Introduction to JKYog

Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog is a system of Yog named after Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, who is the fifth original Jagadguru in the history of the world. This Yogic system is also popular in short as JKYog. The title “Jagadguru” means “Spiritual Master of the entire world,” and is a title that has historically been given to those great personalities in Hinduism, who illumined the entire world with Vedic knowledge. “Kripaluji” refers to his Name, and it means “The Merciful One.”

Necessary Factors for our Success in life as per JKYog

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj teaches that success in life requires the possession of both—a healthy and robust body, and a pure and peaceful mind. This requires the synthesis of both material and spiritual knowledge.

The body is made from matter, and so it must be kept in sound health with the help of material science. Simultaneously, the mind must be purified and elevated with the practice of spiritual science. If we utilize both these branches of knowledge, we will naturally invite success in our lives.

The Five Rock-Solid Disciplines of JKYog

To achieve these objectives, the system of Jagadguru Kripaluji Yog includes five Vedic disciplines for mind-management and exemplary physical health. These five disciplines are as follows:

1. Radhey Krishna Yogasans: These are physical postures and exercises practiced along with the remembrance of God.
2. Radhey Krishna Pranayam: These are breathing exercises done with the remembrance of the holy Names of God.
3. Subtle Body Relaxation: This is a technique for removing all tension and anxiety from the mind and the body, to achieve a state of complete relaxation.
4. Roop Dhyan Meditation: This is a Divine system of meditation on the all-attractive Divine form of God.
5. Science of Healthy Diet: It is the science of understanding the impacts of different foods on our body and mind, and eating proper foods, to develop a sāttvic nature, in accordance with the famous proverb: “You are what you eat.”

Mind Dimension – The Main Target of JKYog

The five arms/sciences of JKYog are not innovations. They have been described in the Vedic scriptures, and have been taught in India since the most ancient times. However, in the practice of these techniques, people forget to pay importance to the mind, and hence, they do not get the desired results. JKYog applies the holistic approach of nourishing the body, mind, and soul. It is a complete system for attaining perfection in life.

Who is a Bona fide Yogi ?

The ancient scriptures shed light on the meaning of Yoga:

etāvān yog ādiṣhṭo machchhiṣhyaiḥ sanakādibhiḥ

sarvato mana ākṛiṣhya mayyaddhāveśhyate yathā (Bhagavatam 11.13.14)

“True Yoga is to remove our mind from all the objects of material attachment, and fix it completely on the Supreme Lord.” Thus, a true Yogi is one who sees God everywhere in the world, and performs every action in a spirit of dedication to Him. Since God is reservoir of Divine Bliss, Knowledge, and Love, by connecting our mind with Him, we will attain the same qualities.

The Power of Yoga

Yoga incorporates the science of healthy and righteous living into our daily life. It works on all aspects of an individual: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It takes into purview the mind, the body, and the soul of a jīva in its aim of reaching the Absolute. Yog has the power of integrating the physical, mental, and spiritual dimensions of a jīva.

Our intellect is subject to certain weaknesses, which are universal in the materially bound state. Avidyā—lack of knowledge, asmitā—pride due to identification with the designations of the body, rāg—longing and attachment for sensory objects and affections, dveṣh—dislike for objects and persons, and abhiniveśh—the fear of death. These are the five flaws of the intellect that must be rooted out. Yoga is the ultimate panacea that helps us to eradicate these mental flaws.

Misconceptions about Yoga

There are two or three common misconceptions about Yoga prevalent in the world. The first one relates to its etymology. The word “Yoga” has become popular these days. But it is wrongly spelt, as the actual word mentioned in our scriptures is “Yog,” and not “Yoga.”

The second misconception is about the interpretation of its meaning. Many people have very

little knowledge about Yoga, and mistakenly believe it be something mystical that cannot be practiced by common people. Others who know a little about Yoga confine it to the mere practice of āsans, which are actually just one of the branches of Yoga.

But in reality, neither of these notions comes close to the true meaning of Yoga. As mentioned above, Yoga is the practical science which paves the surest way to peace, prosperity, harmony, and happiness.