Ayurveda is an ancient, ageless holistic science. Ayurveda can be likened to a big tree, with Yoga as an important branch of this tree.
Ayurveda says that if we want to enjoy good health & overall well being, we must follow certain rules in accordance with nature’s law. These rules are mentioned broadly in 2 categories i.e. Yamas & Niyamas.
Yamas means “restraints”, “self regulations”, “abstinence”. These rules or codes of conduct are expected from us with regard to our dealings with the external world, with all the 8.4 million species of life. These are meant for creating a peaceful environment not only around us, but in the whole world and within the entire universe at a larger scale.
Niyamas means “observances” or the codes of conduct we should follow when dealing with ourselves. These rules or codes of conduct can help us with our personal growth, both material and spiritual.
The ancient Vedas and Upanishads such as the Shandilya Upanishad, and many yogic scriptures, describe 10 Yamas and Niyamas. But a great yogi called Patanjali has written in his Yoga Sutras that there are primarily 5 Yamas and Niyamas which must be followed by an individual who truly wants to practice Yoga.
In this article, we will focus on the 5 Yamas and Niyamas as per Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
According to Patanjali, Yamas are the first “anga” (limb) of Ashtanga (eight limbs) Yoga. It briefly means “shall-nots”, which are defined as “ahimsa satya asteya brahmacharya aparigraha yama”, meaning :
Brahmacharya = controlling and proper engagement of the senses
Aparigraha = non possessiveness of the sense objects
Niyamas are the second limb of the eight limb yoga system which simply means “shall-do”. Patanjali defines them as “shaucha santosha tapah svadhyaya ishvarapranidhana niyamah” meaning :
Shaucha = purity of Manah (mind), vachana (speech) & Karma (actions)
Tapah = accepting austerities willingly and training the senses to remain undisturbed even in uncomfortable situations.
Svadhyaya = sva means self, adhyaya means to study or to evaluate; so this means evaluating our own thoughts, words and actions
Ishvara pranidhana = Ishvara means the supreme controller (GOD) and pranidhana means to surrender the mind, words and actions or the fruits of one’s actions to GOD.
According to Ayurveda, all creatures (total 8.4 million species) are the fragmental parts of the universe. Human beings are the topmost creatures, so our responsibility is the highest with regard to keeping and maintaining harmony in the whole creation.
Before achieving the target of maintaining harmony in the whole creation, first we need to create harmony within our own system at all levels i.e. physical, psychological, emotional, mental and spiritual. Ayurveda can help us to achieve this wonderful goal.
In the following paragraphs we will see the importance of Yamas & Niyamas to our health and the consequences of ignoring them.
Ahimsa : Ayurveda emphasizes following a strict vegetarian diet if we want to maintain good health, prevent health problems or recover from any disease. WHY? Because disease means “dis” + “ease” meaning we are not feeling easy or comfortable whether it is at a physical, psychological, emotional, mental or spiritual level. So we have to first stop causing discomfort to other innocent animals, then we can expect recovery from our diseased condition.
Nowadays most people propagate consumption of meat, sea food and other non vegetarian food items to “be strong”. Even those in the medical profession are sometimes under this misconception & recommend the same to their patients. A client of mine, a journalist from London, was reluctant to observe a vegetarian diet according to my recommendation. A doctor in the UK had told her several years ago that as per her blood group, she should eat meat and sea food every day, otherwise she would become very weak. I pointed out the fact that she was still weak despite eating meat for so many years.
If someone is anemic or has a low hemoglobin level, would we ask that person to drink blood to correct the problem? NO. We would ask that person to eat more vegetables and fruits that are rich in iron, and easily digested and absorbed by the system. The same logic applies to eating meat - for increasing strength or for developing muscles, why do we need to depend on the flesh of animals?
(By the way, my journalist client did start following the vegetarian diet I recommended according to her constitution, and has no regrets. She is still a vegetarian and feeling better than ever).
Satya : Ayurveda says if we are not truthful or honest, our system would also work in a “dishonest” way. One may dismiss this as mental speculation or “scare tactics”, but the effect is very subtle and the negative effect is felt at the physical or gross level over a period of time. For example, if we engage our tongue in speaking lies, eventually the tongue will lose its power to recognize the taste of food. This will negatively affect the digestive system because the tongue will send incorrect signals to the brain, resulting in the digestive system not producing the required “Pitta” or digestive enzymes to digest the food. The end result? Indigestion, poor assimilation, and eventually, constipation.
Asteya : According to Ayurveda, if we do not follow the Yama of non-stealing, it can cause many psychological and emotional disorders.
When someone wants to steal or cheat, he/she tries to ensure that nobody is watching and tries to avoid being caught. But one cannot hide that act of stealing or cheating from a witness within himself. That witness is an expansion of the supreme soul. Call it conscience or whatever else, but “that little voice within” constantly reminds one that “he is a thief, a cheater”. Initially this guilt may cause sleeping disorders, but if the stealing or cheating tendency is not checked, it may eventually cause serious emotional and psychological disorders. On the other hand, if this negative tendency is corrected, it will positively enhance one’s will power & increase self esteem.
Brahmacharya : In general it is translated as celibacy, meaning “to abstain from sex life”. But actually it is much more than that. Ayurveda says “Brahmacharya” means proper utilization of the sense organs as well as sense objects. In total, there are 10 senses called “Indriyas” in Sanskrit. 5 are called “Karmindriyas” meaning senses of action or expression; and 5 are called “Jnanindriyas” meaning the senses of perception or cognition. Proper utilisation of these senses is called “Upayoga” in Sanskrit and the person who does this properly is called “Yogi” (and Brahmachari). Eventually such a person can find “Brahman” (the Absolute truth), which is the ultimate goal of Yoga. The improper usage of these senses is called “Upabhoga” and the person who misuses them is called “Bhogi”, meaning sufferer. That person has to suffer in this world life after life.
Aparigraha : This refers to non-possessiveness of the material objects for sense gratification. When the Yama of Brahmacharya is observed, this Yama of non-possessiveness becomes easier to observe.
Ayurveda says if this Yama is not practiced, a person becomes much too greedy and attached - to tangible as well as intangible things. Attachment to tangible things can cause problems such as constipation, water retention, poor blood circulation etc. And attachment to intangible things makes a person fearful of losing them, while causing low self esteem and emotional problems.
Shaucha : Meaning purity at all levels i.e. physical, mental and spiritual.
According to Ayurveda, physical cleanliness (external & internal) is very important to maintain good health. External cleanliness is done by taking proper bath at the proper time. Ayurveda, being a unique science, explains different ways of cleansing the body to protect itself from disease.
With regard to the internal cleansing, Ayurveda explains several methods eg., “Vaman” (like Kunjala in Yoga), Basti etc.
Besides the physical cleanliness, mental and spiritual cleanliness is also very important, which according to Ayurveda, can be done by meditation and associating with saintly people. When we are pure from within at the mental and spiritual level, then our speech and our words would be pure and soothing for other people. Our actions & speech will not be influenced by the vices such as anger, hatred, envy etc.
Santhosha : Meaning contentment. Ayurveda says that observing this Niyama is necessary in order to prevent emotional and psychological problems eg. anxiety, panic attacks etc.
Contentment doesn’t mean that one should not have any ambition in life and just be happy at whatever level one is. On the contrary, Ayurveda emphasizes on having realistic goals and adopting natural and healthy means to achieve those goals. And for any reason if there is some shortfall and one cannot achieve that goal, one should not regret or be disturbed, but accept it as a fact of life.
Tapah : Meaning austerity, tolerance. My Yoga guru, his holiness Umeshchandra Yogi explained this in a very nice way saying “kum khana & gum khana”, meaning “eat less & tolerate difficulties” i.e. eating less is a physical austerity while tolerating difficulties is an emotional austerity.
This Niyama helps us to build up our character and make us stronger, especially at the emotional and psychological level. Ayurveda says it is a prerequisite of a normal human being to remain neutral whether the conditions are favorable or otherwise, in happiness and distress… One has to just focus on one’s duty and perform it under all circumstances, favorable or otherwise.
Ayurveda also states that one should not accept any injustice, humiliation etc. and think that he is being tolerant. That is not tapah, but foolishness, stupidity.
Svadhyaya : This Niyama is crucial in improving relationships and preventing the break up of families.
In general, our nature is to evaluate and analyze others’ activities and behavior but pay less attention to our own attitude towards others. This is due to our egoistic nature. We think very highly of ourselves, that we know better than others. This causes differences of opinions, arguments, disputes, hatred, envy etc. and our relationships suffer.
Ayurveda teaches us to establish and maintain harmonious relationships with others by learning about the effect of different “doshas” on our attitude, nature and behavior and how the imbalance of these “doshas” can influence us badly. For instance, a “Pitta” person generally is very well disciplined, but when his pitta is aggravated, he can become furious and even harm someone.
If we apply Ayurvedic principles and follow the Ayurvedic diet as per our “doshas”, we can maintain the balance amongst these “doshas” and live more peacefully.
Ishvara Pranidhana : This Niyama can help us to advance spiritually. It is said in Ayurveda that without spiritual practice and the mood of surrender to Almighty God (Ishvara- the supreme controller), our activities bind us in the bondage of eternal miseries in this material world.
The famous Ayurvedic physician and seer, Charaka, says that the main cause of disease is forgetting the Almighty Lord. The only solution for this misery is to surrender to Him – without this mood of surrender, even medicines & diet will have limited effect.
The above illustrates how vital it is to imbibe and cultivate the practice of Yamas & Niyamas in our daily lives. In actuality, observing Yamas & Niyamas is the basis or foundation for first maintaining our personal health & well being; then at a larger scale, to create harmony in the world/environment we inhabit & make it a place worth living for all creatures.
