Common Features Between Findings in Traditional Texts and Contemporary Science: Yoga Texts and Contemporary Science

Abstract

Yoga is a lifestyle and is also a system of therapy. The status of Yoga in modern times and in the masses has been established and enjoys great acceptance only as a system of therapy to upkeep good health. People join Yoga classes to lose weight, to get relief from diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and to get rid of various diseases. A profound ‘law of Nature' is at work which, through certain Yogic practices, can be approached for gaining good health. Any system of medicine of therapy which does not try to understand this law of nature and its style of working will always remain inadequate. One may like to criticize such a stand on the basis that these round too idealistic, unattainable and also impracticable. But the fact remains the same that unless fundamentals are acquired with, and also integrated in life, a system of therapy of medicine would seldom cure a serious or chronic problem. As a desperate attempt to locate the unknown causes of diseases, varieties of systems have been developed over a long period of time. The aim of the ancient literature of yoga is to spread the authentic message to the masses so that the practitioner will be guided for complete eradication of sufferings and achieving eternal life. So considering this guideline most of the ancient texts threw some lights on the concept of diseases and its remedies. ‘Hatharatnavali' is an important text of Hathayoga written by Srinivasa but not widely known as ‘Hathapradipika' The salient features of the text include clear conception of yoga, description of ashtakarmas, 84 asanas and elaboration of mudras. While describing the yogic techniques, the author also refers to some of the diseases such as. dehaanala – bodily fire, jatharaagni – gastric fire, dvipa – bodily constituents, humours, phlegmaticdisorders, and urinary acidity.