33
votes
Reference to the 7 chakras in Hinduism
Chakras are the major energy centres of our subtle body. So, there are not only 7 but many other chakras also. However 7 Chakras are considered the main. The refrences of 7 chakras and Kundalini ...
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23
votes
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How do I control and slay indriyas (senses)?
A complete description of senses and how to control them have been written by the great Seer Sri Swami Sivnananda. 'Control of the Indriyas by Sri Swami Sivananda'.
Senses
Senses are not different ...
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20
votes
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Did ancient Yogis float in the air and what is the method to do it?
First we should know our body is not just physical body, but has five sheaths (Pancha Kosha). What we see externally is Annamaya Kosha (food sheath). After death we shed Annamaya kosha and jiva with ...
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19
votes
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How to increase one's ojas capacity ?
One can improve Ojas Shakti by transforming Veerya (semen) to Ojas by Spiritual Sadhana. Sri Swami Sivanda wrote many articles and books on this topic.
Swami Sivananda says the following in his ...
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17
votes
What is a mantra? Do mantras really have any power?
What is a Mantra?
The definition of Mantra is
Mananat Trayate Iti Mantrah
The repetition of which protects or liberates one is called a Mantra (one of many possible translations)
Traditionally ...
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17
votes
Did ancient Yogis float in the air and what is the method to do it?
By practicing Yoga and pranayama (control of prana vayu) a Yogi can float in the air, walk in air. This is called Vayu-Siddhi or mastery over air. It can be achieved in the third stage of pranayama ...
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16
votes
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Do humans breathe 21600 times in a day according to Yoga sastra?
Hamsa Upanishad, Yoga Upanishad which belongs to Shukla Yajurveda, mentions that.
अथ हंस ऋषिः । अव्यक्ता गायत्री छन्दः । परमहंसो देवता । अहमिति बीजम् ।
स इति शक्तिः । सोऽहमिति कीलकम् । षट् ...
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14
votes
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"Once Yogi, Twice Bhogi, Thrice Rogi" -- What should be the number of meals per day?
What do other scriptures say about total meals per day (1, 2 or more)?
For a Grihastha (Householder), Dharma Shatsras has prescribed to take food two times, in Morning and in Evening. But if one has ...
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13
votes
How to increase one's ojas capacity ?
The body has three subtle important elements viz ojas, tejas, and prana. Ojas is believed to be the last essence of semen. It is related to vigor and vitality. Ayurveda gives special importance to ...
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12
votes
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Is it possible to separate Soul from the body through Yoga
The answer to your question is: yes, it is possible to to separate the soul or jivatma from the body. Even one can enter another body through this process:
When the bonds of the mind caused by ...
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11
votes
Accepted
Nine gates of a human body?
Which are the nine gates being referred here? Are these ears, nose, mouth, eyes etc?
Yes the Nine gates referred here ae our bodily organs like ear , nose , mouth etc. within Pancala kingdom (5 ...
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11
votes
How does the Yogi Remember his previous births?
According to the Patanjali Yoga Sutras (with translation and commentary by Swami Vivekananda) a Yogi can know past and future by employing a technique called Samayana. To know what Samayana is you ...
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11
votes
Accepted
Why is Yoga called union when it is the mind that actually dissolves?
The union of Atma and Paramatma is called Yoga which you have already stated. Such a definition is found in several scriptures.
From Devi Bhagavatam 7.35 for example:
Himâlayâ said :-- "O Mahes'...
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11
votes
Awakening of Kundalini is possible without mentor/guru?
Whether it is possible with asanas and related practices?
Yes it is technically possible. Some basic and advanced yogic methods can make Kundalini awakening or activation of chakra.
It can also ...
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10
votes
Accepted
What are the three Shivalingas ( Itara, Bana and Swayambhu) mentioned in some Agama texts?
First of all, its quite obvious that here Lord Shiva is talking about three internal lingas that is located inside our body.
But, as is well-known, as is our body so is the cosmos. So, these lingas ...
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10
votes
Did ancient Yogis float in the air and what is the method to do it?
Yes, a Yogi can float in the air by using yogic power. Their are eight type of siddhis also known as ashta aishwarya can be attained by yoga as described in Shrimada Bhagavatam, Chapter 11.15. Yogi ...
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10
votes
Accepted
How a devotee of God leaves his body for Moksha?
Have a look at the following verse from Kathopanishad's (Kath UP) Tritiya Valli:
ShataichekA cha hridasya nAdyastAsAm murdhAnamabhinihsritaikA |
TayorddhvamAyannmritatvameti vishvanganyA ...
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10
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Awakening of Kundalini is possible without mentor/guru?
It is usually impossible to achieve any form of success in Yoga without the Guru.
Every bit of the practice has to be done under the guidance of the Guru only. See few verses from various chapters of ...
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10
votes
What is Kayakalpa?
Kayakalpa is yogic practice but not the Kayakalpa we know in current world. Siddhar Sivavakkiyar describes it in his song.
Urutharitha Nadiyl odingi nindra vaivinai
Karuthinal nirthuye kabalam atre ...
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10
votes
Do humans breathe 21600 times in a day according to Yoga sastra?
This is mentioned in Yogic texts as well as in numerous Tantras.
For example the Vigyana Bhairava Tantra says:
The breath is exhaled with the sound 'Ha' and inhaled again with the
sound 'Sa'....
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9
votes
Yogic liberation like raising kundalini vs Bhakti path
Kundalini raising and uniting it with Sahasrara Chakra is one of the very easiest way to get Mokshya. It mostly exists in hidden form in our texts, it is because Gods (devatas) do not want us that we ...
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9
votes
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Where is the Manipura Chakra located?
Manipura is present in Solar Region. It is also known as Nabhi Chakra. Nabhi in Sanskrit means Navel. But as the location of Chakra is in backbone region of subtle body, hence Manipura Chakra is ...
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9
votes
Accepted
Did Vivekananda prophesy he would die before the age of 40? Why didn't he prolong his life through yoga?
Yes it is quite well-known that he did. You can find it being mentioned in this PDF (Swami Vivekananda - A
Biography by Swami
Nikhilananda), on pp 190.
At the end of an hour his hands trembled a ...
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8
votes
Accepted
What is Kriya Yoga?
Since you have mentioned in another question that you are reading Autobiography of a Yogi, I do not want to play spoiler. The information is contained in the same book.
What is Kriya Yoga?
Kriya Yoga ...
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8
votes
Reference to the 7 chakras in Hinduism
Excerpts from a Q&A with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:
You would have heard about the seven chakras (energy centers) ;
it is One Energy that manifests itself in various forms.
In the first ...
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8
votes
Accepted
Can meditation be a substitute to sleeping?
There are yogis who go without sleep. This is an elevated state that is learned by years of meditation. They have learned to have complete control over their minds and bodies.
Reference Patanjali's ...
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8
votes
The concept of God in Bhakti Yoga
Good question! This is an advaitic view of Bhakti and Bhakti Yoga.
What is Bhakti
Bhakti means to always think of God. Bhakti Yoga implies constant remebrance of God.
Sri Swami Sivananda says in ...
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8
votes
Where is the Manipura Chakra located?
Manipura Chakra is exactly located at Nabhi (Navel) but in Subtle body along the Spinal cord. All Chakras are located in Straight line (in Subtle body).
Om Swami describes method to identify seven ...
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8
votes
Accepted
Which Puranic Scriptures describes procedure of "Ashtanga Yoga"?
Ashtanga Yoga is described by Devi (the mother) to Himalaya in Devi Bhagavatam, Seventh Book, Chapter XXXV in details.
हिमालय उवाच
योगं वद महेशानि सांगं संवित्प्रदायकम् ।
कृतेन येन योग्योऽहं भवेयं ...
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