Yoga is branch of Indian Philosophy and as a branch of philosophy it talks about Law of karma, Birth and death cycle, concept of liberation etc. These concepts may have some association or bearing with the soil of its origin but the other important practices that have been described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra or various Hathayogic practices actually transcend the religion phenomena.

Every human being has a body which he wants to keep fit and healthy. Every person has a mind to think, which never remains steady, which is beyond ones control and he wants to make it steady and enable it for better thinking capacity and also wants to have control over it in order to direct the mind and utilize it for higher purpose. Every person respires without being aware that how important it is for his existence. We go on respiring without knowing its subtleties and better application. Also we do not know about the close relationship between the function of mind and respiration. In order to know and achieve all these things, we are required to practice Yogic exercises which are related with body culture, mind culture and also culture of respiration. In this way Yoga is religion for every one’s body, mind and existence.

Possible Religious Elements in Yoga

  1. Every Yogic practice starts with prayer. An Indian Yoga Teacher is taught to recite Vedic Mantra to create an environment for the practice of Yoga.
  2. While teaching Yogic practices, a reference from original Texts in Sanskrit is usually being quoted. Sanskrit language may create a feeling of its association with Hindu religion
  3. In some yogic literature, we find the application of some Mantras or seed letters to be recited during different practices such as Pranayama, Mudra or Dharana and so.
  4. Some concepts of Yoga like Chakra, Vayu, Nadi, Kundalini etc. are considered to be essentially associated with the religion.
  5. In some places recitation of ‘OM’ is also objected because of its being a sacred word of Hindu religion. In Yoga, ‘OM’ is given great importance for recitation- therefore it is associated with dogmatic Hindu religion.

These are certain possible objections against yoga. Let us try to understand it rationally with a catholic approach. We shall consider each point separately

Possible Solutions to the objections

  1. It is true that yogic practices start with prayer and Yoga –because of its origination in India – an Indian yoga teacher is taught to recite Vedic Mantra. Let us not forget that yoga teacher gives importance to the prayer and not to the Vedic mantra. Prayer is recited to create an environment conducive and suitable for the practice. Payer can be selected from any religious scripture to suit the group of individuals. The objective behind reciting prayer is more important and not the particular prayer.
  2. Sanskrit is the language in which the original yoga literatures are available and therefore quotations in Sanskrit are usually recited by the yoga teachers. The author very strongly believes that quotations from yogic literature of other languages can or should also be quoted if they are not having any religious touch in them. Therefore, Sanskrit quotations do not make it essentially associated with a particular religion.
  3. It is true that in some of the yogic practices, the application of mantras or seed letter is recommended or prescribed. Here , the author wants to suggest all those persons, who are not comfortable in application of Mantra during those practices , they may drop this recitation from their practice. In Gheranda Samhita – it is clearly written – that there are two types of Pranayama- Sagarbha and Agarbha. ( Gh. S. V/ ) Sagarbha means Pranayama with mantra and Agarbha means Pranayama without Mantra. Pranayama can be practiced in both the ways and it can be said that yogic practices are capable of giving similar effect even if it is practiced without Mantra. Thus, simply because it has mantra application, we should not ignore the practice or condemn it.
  4. Concept of Chakra , Nadi, Vayu etc. are not the religious concepts. They are the esoteric yogic concepts. They are a type of yogic anatomy and physiology. Those who practice it will realize it. In the process of practice, the practitioner comes across certain experiences and they become unexplainable if he is not exposed to these esoteric concepts. However, these concepts in yoga do not make a strong ground to reject yogic practices on the name of religion. During the initial practice of yoga, these concepts have no importance. When one progresses in the practice, these concepts start unfolding themselves to the practitioner and he understands the value of such concepts.
  5. Undoubtedly ‘AUM’ is the word associated with Hindu Religion but it will be most appropriate to quote the words like – ‘AMEN’ or ‘AMIN’ respectively available in Christianity and Islam religions, have their close relationship with the word Aum. The similarity in these three sounds is unique and it suggests that these words are trans-religious. In the words of Saint John ,”in the beginning there was word, the word was with God and the word was God”. This primordial word was nothing but the sound of AUM. This is reconfirmed if we try to analyze three English words – omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. It is very much obvious that the word ‘omni’ in all these three words have some common origin and it is not very far from the concept of ‘aum’

Besides above charges against Yoga, some concepts like birth and rebirth cycle, liberation, law of karma are some such concepts which are not acceptable commonly to the people of every religion. In order to solve this problem we will have to divide yogic presentations into two aspects: philosophical aspect and practical aspect. Those who do not agree with the philosophical aspect of yogic concepts, they are advised to limit their acceptance of yoga only to the practical aspects avoiding any such thing which has any relationship with religion. The author is convinced on the point that the Yogic practices are capable of making a person – a better religious person of one’s own faith.

Thus , the charge against yoga – of being its religion –do not have strong logic. We should open our mind and accept yoga as it is one of the most effective method of psychosomatic practices which can take care of human beings wellbeing through its non-religious practices provided they are followed and practiced religiously.