Tirumantiram Tantra 3
Ashtanga Yoga: Tantra 3 of Tirumantiram: Thirumoolar’s Path
Tantra (Chapter) 3 in the Tirumantiram covers verses 548 through 883. You’ll notice parallels between Patanjali’s writings and Thirumoolar’s in Tantra 3.
Tantra 3, Section 1, verses 549 to 552 provide a general description of what is meant by Eight Limbed Yoga, especially in relation to Śiva.
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.
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