Ancient Symbolism of Yoga(m)

T.L.Subash Chandira Bose -Archeosymbolist

43.B. New Reddy Street, Beemanagar,

Thiruchirapalli - 620 001. Thamizh Nadu, India.

Cell phone number: 90806 50420

Email: archaeosymbolist@gmail.com.

Introduction

Ancient Symbolism of Yoga or Yogam means an age old symbolic representation of Yoga(m). Yogam is a Thamizh word and Yoga is a Sanskrit word; it means a practice to unite the human soul with supreme soul. The human body is perishable but the human soul is non perishable. The non perishable soul residing in a perishable (temporal) human body for a predetermined period of time is a great mystery.

The yogis (Saints) those who lived in the forest and mountains of ancient Indian sub-continent, vigorously searched and found the answer and announced to the entire world  that the great mystery can be solved only in ‘self realization’ in Yoga(m).   

Even though I am not a yogi but as a researcher on ancient symbols and scripts, I felt my responsibility to reveal the symbolism of Yoga(m) documented in the form of symbols and scripts on 7,500- 3500 years old Indus seals, tablets and pot shells. For the past one hundred years those Indus symbols and scripts remain as an enigma.  

Study    

The Indian metaphysical science emphasize that the purpose of human birth meant for self realization, nothing other than that. The self realization means realization of ‘human soul and supreme soul is one and the same’.

Mundaka Upanidatham (Chapter 3 part 1) describes that there are  two birds residing on a tree. One eats fruits and other did not eat fruits in the tree.  It says that the soul residing in all living beings are Jivaatma.  It is a fruit eating bird’s experiences that duality i.e., misery and happiness by eating bitter and sweet fruits. The supreme soul (Paramaatma) eats neither bitter nor sweet fruits. It always remains calm and happy with golden coloured bright light rays all around its body.

In Mundaka Upanidatham’s translation, Swami Vivekananda narrates an interesting story to understand the truth that ‘the human soul and supreme soul is one and the same’ or One without Second.

The symbols of birds denoting Jivaatma and Paramaatma can be observed as petro-glyph symbols in most of the ancient temples in Thamizh Nadu (TN). The fruit eating bird (Jivaathma) and non fruit eating bird (Paramathma differentiated with and without a circular shape at the meeting of four lines. 

In which ten lines refer ten types of Praana (vital airs or motive forces, the ten Pranas as follows:  Prana, Apana, Udana, Vyana, Samana, Naga, Kurma, Devadatta, Krikala and Dhananjaya.) and the sixteen are the parts of cosmic man (Purusan).

The bird symbol denoting Paramaatma can be observed as petro-glyph on the door steps of temple tower and the symbol denoting Jivaatma can be observed as petro-glyph on top of the floor and particularly in front of the sanctum (womb chamber). The symbolism of these two bird symbols is to reveal the link between ‘human soul and supreme soul’ and emphasizing that ‘both are one and the same’.

Interestingly it is symbolically indicated as a ‘leaning bird symbol’ referring a word ‘Sogam (Sogabhavanai)’ on Indus seals. Thaasogam mean humble servant (Thaasan / Nasen) to God / Goddess. A humble servant to mother goddess Kaali is Kaalithaasan, to Lord Kannan (Krishnan) is Kannathaasan and to Lord Siva is Sivanesan are the examples. Pathithaasogam means a humble servant believes strength on Pathi (God / husband / Lord).

A 7500 - 3500 years old Indus Seal M-38A unearthed during archaeological excavation site at Mohenjo-Daro.  The seal is square in shape; appears with sixteen letters and two infixed symbols at the top. The second third letters are in combined form. Fourth is the helping letter. The fifth is the symbol of Sogam. The twelfth is the symbol of Pinaagapaani (archer). The thirteenth and fourteenth letters are within fifteenth letter. The symbols of Sogam and archer are in infixed position. A Unicorn figure and a spiritual or royal symbol of Pramagnani (knower of Param) are appearing at the bottom.

This seal is to be printed on soft materials viz., leaves / leather / tree bark  and then read from left to right in Thamizh language as: ‘Pathithaasogam sana sosi itta (u)ru  Pinaagabaninnanbu u’. (Refer M-38a)

Pathithaa sogam                     - A humble servant believing strength on Pathi

Sana                                         - group of people or persons

Sosi                                         - Sakthi sivam (Sathaasivam)

 itta                                          - gave

(u)ru                                        - divine form

Pinaagabaaninnanbu               - Pinaagabaani’s love

U                                             - Lord Sivaperumaan.

Meaning: A humble servant believing strength on Pathi. The group of people are of  Sathaasivam. A divine form of Pinaagabaani’s love is Lord Sivaperumaan.

Note: Sathaasivam is the first manifested form of SakthiSivam. Pinaagabaani (archer) is one among the sixteen divine manifested forms of Lord Sivaperumaan. Anbu means love.

Four types of Yoga(m)

Having strong belief on God is Bhakthi Yoga(m). Performing the six earthly duties (farming, Education, working, marriage, trade and sculpture) without any expectation and deficiency is Karma Yoga(m). Attaining Knowledge about human soul and the supreme soul are one and the same is Jnana Yoga(m). Experiencing Godly status or experiencing highest state of peace is Raja Yogam or Kundalini Yoga(m).

In Raja Yoga(m) or Kundalini Yoga(m), a yogi kindles the sakthi (serpentine power) in the form of snake, coiled three turns (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas  charcters of prakiti) and a half turn (Vikirtis the medication of Prakriti) at Moolaathaara chakra(m). He raises power upwards through Soochchuma nadi in step by step and circling the Ida and Pingala Nadis and keep mediating at the sixth Yoga(m) centre called Ajna chakram (third eye chakram), at were the male energy (Siva) and female energy (Sakthi) gets unified form.

Ajna chakram is the meeting point of two eyebrows and nose. This is called as Avimuktham, Thirikudi and Gurucheththiram. Gurucheththiram means at the time of the human soul depart from the body, Lord Uruththiran (Rudran) as a guru teach the Tharaga mantram in order to attain ultimate bliss.  It is also called as ‘Vaaranaasi’ and ‘Avinaasi’ In which the common word ‘Naasi’ refers nose.

Archaeological Evidences

The symbol of Ajna chakra(m) is generally indicated as a circle with a downward triangle and two lotus petals one at each side. This chakra(m) is also symbolically indicated as a vertical and two inclined lines meeting at a point.

This symbol appears like an upward arrow drawn in dark red-oxide or white colours in various rock arts sites. It also appears as a graffiti mark on urn unearthed during excavations at various archaeological burial sites in TN.

This symbol mostly appears just above the neck and very close to the opening of the ‘Urn’ and in few cases it also appears on its lid. Surprisingly this type of symbol also appears on pot shells unearthed in Indus region.

The attayoga(m) or eight types of yogam viz., Iyamam, Niyamam, Aathanam, Pranaayaamam, Pirathiyaakaaram, Thaaranai, Thiyaanam and Samaathi are symbolically indicated with seven vertical lines and the eighth is a inclined line with a snake coiled around. This symbol appears on urns found near Dindukal in Southern part of India.

During 1962-63, V. N. Misra discovered a human skeleton seated in yoga posture or Samaathi in an archaeological excavation site at Balathal. It is an ancient burial site located in Vallabhnagar taluk of Udaipur district of Rajasthan state in Western part of India. 

There are many seals / tablets appear with human figure in yogam posture (moolabhanda aasanam) seated on a hour-glass shaped double drum type seat were unearthed in various archaeological sites in North-Western frontier of India i.e., Indus region. 

Similar Graffiti marks on circular type Clay stamp seals were unearthed during 6^th archaeological excavation in Keezhaldi archaeological site in Southern part of India.

 Five states of soul in Yogam

           Normally, the soul remains in three states viz., awaken, dream and sleep states. The symbolic forms of these three states can be observed as rock art at Thirumaiyam fort of Pudukkottai district.

In yoga(m), the soul remains in five states viz., awaken, dream, sleep, state of peace (Thuriyam) and highest state of peace (Thuriyaatheetham). The symbolic forms of these five states can be observed as rock art at Keezhvaalai of Villuppuram district in TN.

Among the above five, a symbol denoting state of peace (Thuriyam) observed on pot shell unearthed in Adichchanallur archaeological site. A symbol with a vertical line and four horizontal lines one below the other denoting highest state of peace (Thuriyaatheetham) incised on a pot shell was unearthed at Keezhadi archaeological site. Similar symbol appears on Indus tablets H-2084A&B and H-2102A&B. (H-Harappa)

Indus tablet H-2084A&B read directly from left to right in Thamizh language as “Pichchadananul Pinaagabani. Duriyaadeethan uru Pithaa Si”.

Meaning: The inner-self of Pichchaadanan (beggar form) is Pinaagabani (archer). Duriyaadeetham (Yogi who highest state of peace) is the Divine form of father Lord Siva.

The Indus seals H-2102A&B read directly from left to right in Thamizh language as Diriyaadeetham An Pan.

Meaning: Duriyaadeetham is his eligibility.

Note: Chandesan (hold an axe with forearms and resting on his chest form), Pichchaadanan (beggar form), Pinaagabani (archer form) are the three among the sixteen manifested divine forms of Lord Sivaperuman.   

Conclusion

The above detailed studies with few archaeological evidences found in North-Western, Western and Southern parts in Indian sub-continent, we can come to a solid conclusion that the Yoga(m) was invented in ancient Indian sub-continent.

The great people lived in ancient Indian sub-continent are spiritual, peace lovers and followed the four types of Yoga(m).

They attained highest state of peace in Raja Yoga(m) and attained ultimate state of bliss after death.

The period of four types Yoga(m) practice in ancient Indian sub-continent can be assumed 7,500 years before.

The archaeologists, scholars and yoga(m) practisers are requested to come forward with more and more information  with archaeological evidences to reveal the fame of ancient Indian yoga(m).

The Thamizh Nadu, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR and CE), Archaeology Department and Archaeological survey of India are requested to protect the ancient symbolism of Yoga(m).