ASHTANGA YOGA- YAMA AND NIYAMA,यम, नियमा

SUBHASHITHANI:253

Yama and Niyama are the two moral backbones of yoga. Development of a positive personality is the purpose of yoga. Yama is the first limb of ashtanga yoga and means'taking a vow', while Niyama is the second limb and means 'rule of conduct'.Yama and Niyama are inter-dependent.For example, if one is 'contented' ( Santosha), one will not steal , hurt others etc. and will find it easy to practice 'non-covetousness'( Aparigraha ).  Here are a few slokas from Patanjali Yoga Sutra: 


योगाङ्गानुष्ठानादशुद्धिक्षये

ज्ञानदीप्तिराविवेकख्यातेः॥२८॥28

Yogāṅgānuṣṭhānādaśuddhikṣaye

jñānadīptirāvivekakhyāteḥ||28||

On the destruction of impurity through the practice of the limbs of Yoga, (there emerges) the Light of Knowledge culminating in discriminative knowledge .

यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहार

धारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि॥२९॥29
Yamaniyamāsanaprāṇāyāmapratyāhāra

dhāraṇādhyānasamādhayo'ṣṭāvaṅgāni||29||

Yama ,Niyama , Āsana , Prāṇāyāma , Pratyāhāra , Dhāraṇā , Dhyāna  (and)

Samādhi - (are) the eight limbs --aṅga-- (of Yoga) .

Yamas and its complement, Niyamas, represent a series of ‘right living’ or ethical rules.

Yamas - the five social ethics

अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः॥३०॥
Ahiṁsāsatyāsteyabrahmacaryāparigrahā yamāḥ||30||

(ahiṁsā)--- Non-injury --harmlessness—

(satya)--- Veracity --truthfulness in thought,word and deed

(asteya)--- Abstention from stealing 

(brahmacarya)---dwelling in Brahma— and control of carnal passions

(aparigrahāḥ ) --- Non-possession --abstinence from covetousness;

(are the five) Yama-s or Restraints (yamāḥ)||30||

Niyamas - the five personal ethics

शौचसन्तोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः॥३२॥

Śaucasantoṣatapaḥsvādhyāyeśvarapraṇidhānāni niyamāḥ||32||

(śauca): Cleanliness

(santoṣa): Contentment

 (tapas): Austerity or Penance ( body,speech and mind )

 (svādhyāya): Study and Recitation of Sacred Scriptures

 (īśvara praṇidhānāni): Surrendering the fruits of actions to the Lord
 (niyamāḥ): (are the five) Niyama-s or Observances ||32||

The other limbs of ashtanga yoga are:

Asanas - Yoga postures or postures.
Pranayamas - Proper regulation of life force (Prana) through certain breathing techniques.
Pratayahara - Taking the senses inwards.
Dharana - One-pointed focus.
Dhyana – Meditation.

Samadhi - the highest state of consciousness. This is possible to achieve during meditation

 SRI KRISHNAYA THUBHYAM NAMAH