Dravida Yoga is different from the conventional schools of yoga. It is almost an extinct form of yoga. Dravida Yoga is based on Dravidian culture which existed around 2000 BC in India. Swami Aswathi Thirunal has learned this form of yoga from some sadhus he met during his wandering days in Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu. Incidentally, Swami happens to be the only living Guru of this great art.
What are the salient features that differentiate Dravidian yoga from Arya yoga school?
- In Dravida yoga, every Aasana, Pranayama, Kriya or Namaskaram is a salutation or a prayer. So every action of Dravida yoga is a deep prayer from man to God.
- Unlike Arya yoga, in Dravida yoga every Aasana has a deity, a mantra and a sankalpa (imagination).
- Arya yoga has only one Namaskaram and is Surya Namaskaram (Salutation to the Sun). In Dravida yoga, there are 24 different Namaskarams, including Chandra Namasakaram (Moon), Shkukra Namaskaram (Venus), Bhouma Namaskaram (Earth), Pithru Namaskaram (forefathers), Guru Namaskaram (Teacher) and Navagraha Namaskaram (nine planetary positions).
- There are special exercises called Aayudha and Kiranas which are used basically for yoga therapy. Vajrayudhya is an exercise used fight mental or nerves depression.
- Unlike the Aryan schools, Dravida yoga gives importance to all the five aspects of personality development. It gives more importance to the five fold development of the human personality.
- One has to practice regular yoga about one to one and a half hours a day to attain results. In Dravida Yoga, about half an hour of regular practice is only required everyday, to achieve results.
Dravida Yoga is the art of living in total happiness. It is really the art of programming of one’s life. Swami Aswathi Thirunal makes every possible effort to rejuvenate and spread this form of Yoga. As per Dravida Yoga concepts, one has to develop in the following five dimensions to become totally success in life.
Physical
Principle is Sathyam, Sivam, Sundram. The body should be strong (healthy), dynamic and beautiful till the soul departs from the body. Dravida Yoga teaches you how to keep your health dynamism and beauty even a very old age. Chandra Namaskar, Dasavathara Namaskar and Bhouma Namaskar are the Dravidian yoga exercises prescribed for this.
Emotional
Lack of emotional balance is the main reason for the failure of modern human beings. People are carried away by negative emotions, fear and superstitions. Modern man’s existence has become a pendulum, oscillating between manias and phobias. A combination of Sukra Namskar, Rahu Namaskar and Pithru Namaskaram along with Vajrayudha , Sooryakiran and Meditation is the remedy for this.
Intellectual
One has to attain great intellectual heights to become successful in life. The capacity of the brain to grasp things fast and keeping it for ever in memory are very important. Dravida Yoga helps you activate the faculties of the brain in its fullness. Budha Namaskar, Surya Namskar and Gathra Sudhi are very helpful yogic practices for this.
Intuitional
Intuition is the special power of our mind. It helps us to understand things with out the thinking process. This capacity of the human being has become very weak as we have shifted ourselves away from nature. Dravida Yoga teaches you how to regain this intuition through some specific exercises.
Spiritual
No life is complete with out spiritual development. Even if one gets all the power, money and beauty in this world one may not be happy. Only when one reaches his highest spiritual perfection, can any soul know the sweetness of human life. Dravida yoga leads us through the path of spiritual perfection.
Dravida yoga is taught to deserving candidates in the yoga centers of the Ashram by the trained disciples of the Guru. If you are interested, please contact the Ashram.