Tirumantiram Tantra 3, Verses 549 – 552: 8 Limbs of Yoga
Here, Thirumoolar is referring to the 8 Limbed Path. Yet, our lineage goes even further than the instructions left to us by the sage Patanjali. These are certainly part of our lineage. The 8 limbs are heavily referenced in Tantra 3.
549: Difficult to Expound is Science of Yoga
Of difficult vast to expound
Is the Science of Breath;
Closing nostril alternate
And counting time in measure appropriate
Thus did Nandi reveal at length
The eight-fold science of yoga great
Iyama, Niyama, and the rest.
550: Yoga Includes Kavacha Nyasa and Mudra
I shall reveal herein,
The ways of Iyama and Niyama,
The secret of Kavacha, Nyasa and Mudra
The paths to reach the Samadhi State;
To course Kundalini Sakti upward,
And to reach Parasakti at Cranium high.
551: Ashtanga Yoga Leads to Samadhi and to Jnana
Waver not, this way and that
Follow the way of eight-limbed Yoga
And reach Samadhi State;
They who tread that blessed path
Shall reach Jnana’s peak;
No more are they in this vile flesh born.
552: Eight Limbs of Yoga
Iyama, Niyama, and Asana numberless
Pranayama wholesome and Pratyahara alike,
Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi to triumph
These eight are the steely limbs of Yoga
We’ve looked at the Yamas (Verses 553 and 554). Our next posting will be the Niyamas. Once we are done with the 8 Limbs, we’ll delve into other units and discuss some of the other Tantras. I wanted to start with the 8 Limbs because these are easier to grasp and more familiar to most yogis.
Learn more about our Thirumoolar’s Yoga Teacher Training Courses.
