Kriyā Explained

most commonly refers to a "completed action", technique or practice within a yoga discipline meant to achieve a specific result.

Etymology

is a Sanskrit term, derived from the Sanskrit root, meaning 'to do'. means 'action, deed, effort'. The word karma is also derived from the Sanskrit root Sanskrit: कृ, meaning 'to do, make, perform, accomplish, cause, effect, prepare, undertake'.[1] [2] Karma is related to the verbal Proto-Indo-European root 'to make, form'.[3]

The root is common in ancient Sanskrit literature, and it is relied upon to explain ideas in Rigveda, other Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and the Hindu epics.[1] [4]

Practices

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 2.1 defines three types of, namely tapas (ascetic devotion), svadhyaya (study of the self or the scriptures), and (devotion or surrender to higher consciousness).

The yogic purifications or shatkarmas are sometimes called the Shatkriyas ("the six actions").[5]

The Kriya Yoga school, established by Yogananda, is centered on pranayama techniques.

Notes and References

  1. see:
  2. Mulla & Krishnan (2009), "Do Karma-Yogis Make Better Leaders? Exploring the Relationship between the Leader's Karma-Yoga and Transformational Leadership", Journal of Human Values, 15(2), pp. 167–183
  3. John Algeo and Thomas Pyles (2010), The Origins and Development of the English Language, 6th Edition,, pp. 54–55
  4. See Rigveda 9.69.5, 10.159.4, 10.95.2, Svetâsvatara Upanishad 2.7.v.1, Mahabharata 1.5141, etc.
  5. http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1991/cmay91/shat.shtml Shatkarmas – Cleansing Techniques