiefer in das urpsrüngliche Hatha Yoga eintauchen möchtest, ist diese Lektüre eine lohnenswerte Anschaffung! Die Transliteration eignet sich sehr gut für Rezitation und Mohans Kommentare, der selbst jahrelang Krishnamacharyas Schüler war, brechen die Komplexität des Inhaltes etwas herunter. Wobei ich den Inhalt nicht im intellektuellem Sinn komplex sehe, sondern im wirklichen Verstehen bzw. durchdringen.