Niyam

In a person’s code of conduct the observance of Niyam plays an important role.
According to Pantanjal Yog Sutra, it has five parts:

Shouch (Cleanliness):-

Cleanliness is two fold, internal and external. External cleanliness includes releasing of bowels, taking a bath regularly, putting on neat clothes, etc. The internal cleanliness is the removal of impurities of mind, intellect and chitt, etc. By observing both types of cleanliness we make our life happy. Those who enhance their facial beauty by unnatural and artificial aids to beauty (i.e. by powders and creams) fill the society only with their foul smell. Their mind if filled with jealousy, hatred, fear, greed, egoism, attachment, passion and what not, is not the proof of cleanliness. By observing cleanliness we get rid of the vices of Tamas i.e. inertia, laziness, dullness, infatuation and those of Rajas i.e. passion and restlessness etc. Its observance makes consciousness clean mind steady and our senses introspective.

 

Santosh (Contentment):-
Happiness derived from the attainment of wealth and property acquired by the sweet of the brow is contentment. Santosh is not to crave for sense-objects. We do not feel jealous of  other  people when we are contented. Contentment  in itself  is the greatest and the real wealth. It is rightly said that no wealth  is  superior to the  wealth of contentment. Due to the absence of contentment in the society, never before  such an acute degradation was perceived  as today. It is the most essential  need of  the present time. The sadhak can carry on his Sadhana on minimum possible needs.

 

Tap (Austerity):-
The control of sense-organs, body and mind is Austerity. It is by dint of Tap that our great saints  have  got  highest  attainments. Austerity  brings  purity to life. All the impurities  caused by conflicts of  body and mind are removed by the practice of austerity. Just as the heat of fire purifies the gold, so the heat of penance of austerity alone purifies and glorifies the life of man.

 

Swadhyay (Study of scriptures / self):-
To know one’s own self is Swadhyay. This process starts with self-introspection. With the study of scriptures and the thousands of journals, the listening to the sermons of rishis and realized souls. These days thousands of journals and magazines are published in the name of literature, but they deal only with matters of worldliness. Their study can hardly form a  part  of  what  we  understand  by the term Swadhyay. It is the surest way to real joy and progress. Knowledge  is never gained by the study of worldly books; it comes only with the study of vedic books, scriptures and self-introspection. It ensures both  progress  and pleasure. Knowledge is not worldly but relates to Atman.

 

Ishwar Pranidhan (Surrender to God)
It means complete surrender to the all – pervading God. It is to experience His Divine presence in the smallest pores of our body. It is also the surrendering of all the activities of our sense – organs and Pran and the benefits accruing from such actions to Ishwar. By devotion to Ishwar, Atman rules over the Mind, Intellect, Chitt and Ahankar his light activates them and removes the impurities of the mind.

 

Directions
Do not speak abusive words from the mouth. Do not harbor evil thoughts in the mind against anyone. Never think of causing harm to any one. It is a Yajna (sacrifice). Ishwar accepts two things Yajna and Tap. Yajna means doing good to others, offering  food to  others, and placing one’s services at other’s feet. Tap (austerity) means living  an austere life  by minimizing one’s needs and wants and doing of utmost good to others  by selfless service. Both these factors are instrumental in purifying ones mind. And once we succeed in  observing them completely in the conduct of our life, we should realize that we have attained the purification of our Chitt. Hence we must make persistent effort to achieve this noble end.