The Utility of Kriyayoga

Dr.Dilip Kumar Panda

Asstt.Prof. Ghatal R.S.Mahavidyalaya
The human mind is always restless. It cannot cling to anything for a long
time. Again, for not even a single moment it can stay unconcerned .Always,
it resorts to something. What is the reason of such restlessness of mind? It is
difficult to answer in nutshell. Perhaps the psychologists can answer this
question, properly examining its various parts – conscious and subconscious
etc. and considering its relative faculties – memory, attention, reason,
judgment and so on. But we shall simply think on it without poking our nose
into the complex affairs. According to Darwin’s theory, first life came into
existence in water in the shape of amoeba. Since that day we were born in
the shape of aquatic animals and terrestrial animals again and again. It is
said that we have assumed human figure eighty four lakhs of birth in this
world. Since that auspicious moment of being born in a human body, we
cannot say how many times we were born and ruined.The action of the
human mind with inn intelligence had been continuing since that auspicious
moment of human birth. The first general property of the mind is the power
of conservation.Our worldly body is transitory. How our childhood,
adolescence and youth pass away we cannot feel even for a moment. The
semblance of an intoxicating drug of worldly happiness always draws our
attention to the worldy affairs. When infirmity of old age comes, then we
begin to fell – Alas! What have I done! But thus should not take mind
1
idealness. So it is said in Mundakoponisad -“ नायमा मा ब हीनेन् ल यो” – The
weak cannot virtues because he is in the shadow of death.In old age our
body has lost its strength, our eyesight and organ of hearing have weakened.
Then our mind is being always diverted by disease, sorrows and suffering of
the old age. Under the above circumstances we live here for a few days more
and then pass away. Death is nothing but a change of dress.
वासांिस जीणािन यथा िवहाय
 नवािन गृ ाित नरोऽपरािण
तथा शरीरािण िवहाय जीणा-
य यािन संयाित नवािन देिह //2
As a man change his worn out clothes and puts on a new one, so the soul changes
its infirm body or shelter and assume a new body. Change of body by the atomic
individual soul is accepted fact. Transference of the atomic individual soul to
another body is made possible by the grace of the super soul. The super soul
fulfills the desire of the atomic soul as one friend fulfills the desire another. The
Vedas, like the Mundakaa Upanisada(3.1.2)3, as well as the Svetasvatara
Upanisad(4.7)4, compare the soul and the super soul to two friendly birds setting
on the same tree.One of the birds (the individual atomic soul) is eating the fruit of
the tree, and the other bird (super soul) is simply watching his friend. They are
friends, one is still master and the other is servant. Forgetfulness of this
relationship by the atomic soul is the cause of one’s changing his position from one
tree to another or from one body to another.So we have changed our infirm body
many times and assumed new body each time and during this transition we have
attached our mind and all the senses of the previous birth.
शरीरं यदवा नोित य चा यु ामती रः ।

गृही बैतािन संयाित वायगु धािनवाशयात् // 5

As the wind carries perfumes of the flowers, so a life, at the time of regeneration,
draws the mind and senses out of previous body.So this is that mind which is very
old and the author of all the mischief of our previous lives. Even in our present life
our mind is playing the same role. When we suffered much trouble in the deep
darkness of the womb of our mother, perhaps then a new sense originated and our
mind promised that it would not play again in the role of a worldly-minded man;
rather it would worship God and try to attain salvation. But inevitable are the
decrees of God. We forgot that promise as soon as we were born. Our mother
began to fondle and gradually the surroundings of our mind began to develop –
having food, dress and toys and so on one after another. At the age of five our
parents got us admitted into school. The teachers began to teach us various
subjects. In the school we began to be acquainted with many companions .Again,
as we grew older, our mind began to involve more in worldly affairs. Thus we
passed our celibacy, the first part of life and gradually we come to second stage of
life –the condition of a householder. Lord Krishna says in the Geeta-
यायतो िवषय पंसु ः सङ्ग तेषुपजायते ।
सङ्गा स जायते काम् काम ोधोऽिभजायते ॥
 ोधा भवित स मोहः स मोह मृितिव मः ।
मृितिव माद् बुि नाशो बुि नाशा न यित //6
The worldly- minded man is addicted to worldly affairs. Addiction brings
forth desire; desire bring forth anger; anger brings forth illusion; illusion brings
forth amnesia (loss of memory); amnesia causes confusion (loss of intellect);and
confusion brings forth inactivity which is nothing but death to a man.So we see
that a rotten apple injures its companions. Similarly, when we come in contact with
the worldly-minded men, the different kinds of desire and addictions come to the
surface and our mind becomes dissatisfied. The power transmitted from previous
birth beings to be developed in the sub-conscious stage of the mind. The mind tries
to fulfill its irresistible desire violently. But in the way of fulfilling its desire it has
to face economical, social and political obstacles. Therefore anger appears with its
consequent inclination such as greed, fraud and so on. Man begins to lose his
consciousness .As a result of its being blinded by selfishness and voluptuousness
he rushes to violent passion. Now the dependable objects of the mind are many and
they are making mind active according to their own purpose. So the unconscious
mind loses the sense of discrimination between right and wrong which causes loss
of memory which is a kind of death to man. Passions resort to numberless
perishable things of the transitory world. But the real happiness or peace for which
he performs all these is not enjoyed by him. The more the desire, the more it wants.
As a result a low mentality takes the opportunity and sorrow and mental agony
appear to be his regular companion. Alas! What a terrible result of the superior
human life it is! It is our evil company which is the root of all these vices. The evil
company ruins our real peace, hopes and happiness and afflicts our heart.Then
comes the marriage ceremony bearings a promise of pleasure. After marriage man
feels himself successful and his words and dealings become amiable. Union with
his newly married wife gives him a momentary happiness. It cannot give him
peace. Besides, the needs and problems of family remind him that life is not a bed
of roses; it is full of thorns. Now the mind is under the serious control of passions
and so it is exhausted and perplexed.In our childhood we did not lose the holy
thread of contact with the divine. So we enjoyed real peace and happiness. But
now the fatal company has taken us away from the field of happiness. It is a matter
of pity that we could not make our human lives fruitful.
In ancient times, each boy had to reside in the house of his preceptor or
Guru. The preceptor taught him both metaphysics and applied theory.Specially the
preceptor taught metaphysics in such a way that the disciple never forgot the
eternal truth. The education which is rendered in our schools and colleges is
lucrative. It does not teach us the philosophy of the soul or Supreme “Brahama”,
but it teaches to know the mortal things to be immortal. For this the life in the
present world is full of sorrows, disappointment and repentance. Our mind is
always diverted. So we are getting no peace.अशा त य कुतः सख ु म् 6 --- where is the
happiness for a restless man?Still we can get back our holy thread and real peace of
mind if we keep good company and follow the honest way. In the Geeta God says
to Arjuna-
ई बरः सबभतु ानं श
े ऽे जन ित ित ।
ामय सवभतु ािन य ा ढािन मायया ॥ 7
God by his divine power of illusion existing among the elements (earth, water, fire,
air and ether.) descended in the machinery of the body and inducing then in their
respective action is living in the heart of all creatures. So we see that seeing
hearing and physical action etc. are being performed by divine powered.But our
mind does not follow him; rather our materialistic outlook leads it astray. As a
result being conscious, we are living in an unconscious state. Kriyayoga teaches us
that lesson by which are mind can realise the spontaneous divine action.
Everybody has the right of receiving initiation in kriyayoga without any distinction
of caste and creed.Kriya Yoga was well known in ancient India,but was eventually
lost.In the Bhagbat Geeta Krishna refers to Kriya Yoga :-

अपाने जु बित ाणं ाणोऽपानं तथापरे ।

ाणापान ती द् बा ाणायामपरायणाः ॥8
Offering inhaling breath into the outgoing breath, and offering the outgoing breath
into the inhaling breath, the yogi neutralizes both these breaths; he thus releases the
life force from the heart and brings it under his control.Human life is very short it
is constantly associated with a multitude of difficulties and obstacles. Wise and
intelligent persons to accept and assimilate the essence of all spiritual practices.
Kriya Yoga is the essence of all spiritual practices and and it is the common
highway of all religions. Within a very short time, by the practice of the scientific
technique of Kriya Yoga, one can get the simultaneous development of body,
mind, intellect and soul. Maharsi Patanjali says-
तपः वा याये बर िणधानािन ि यायोगः 9
Austerity, Self-study and dedication to the highest constitute the preliminary of
Kriya yoga. It is a very secret process which can be taught by a great master, who
has devoted the best part of his life for self – realization following the path of
kriyayoga. In Samadhipada Patanjali elucidates the purpose of Kriya yoga-
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समािधभावनाथः लेशतनुकरणाथ
This kriyayoga depends upon performance completely. The easiest, surest,
simplest, and quickest and best technique of Kriyayoga is a complete a well-
balanced technique that can bring all round development.Here are some utilities of
Kriyayoga-
Mind control :-Mind is the greatest blessing as well as a awful human
predicament. A regulated, controlled and channeled mind can give and fulfill all
the expectation of human life, but if uncontrolled, it brings hell, miseries and
sufferings. The Kriya technique highlights the relationship between breath and
mind. Breath influences mind and vice-versa. Their mutual relationship revealed
the mystery of how to control the mind. Breath control is self control. Breath
mastery is self mastery Breathlessness stage that brings the state of Samadhi, the
realization of the Absolute.Kriyayoga based on scientific breathing that pacifies the
mind, slows the breathing process, and makes the breath flow inside the nostrils
instead of outside.By the practice of kriyayoga the mind becomes in a short time
calm, quiet and thoughtless. Man may become free from the stress and strain of
life.
Personality development:-Kriya yoga brings in the entire human personality,
making one free from falsehood all negativity, and constantly absorbed in truth and
divinity.By the practice of Kriyayoga one will be free from all negative qualities of
human life. All the noble and divine wishes will be fulfilled. One will get through
control over the restless and turbulent senses. Self – content, Self-discipline and
God-consciousness will bring a change in one’s life.
Spiritual development:-Kriyayoga enables constant soul- awareness, in every
breath, in every thought and every moment. It quikness spiritual evolution and
takes one to the door of spiritual realization in a short time. Kriyayoga meditation
enables one to feel that God and his creation are one. Constant happiness, peace,
bills and joy will be the constant companions of one who practices Kriyayoga.
Intellectual development:-Brain power brings success in the material and worldly
life. Kriyayoga will make one simple, pure, perfect, humble and constantly alert.
By the practice of Kriyayoga one gates promptness, ready wit, fitness to cope with
any situation and positive thinking. One will not get easily tired, and the memory
and retentive quality of the brain will increase.
Get good health:- By the scientific technique of Kriyayoga, the entire human
system is magnetized and energized in a very short time. All the eternal organs like
liver, pancreas, spleen, thyroid etc. are activated. They secrete necessary hormones
and enzymes to keep the body fit. By the practice of Kriyayoga one can enjoy the
beauty of human life. Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both
the lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of vedic knowledge
automatically revealed.
यमेवैष वृणतु े तेन ल य –
त यैष आ मा िववृणतु े तनंु बाम् 11
One must take shelter of a self-realized spiritual master, not a materially educated
scholar. One must take shelter of a person who engaged in devotional service and
free from material contamination. T hat is the way to return home, back to
Godhead. So after receiving initiation if we obey the orders and instruction of Guru
without any hesitation and cultivate the process regularly with esteem and
eagerness, then by the grace of Guru, we shall be able to realize the centripetal
force step by step. It is kriyayoga which helps us to be soul – conscious and our
mind in pursuit of respiration mixes with that everlasting joy and a peaceful nature.
Then the mind will understand that whatever he has done for his self-satisfaction
so long has been wrongly done and fruitless. Affection, love, beauty and
youthfulness and all float away, like the current of the river. Whatever remains will
go away very soon, because only God is everlasting and all other things are
transitory and so they cannot give us permanent happiness.
Conclusion:-Regular cultivation of kriyayoga turns the way of life, makes the
passions inactive and keeps of even the fear of death. Then a man finds hopes
among disappointment and possessing sound body and mind leads a happy and
successful life in this world.Beside, by practicing the process regularly he at last
finds the image of his own Guru not only in his own human body but also in all
creatures and feels himself a blessed man. Only for this successful end kriyayoga is
essential to all.
Reference Books :
1. Isadi nou Upanishad (sankarbhasya), Gorokhpur.p. 546
2. Srimadbhgbadgita, Tattvavivecani (English commentary) by Jaydayal
Goyandka, Gita Press , Gorakhpur,1994,p.Geeta 2.22

3. समाने बृ े पु षो िनम नो –
ऽनीशया शोचित मु मनः ॥
झु ं यदा प य य यमीश –
म य मिहमानिमित वीतशोअकः //- Isadi nou Upanishad (sankarbhasya), Gorokhpur.p. 526.
4. Idid.,p.p. 1268.
5. Srimadbhgbadgita, Tattvavivecani (English commentary) by Jaydayal
Goyandka, Gita Press ,
Gorakhpur,1994,p. (Geeta 15.8
6. Idid.,p. Geeta 2.62.63
7. Idid.,p.. Geeta 2.66
8. Idid.,p..Geeta 18.61
9. Idid.,p.. Geeta (iv/29)
10. Maharshi ptanjalikrit yogo darshan(Bengali),Gita
press,Gorkshpur,P.32
11. Idid.,p.33.
12. Kathopanishad ,Udbodhan Karyalaya,Swami Bhuteshananda,Kolkata
700003,ISBN-81- 8040-227-4 , p.119.