YOGA & HATTH YOGA
As ancient philosopher Patanjali has propounded it, Hatth Yoga is a system of disciplining body. It stresses more on physical training and hard practices for achievement of ‘liberation’.
This school had been very popular in the Punjab and the north-central India during fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
Sikhism rejects Yoga and Hatth Yoga as means to discipline body.
Sikhism does not forbid physical exercise for health reasons but it does not consider Yoga or any other physical exercise etc. as a device or aid for attainment of liberation.
Guru Nanak has completely rejected this kind of Yoga in Japji Sahib and also in Sidh Gosht. According to Sikhism: purgation of ego and attachment; and living truthful life are the basis of way to liberation:
Make contentment your ear-rings, modesty and dignity your pouch.
Do the Bibhut (smearing ash on the body) of contemplation.
(Let) time be the rags for your chaste body,
And the staff of faith your device.
O ! members of Aaee (all) Panths and all sects
The world can be conquered by conquering the mind.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p. 6)
How an imperfect can know the mystery of liberation.
Such a yogi ponders over the method.
Killing five (vices) he places the True in his mind.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p.223)
The royal play is created by Your name,
Yoga is in singing Your praise,
All pleasures are in Your refuge,
Once the true Guru removs the curtains of doubt.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p. 385)
The word (identity) of Yoga is the word of knowledge,
And the word of Brahman is the word of Veda.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p. 469)
Yogi is one who knows the device.
With the grace of Guru, he has known One only.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p. 662)
Neither yoga is in wearing patches, nor in staff, nor in smearing ash.
Neithe yoga is in ear-rings nor in shaving head, nr in blowing horn.
Live taintless in taints, thus you can get to way of Yoga.
Nanak says: O Yogi ! Die while living, gain thus the way of yoga (with God). (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 730)
The celibacy, the truth, the discipline, the awareness;
Nanak says: that makes a Yogi, friend of (all) in three worlds.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p. 903)
One who realizes Order is called a Yogi.
He shall have mind in One (God). (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 908)
O Yogi! Yoga is difficult one; only he follows whom He graces.
O Yogi! This can’t be Yoga that you leave family and roam about.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p. 909)
Yoga is neither in concentration nor in the guise of knowledge;
Why roaming about from place to place for exhibition (of Yoga excercises). (Guru Granth Sahib, p. 1308)
Yoga is neither in ochre-dress nor in dirty clothes.
Nanak says: By teaching of Guru Yoga can be adopted while at home.
(Guru Granth Sahib, p. 1420)
(Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer)