Yoga is regarded as a divine science of life, revealed to enlightened sages in Meditation. Stone seals in the Indus Valley which date back to around 3000BC show Yogic postures and this are the earliest archaeological evidence of Yoga's origin. These Yogic postures, resemble Lord Shiva and Parvathi (Indian God and Goddess) performing various Aasanaas (Postures) and practicing meditation. The Vedas - huge collection of ancient INDIAN scriptures - dating back to 2500 BC first mention Yoga. The tradition of yoga was born in India several thousand years ago. Its founders were the Rishis and Maharishis, great saints and sages. Yoga was also mentioned in the Upanishads, the Upanishads, and the Puranas (holy texts of the Hindu religion). Infact the Upanishads provide the main foundation of Yoga teachings.

What is the origin of yoga?

Yoga has its origin in the vedas, texts that were heard by ancient stages in their state of meditation, and hence are known as suits. The great sage vyasa organized the vedas in a systematic manner. Hence he is known as veda vyasa.

What cannot be known otherwise can be known through the vedas. The word veda comes from the root vid-ti know. The vedas speak of what is to be known, how to know the experience of the highest, and the creator.

There are many references to the word yoga in the vedas. In fact there are many Upanishads that only with yoga.

A great sage patanjali, collected all the teachings of yoga from the vedas and presented in a simple and systematic manner, through what is known as yoga sutra.

The myth behind patanjali

The ancient sages believed that patanjali was an incarnation of adisesha, the serpent lord, who holds the universe on his head and is also the bed for lord vishnu. Vyasa glorifies this in the following sloga.

Yastyaktva rupamadyam prabhavatijagatah anekada anugrahaya 1

Praksina klesa rosih visma visadharath anekovaktrah subhogi 11

Sarva janana prosutih bhujagaparikarah pritaya yasya nityam 1

Devohisah savovyat sita vimala tanuh; yegado yoga yukt- ah 11

The essence of this is that, patanjali gave up his true from (that of snake)to come down to the earth, and offer different solutions for the different problems faced by people at that time. He is unaffected by the causes of suffering, and is pleasant looking .he is the source of all knowledge, and he is their leader. He is pleasant, and without any defects. His giver of yoga and to yoga to be like him is the goal of yoga.