Q1) What is Brahman? And what is Sadhana Chatushtaya?

A) Brahman is a Sanskrit word that refers to the highest universal principle, also called the ultimate reality.

It is derived from the Sanskrit root brh, which means "to grow or expand." In Hindu texts, brahman is referred to
as the atman, meaning soul or self.

The Upanishads, Sanskrit texts from the Vedic era, define brahman as satyam jnanam anantam brahma. Satyam
means "that which never changes," jnanam means "knowledge," and anantam means "infinity."

Brahman does not refer to the Hindu god Brahma, the Hindu god of creation. Nor does it refer to Brahmin, a
class that is a part of the caste system as described in the Upanishads.

B) Sadhana Chatushtaya - the "four means of salvation". They are discrimination, dispassion, the sixfold
qualities of perfection, and intense longing for liberation - Viveka,Vairagya, Shad-Sampat and Mumukshutva.

four essential requisites for salvation.:

Viveka is discrimination between the real and the unreal, between the permanent and the impermanent, between
the Self and the non-Self.

Vairagya is dispassion for the pleasures of this world and of heaven.

Shad-Sampat: It consists of Sama, Dama, Uparati, Titiksha, Sraddha and Samadhana. All these six qualities are
taken as one because they are calculated to bring about mental control and discipline, without which
concentration and meditation are impossible.

Mumukshutva: Mumukshutva is intense desire for liberation from the wheel of births and deaths.

Q2) What are Shat Kriyas?

Kriyas are the yogic techniques to cleanse the internal organs. According to Hatha Yoga Pradipika , there are six
cleansing techniques called Shat Kriyas. They are Kapalabhati, Trataka, Neti, Dhouti, Nauli and Vasti

Shat means "six" and kriya means "cleansing". Yogic kriya remove the waste materials of our internal organs
which are not expelled normally.

1) Kapalabhati (Stimulating the brain cells)

Kapala in Sanskrit means skull; and "Bhati" means shine. So the term "kapalabhati" means an exercise that
makes the skull shine. This kriya cleanse the skull. Kapalabhati is a breathing technique for purifying the frontal
region of the brain.

There are three forms of Kapalabhati:

Vatakrama kapalabhati, a practice similar to Bhastrika, a technique of Pranayama, except that exhalation is active
while inhalation is passive, the opposite of normal breathing.

Vyutkrama kapalabhati, a practice similar to Jala neti, it involves sniffing water through the nostrils and letting it
flow down into the mouth and then spitting it out.

Sheetkrama kapalabhati, can be considered the reverse of Vyutkrama kapalabhati, in which water is taken
through the mouth and then expelled through the nose.

2) Trataka (Eye Exercises)

Trataka is fixing the mind by gazing steadily to an object without winking. Trataka are in two types namely,
antharanga trataka and bahiranga trataka. This practice activates the tear glands and there by purifies the visual
system

3) Neti (Upper Nasal Track)

Neti is intended for the purification of the nostrils. The nostrils must be kept clean. Unclean nostrils will lead to
irregular breathing. Neti are in four types namely; Jala Neti, Sutra Neti, Dugdha Neti (milk is used) and in Ghrita
Neti ghee is used instead of water.

4) Dhouti (Cleansing the intestine)

Dhouti Kriyas are meant for cleansing the upper intestinal tract up to the stomach. There are three types of
Dhouti; jala Dhouti or vamana Dhouti, vastra Dhouti and danda Dhouti.

Jala Dhouti or Vaman Dhouti [kunjal] is cleansing the stomach with water.

In Vastra Dhouti cloth will be using for cleansing the stomach.

In danda Dhouti a rubber tube called "danda" will be using. Dhouti practices are highly useful for gastric trouble,
acidity etc.

5) Nauli (Abdominal muscle and Viscera)

It is a yogic technique of massaging the whole abdomen and stomach by contracting and rolling the abdominal
muscles, especially the rectus abdominis muscle. Naulis are three types viz

Madhyama Nauli; Vama Nauli; Dakshina Nauli:

6) Vasti (Cleaning of the Rectum)

The word "Vasti" is a general term pertaining to the lower abdomen, belly, pelvis and bladder

Vasti is practiced in different ways:

Jala Vasti (Yogic enema with water)

Sthal Vasti (dry yogic enema)

Q3) What are different types of karma?

Karma is a Sanskrit word springing from the root Kri to do Karma is the law of moral

There are three types of karma described in Hindu texts:

Sanchit Karma is due to our past actions what you go through in the present are the effects of that past. Either in
previous births or in this birth.

Prarabhdh Karma is what we are experiencing currently due to our past and the effects or experiences you are
creating at present. We are living that experience.
Agami Karma is the future seeds that we are sowing. Will germinate either in this life or the next. But you have
yet to experience them. It is your stored future.
Other classification of Karma:
Sakama Karma - selfish actions
Nishkama Karma - selfless actions.
Q4) Different between physical exercises and yoga?
1. Yoga stimulates parasympathetic nervous system (hence relaxing) / Exercise stimulates sympathetic
nervous system (hence tiring)
2. Yoga is anabolic / Exercise is catabolic
3. Yoga practices slow dynamic movements / Exercise involves rapid forceful movements
4. Yoga practices reduced muscle tension / Exercise involves increased muscle tension
5. Low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments / Exercise has a higher risk of injury
6. Yoga leads to relatively low caloric consumption / Exercise leads to moderate to high caloric
consumption
7. In yoga, energizing / Exercise fatiguing
8. In yoga, awareness is internal (focus is on breath and the infinite) / In exercise, awareness is external
(focus is on reaching the toes, reaching the finish line, etc.)
9. In yoga there shall be self-awareness / In exercise there is no aspect of self awareness

Q5) What are pancha mahabhavas and navavidi bhakti margas?

A) Pancha maha Bhava establishes a true relationship between the devotee and the Lord. Bhava then grows
into Maha-Bhava wherein the devotee lives, moves and has his being in the Lord.
There are five kinds of Bhava in Bhakti. They are Shanta, Dasya, Sakhya, Vatsalya and Madhurya Bhavas. These
Bhavas, or feelings, are natural to human beings and, as such, are easy to practice.
In Shanta Bhava, the devotee is Shanta or peaceful. Bheeshmapitamaha
In Dasya Bhava, one serves Lord Rama whole-heartedly. Lakshmana, Hanuman, Angada
In Sakhya Bhava, God is a friend of the devotee. Arjuna towards Lord Krishna
In Vatsalya Bhava, the devotee looks upon God as his child. Yasoda with Lord Krishna
Madhurya Bhava or Kanta Bhava. The devotee regards the Lord as his Lover. Radha and Krishna.
B) Navavida bhakti margas by Swami Sivananda
The nine modes of Bhakti are the ways in which a devotee attains the Supreme Ideal of Life. It is not direct
assertion of God, but a progressive realisation of Him.
1. Sravana - Hearing the Lord's virtues, glories and stories
2. Kirtana - Singing of the Lord's Glories
3. Smarana - Remembrance of the Lord at all times
4. Padasevana - Serving the Lord's Feet
5. Archana - Worship of the Lord
6. Vandana - Prayer and prostration unto the Lord
7. Dasya Bhakti - Servant sentiment with God
8. Sakhya Bhakti - Friendship sentiment with God
9. Atma-Nivedana - Self-surrender to God
Q6) What is gnana yoga and shat sampathi?
Jnana yoga is the yoga of knowledgenot knowledge in the intellectual sensebut the knowledge of Brahman
and Atman and the realization of their unity. Where the devotee of God follows the promptings of the heart, the
jnani uses the powers of the mind to discriminate between the real and the unreal, the permanent and the
transitory.

Shatsampat (six virtues) are six mental practices to stabilize the mind and emotions, and to further develop the
ability to see beyond the illusions of maya.
Shama (tranquility, calmness) is the ability to keep the mind peaceful, through moderating its reaction to
external stimuli.
Dama (restraint, control) is the strengthening of the mind to be able to resist the control of the senses, and the
training of the senses to be used only as instruments of the mind.
Uparati (withdrawal, renunciation) is the abandonment of all activities that are not ones Dharma (Duty). A
simple lifestyle is followed that contains no worldly distractions from the spiritual path.
Titiksha (endurance, forbearance) is the tolerance of external non-conducive situations that are commonly
considered to produce suffering, especially in extreme opposite states (success and failure, hot and cold, pleasure
and pain).
Shraddha (faith, trust) is a sense of certainty and belief in ones guru (teacher), the scriptures and the yogic path.
Samadhana (focus, concentration) is the complete one-pointedness of the mind.