Chapter 22: chapter 22

Yagnavalkya began elucidating Laxmi, "Pranayama", the fourth stage of yoga,"Prana means life/ breathe, which spiritually means life energising forces. Ayama means control/ extending . In this stage, one can learn how to control their breathe. It is the vital stage of Ashtanga yoga. It is the connecting link between physical (asanas) and mental (meditation) yogic practises. Through Pranayama, one can also extend his life span. Pranayama is the systematic inhalation and exhalation of air which results better functioning of lungs and brain by ensuring oxygen reach all over the body efficiently. It thus facilitates to concentrate more on god. It brings stillness and calmness to mind. It gives physical, mental and spiritual happiness. In daily life, it can be used to cleanse respiratory system, cure mucus and relieve from stress, depression & anxiety .Pranayama should be done in a clean environment, free from dust and smoke. It is better to perform it early in the morning with empty stomach. It also improves blood circulation in the body.Padmasana is the best posture to perform it. Ensure that you are seated comfortably. Close the right nostril with your right thumb and inhale the air deeply through left nostril. Now close the left nostril with the ring finger of your right hand and exhale the air through right nostril. Next time perform it by inhaling through right nostril in the same way but through opposite nostrils.Next stage of yoga is Pratyahara.Ahara means food/ anything which we take from outside i.e. external influences. Prati means against. In this stage, one can learn how to gain mastery over external influences. Here one should leave wrong food, wrong external influences (lust, anger etc) and external associations/ relationships. Our food has a direct impact on our mind. Eat sathwik food only such as leaves and fruits. Any person who get easily disturbed by external disturbances like noise, environment can practise pratyahara asanas to control their temper. It also gives spiritual happiness. It totally reduces negative influences. It plays a key role in self-realization. Our true self, is beyond all senses. Inorder to know who we are, we should gain control over senses and get rid of them. In the same way, supreme lord is above all physical and external relations and inorder to reach him, we should gain mastery over them. For performing this pratyahara, simply avoid junk food and toxic relations. Sit in padmasana and concentrate only on yourself for atleast an hour a day. Forget the entire world during that period. Develop patience. Observe how your senses are working and control them.Next stage of yoga is Dharana. Dharana means to hold or fixation of attention. Literally it means immovable concentration of mind. One can make his mind steady and increase his focus on a particular thing after learning this. We learn how to focus the mind in only one direction (god) by stopping it from deviating along other directions. It also makes us aware of our mind. Practise this asana to develop such immovable focus.Roll your eyes to upward and hold them together as if attending to the centre of forehead. Else place a lamp before yourself and focus only on flame for fifteen minutes. It improves focus.Next stage of yoga is Dhyana.Dhyana means "to think of". It's the most important stage in your journey of yoga. It gives the permanent bliss to a human. It is the stage in which you can become aware of everything, your true identity. It involves utmost concentration and meditation, i.e to know the truth of your self. Deep concentration is the key for achieving success. It removes all illusions, negative thoughts. It enlightens human and take him to supreme soul. Be seated in cross-legged posture and do meditation closing your eyes and concentrating on yourself.Last stage of yoga, final step to reach your Prananadh is Samadhi .It is the stage which connects you with the divine. It is the stage of union with the supreme and the permanent bliss. It needs high dedication and endeavour. In this stage, we will realise that everything, every materialistic relation, all wealth, properties, name, fame including our body are fake. Only one is permanent and true, that is the supreme, lord Narayan. We will become free from the physical world and get his saanidhya(union). Be seated in padmasan and concentrate only on your lord. Fill your heart only with him. Your prolong effort gives you success and takes you near him.Laxmi paid gratitude to him for teaching all the stages of yoga patiently and helping her. She started conducting severe penance for Narayan. She performed Pranayama, Pratyahara and Dharana asanas. After performing Dhyana yoga, she came to know about her real identity. She realised that she's Mahalaxmi herself, from whose heart Jagatpalak Narayan came. She realised that she's Adiparashakti of the universe and the eternal wife of her Prabhu Narayan. She felt exhilarated and jubilated in utmost happiness. She remembered everything, she remembered that she was born to Bhrigu as she granted him the boon that she'd be born as his daughter. Laxmi became fully confident that Narayan would take her along with him. She continued the penance. She crossed Samadhi stage too. She gained all her jaganmata powers through yoga. She was no more a human, Laxmi but the Jaganmata. A thousand years went away in her deep penance.Meanwhile Shiv-ardhangini(Devi Sati) was reborn as Parvati to Parvatraj. Parvati too did severe penance for Mahadev and get him as her husband. She reoccupied her position as one of the tridevis. TO BE CONTINUED...