See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/221256345

Pragya Yoga

Article · June 2011

CITATIONS READS
0 8,296

1 author:

Kamakhya Kumar
Uttarakhand Sanskrit University, Haridwar, India
127 PUBLICATIONS 543 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Kamakhya Kumar on 30 December 2014.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

To understand Pragya Yoga it will be quite relevant to know little about the founder of this
system. Pt. Śrīram Sharma Acharya a pioneer of spiritual renaissance was born on 20th
September 1911 at Anwalkheda, Agra district U.P. in India. He scrupulously carried out the
biddings of his Guru (Swami Sarveshwarananda Ji), a great Himalayan Yogi, when he was
fifteen year of age.

He took part in the struggle for independence as a volunteer, went to jail a number of times and
embarked upon the task of social and moral uplifment through spiritual means in 1935 with the
blessings of Mahatma Gandhi.

A sage a visionary and a reformer, Acharya Śrī initiated a 100 points Yug Nirmana Yojana
(world reconstruction moment) and lived a disciplined life of devout austerity, visited the
Himalayas several times and attained spiritual eminence.

The Gayatri Parivar fraternity, Shantikunj Ashram – an academy for moral and spiritual
awakening; Brāhmavarc̣has Research Institute – which strives to synthesize science with
spirituality and over 3000 social reform centers is his greatest contributions to the modern age.

He translated the entire Vedic Vangmaya (literature) and accomplished a feat of writting more
than 3000 books on all aspects of life. For a healthy functioning of all the tissues and organs as
well as for a healthy mind practice of Pragya Yoga is one of the best methods. Under the
auspicious guidance of Pūjya Gurudev Pt. Śrīram Sharma Acharya (the founder of All World
Gayatri Parivar and the writer of over three thousand books) the system of Pragya Yoga has been
developed.

The practitioners of Pragya Yoga undergo through various Sadhanas according to the given
instructions from the teachings of Acharyashree. The aspirants come for Sadhana, follow a
unique schedule of lifestyle and get all the benefits of this holistic approach of yoga. Pragya
Yoga includes almost all systems of Yoga as: Bhakti, Gyan, Karma, Raja, Hatha, Tantra and
Mantra Yoga.

Practice of Bhakti Yoga starts with the devotion of aspirant to the feet of Iśta (higher
consciousness). In the practice of Pragya yoga aspirants devote to the feet of Universal Mother
Gayatri and offer the five things: Dhūp, Deep Naivedya, Akśat and C̣handan (incence, lamp,
sweet-offering, rice and sandal wood paste) and pray for the holiness and her blessings.

JñānYoga means knowing the higher consciousness through knowledge either through self
practice or through the teachings of Guru. Aspirant of Pragya Yoga gets benefited through both
the ways. The way of Self practice is Atma Bodha and Tattwa Bodha Sadhana. The teachings of
164
Seva Chetana
164-166; Vol: 11, No: 1
ISSN: 2231-4660
Guru they get through the books (authored by Śrīram Sharma Acharya) and the sayings of
Acharyashrī.

Karma Yoga is action withought expectation, or whatever you do offer it to God. Here it is
introduced at the very begining of this Sadhana. All the devotees and workers of this Parivar
(organization) devote their whole life for the social welfare without any expectation or without
expecting anything in return.

Raja Yoga some how means Dhyan Yoga. All the aspirants practice Savita Dhyan (meditation
on the rising Sun) in the morning as per the instruction of Acharyashrī.

For the practice of Hatha Yoga Acharyashrī introduced Pragya Yoga Vyayama which includes
few Asanas with breath awareness for physical health and it also having Mantra chanting for
mental and spiritual health. The practice includes sixteen postures. It can be co-related with
Gayatri Mantra with its variety which provides plentiful exercises to intensity concentration,
purity of emotions with the body movements.

First Position (Tadasana) – Mantra ‘Om bhūh’ Stand with the feet together. Inhale and raise the
both hands above the head as well as lift the heels and gaze at the sky. Slowly go into the
position of Tadasana. Weakness of the heart, impurities of the blood and constipation can be
eliminated through this practice.

Second position (Pad hastasana) – Mantra ‘Om bhuvah’ Exhale and bend yourself forward with
the hips. Bring your both hands beside the feet on the floor. Try to touch the head with knees.
(Keep the knees straight). Practice removes the gas, strengthen the Ida, Pingla, and Śuśumna and
reduce the extra fat of waist. It also removes constipation and makes the spine supple.

Third Position (Vajrasana) – Mantra ‘Om swah’ Sit in vajrasana-fold the knee and make a seat
with the feet. It is relaxing posture. The practice is helpful in digestion. Gas, constipation and the
heaviness of the stomach can be removed.

Fourth Position (Ustrasana) – Mantra ‘Tat’ Lift the buttocks and try to bring the both hands on
the soul. Come into the position of Ustrasana with inhalation. Open the chest and gaze at the sky.
Through this practice heart becomes strong; Ida, Pingla and suśumna with spine get energy.
Practice is helpful to get relief from hernia, backache and asthma.

Fifth Position (Yoga mudrasana) – Mantra ‘Savituh’. Exhale while sitting into vajrasana and then
bend forward with raising the hands behind the back like Yogamudra. Try to touch the forehead
on the floor. The practice activates the Manipur C̣hakra.

Sixth Position (Ardhatadasana) – Mantra ‘Varenyam’ Inhale and raise the upper part of the body
while sitting back into vajrasana. Raise both the hands above the head like Tadasana. This
position is called Ardhatadasana.

165
 Seva Chetana
164-166; Vol: 11, No: 1
ISSN: 2231-4660
Seventh Position (Śaśankasana) – Mantra ‘Bhargo’ Exhale and bend with hips again. Go into
Śaśankasana touching the forehead and elbows on the floor. Practice is helpful to get rid of
digestive disorders.

Eighth Position (Bhujangasana) – Mantra ‘Devasya’ Keeping the hands and knees at the same
position, inhale and bring the upper part of the body forward with chest opened in Bhujangasana
gaze at the sky and hold on this position. The practice gives strength to the heart and spinal
chord.

Ninth Position (Tiryak Bhujangasana Left) – Mantra ‘Dhimahi’ Be in the body position like that
for Bhujangasana exhale and just tilt to left and try to see the heel with lateral bending.

Tenth Position (Tiryak Bhujangasana Right) – Mantra ‘Dhiyo’ Now tilt to the right and try to see
the heels with right side lateral bending.

Eleventh Position (Śaśankasana) – Mantra ‘Yonah’ Keep the hands and knees at the same
position. Bring the body back again and go into Śaśankasana with exhalation.

Twelfth Position (Ardhatadasana) – Mantra ‘Prac̣hodayat’ Raise the both hands with upper part
of the body while be into Vajrasana and come into Ardhatadasana with inhalation.

Thirteenth Position (Utkatasana) – Mantra ‘Bhuh’ Bring the hands in praying position in front of
the chest. Raise the heels into scotting position and come into the position of Utkatasana.

Fourteenth Position (Padhastasana) – Mantra ‘Bhuvah’ Bring the wholesole on the floor. Lift the
buttocks and come into the position of Padhastasana while keeping the hands beside the feet.

Fifteenth Position (Tadasana) – Mantra ‘Swah’ Inhale and raise the head, hand, chest and trunk
like Tadasana-gaze at the sky.

Sixteenth Position (Chanting of Om) – Exhale with chanting of Om bringing the hands with
making the fist feeling of strength and energy.

Mantra Yoga is one of the important and most powerful aspects of this system. All the aspirants
of Pragya Yoga get initiated into Gayatri Mantra at the very beginning of the Sadhana and they
perform Mantra Yoga through Gayatri Mantra Japa. The Mantra is: “Ohm bhūrbhuvah swah
tatsaviturvarenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prac̣hodayāt” (Meaning: May
Almightly illuminate our intellect and inspire us towards the righteous path). It is nesessary for
all the aspirants to repeat this universal mantra at least three Mālā (spiritual string of 108 beads)
regularly in the morning.

System of Pragya Yoga influences every aspects of life and gives a lot of benefits. It can be said
that Pragya Yoga is one of the ways of life. Dr. Pranav Pandya (M.D.), Chancellor of Dev
Sanskriti Univ. being a doctor also promotes this system. People from every corner of the world
come for Sadhana and they are being initiated with this system and get proper guidelines of
yogic practices for their healthy life and spiritual uplifment.

166

View publication stats