The purpose of this book is to present a brief history of yoga and two essential yoga texts, Gheranda Samhitâ and Yoga-Kundalinî Upanishad, in one volume, with comments. The two texts are less known to Western readers than for instance Patanjali's Yoga-Sûtras (of which numerous translations into English are available). Typical for both texts is that they are practical rather than theoretical, focusing on techniques more than on philosophy. In order to keep the size down, I have attempted to keep comments at a minimum. I am addressing everybody interested in yoga, although I think those who have some previous knowledge of the subject will find more of interest in this volume than other readers.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

A Brief History of Yoga

1. Proto-Shiva
2. The arrival of the Indo-Aryans
3. The Vedas and the Upanishads
4. Asceticism and atheism
5. The philosophical schools
6. The historical periods
7. Tantrism
8. The yoga sects
9. The different types of yoga
10. The texts included in this volume

Gheranda Samhitâ
1. Shatkarma
2. Âsana
3. Mudrâ and bandha
4. Pratyâhâra
5. Prânyâmâ
6. Dhyâna
7. Samâdhi

Yoga-Kundalinî Upanishad
1. Chitta and the control of prâna
2. Khecharî vidya
3. Melâna mantra