Shloka 8
Umāyāḥ Kriyāyoga-Rahasya
The Esoteric Teaching on Umā’s Kriyāyoga
ज्ञानयोगस्तु संयोगश्चित्तस्यैवात्मना तु यः । यस्तु बाह्यार्थसंयोगः क्रियायोगः स उच्यते
jñānayogastu saṃyogaścittasyaivātmanā tu yaḥ | yastu bāhyārthasaṃyogaḥ kriyāyogaḥ sa ucyate
జ్ఞానయోగము అనగా చిత్తము ఆత్మతో ఏకమగు సంయోగము; బాహ్య విషయములతో కలయికయైన సంయోగము క్రియాయోగమని చెప్పబడును.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It distinguishes inner liberation-oriented yoga—where the mind rests in the Self and ultimately in Pati (Shiva)—from outward engagement with objects, showing that true freedom arises from inward union rather than external pursuit.
Kriyā-yoga includes Saguna worship—Linga-pūjā, mantra-japa, bhasma and rudrākṣa observances—because these involve disciplined actions and sacred external supports; jñāna-yoga is the inward culmination where awareness turns from supports to direct realization.
Meditatively, withdraw citta from external objects and steady it in the Self through mantra-japa (especially the pañcākṣarī) and contemplation; ritually, perform Linga-pūjā as kriyā-yoga while using it to mature into inner stillness.