Book Description

Yoga Tattwa Upanishad, one of twenty Yoga Upanishads, is an ancient treatise on early yogic practices leading to higher meditation. This is the first published translation for over 100 years and the first ever published commentary. World-renowned meditation teacher and yogic scholar, Swami Satyadharma Saraswati is the author of this detailed commentary. Yogatattwa Upanishad is comprised of 142 verses, which deal with the philosophy, systems and practices of yoga. There are many important topics dealt with here, such as: mantra yoga, laya yoga, hatha yoga, raja yoga, the four states of yoga - arambhavastha, ghatavastha, paricayavastha and nispattyavastha. The text discussses particular practices of yoga, ie: nadishodhan pranayama, kumbhaka, bandhas, mahavedha, khechari mudra, vipareetakarani mudra, vajroli mudra, and amaroli. It further discusses the five tattwas, or elements of creation: earth, water, fire, air and ether, and provides detailed instruction on how to meditate upon and realise these elements and their associated powers. The text finally states that, only by the mastery of these practices, is raja yoga perfected. Dealing with the principle of non-attachment, it explains the practice of Pranava, meditation on Aum in the lotus of the heart. It ends with the discussion of the method of attaining knowledge of the atman by restraining the senses. The text is written in both devanagari and a transliteration. A word by word meaning for each verse is given, followed by a full translation into English and an explanation and commentary.