History of Ashtanga Yoga | Ashtanga Yoga Heidelberg

Origin of Ashtanga Yoga – Yoga Korunta

Ashtanga Yoga History 

The method of AshtangaYoga is derived from an ancient Sage Vamana in his text called “Yoga Korunta.” Although many books on Yoga written, Vāmana Ṛṣi (devanāgarī: वामन ऋषि) is the one who has focused on a complete practical method.

Yoga Korunta: Background and Findings

The discovery of Yoga Korunta: Sri T. Krishnamacharya travelled to Calcutta in the early 1920-30s. At the empirical library, he transcribed and recorded the Yoga Korunta.  It was written on palm leaves and was in a bad state of decay. Krishnamacharya translated the ancient Sanskrit text and synthesize the practice of the original Ashtanga Yoga.

Accepting the request of present Kind, Sri T. Krishnamacharya stayed in Mysore. Where he teaches for more than 20 years at the Sanskrit college and Yoga Shala.

The text explains several lists of many asana groupings, as well as highly original teachings on vinyasa, drishti, bandhas, mudras and general teachings. The name Yoga Korunta is the Tamilized pronunciation of the Sanskrit words Yoga grantha, meaning “book about yoga”. – Wikipedia

Ashtanga Yoga History | Ashtanga Yoga Heidelberg
Mulabandhasana: Indus civilization seal (3300–1300 BCE) and Sri T. Krishnamacharya | Wikimedia

Krishnamacharya passed on these teachings to the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois, who started Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Lakshmipur -Mysore.

Jois devoted his life to propagating the Ashtanga Vinyasa method and in the 1970s he taught famous western yogis. Today, Ashtanga Vinyasa is one of the most popular forms of yoga in the world.

 

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