The Yoga pada is practiced from the lofty space of powerfulness. Here, Paramahamsa Nithyananda reveals how the Shashtanga yoga of Sadashiva is far superior to the Ashtanga yoga of Patanjali. He shares, “Patanjali definition of yoga is – yogah citta vritti nirodaḥ – cessation of the mind is yoga. But Sadashiva doesn’t prescribe/ propose mind control anywhere in the whole Agama. He says thoughts are too superficial; don’t be controlling or fighting or playing with it, they have no meaning!

Sadashiva’s definition about Yoga is experiencing Oneness with Oneness itself; union with Oneness is Yoga.

Shashtanga yoga (revealed by Sadashiva) includes 6 paths – Pratyahara, Dhyana, Pranayama, Dharana, Asana, Samadhi – to manifest the experience of Sadashivatva. Every component is crucial to manifesting Sadashivatva; there are no cultural frills. Yoga comes from Hinduism for manifesting Sadashivatva – the highest reality possible.”

The Sanskrit term “Jnana” if often translated as knowledge.

But Sadashiva’s definition goes well beyond the ordinary. As Paramahamsa Nithyananda reveals, “Sadashiva’s definition about Jnana is Enlightened about everything that exists is Jnana.”

As you can see, this lofty definition is as vast and infinite as Sadashiva! Ultimately, the practice of Agamas develops tremendous self-respect, and manifests wonderful powers in us. With this, we are constantly centered on our highest self and powerfulness.

Here, the presence of a living Avatar of Sadashiva provides a quantum leap in the practice and experience of Agamic truths. As Sadashiva Himself explains, “First, a person needs to start practicing the preparations – charya. You do puja, yoga, pranayama, apply bhasma, wear rudraksha – all the lifestyle practices. Then, you start doing kriya, tuning your body and mind to higher realms. Then, connecting with the higher realms, that is yoga. And living in that higher space itself is Jnana. This is the normal course of a spiritual seeker in regular Shaivite method.”

But in the presence of a living Avatar – Sadashiva gives a beautiful description, “When you have an Enlightened Guru, Shiva Yogi who is established in the space of Sadashivatva, first you get initiated – you experience and understand Oneness. After that, the lifestyle practices you do is not for achieving power; it is for MANIFESTING the powers of Sadashiva.”