When did yoga appear, facts from history

According to various ancient sources that have survived to this day, the history of yoga originates in India. The main evidence for the theory of the origin of this philosophical trend here is the Vedas - a written monument of Indian culture.

Ancient Stage

Researchers distinguish two main theories of the origin of yoga. The first theory suggests the creation of the practice by the indigenous tribes inhabiting the Indian subcontinent in ancient times, and its subsequent development by the Aryan invaders (about 2.5 thousand years BC). The second theory suggests the introduction of this culture into India by the Aryans themselves. However, the main historical sources of the yoga teachings, as already mentioned, are still considered to be the sacred texts - the Vedas - and later commentaries on them - the Upanishads. Where it is presented as a way of spiritual purification of the mind and control over feelings. Of course, the Vedas contained only the fundamental principles.

Medieval Stage

The formation of yoga as an independent, formalized philosophical trend is closely connected with the name of the Indian sage Patanjali (11-1 century BC), who managed to collect many practical and theoretical knowledge about yoga, passed down orally, into a single treatise. It was Patanjali’s work that served as the basis for the philosophy of yoga, which many researchers consider classical.

The further history of yoga is connected with the emergence and development of various trends that separated from the classical one. Among them: - raja - based on the discipline of consciousness, feelings and body; - bhakti - concentrates on the striving for the Higher Beginning and renunciation of everything perishable; - jnana - focuses on the ideas of searching for and knowing the truth; - karma - aimed at overcoming karmic dependence. The practice itself began to go beyond India, and then beyond the eastern regions largely due to its mixing with Buddhism. Despite the fact that Vedic philosophy, of which yoga was a part, largely diverged from the foundations of Buddhism, its followers actively used meditation and ascetic techniques.

Modern Stage

Around the 19th century, the practice came to Europe, the USA and Russia. In the process of adapting the practice to new cultural traditions and time trends, a direction such as Agni Yoga was born from the classical teaching, whose development is associated with the names of Helena Roerich and Mahatma Morya. Despite the fact that Agni Yoga has serious philosophical roots, it gained great popularity as a system of exercises aimed at strengthening health and body, rather than a spiritual trend. Today, in Western culture, yoga performs the functions of a practical teaching that allows you to lead a healthy lifestyle in constantly changing conditions of the surrounding world. However, despite this, it continues to develop as a direction of spiritual and philosophical thought.