Aadi Yogis
Submitted by divine_sysop on October 5, 2010 - 08:06
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There are three Adi Yogis, who are known to be the founder of trinity Yoga stream:
Lord Brahma (Hiranyagarbha): The first cosmological principal to emerge out of the infinite reality, Hiranyagarbha (also called Brahma, the mythical founder of Yoga) propounded the unitive discipline named after him, which is considered to be the original yoga tradition. In general, the affinities of the Yoga Sutra with the texts of Hiranyagarbha suggest that Patanjali was an adherent of the Hiranyagarbha School of Yoga. However, his own manner of treatment of the subject is distinctive.
It is believed that Brahma, with the help of Patanjali, created the Hiranyagarbha School of Yoga in an aphorismic form to serve yoga with clear concept and logic. Yoga founded by Patanjali is a branch or supplement of the Sankhya Philosophy.
Lord Vishnu (Lord Krishna): Lord Krishna founded the eighteen-fold path of yoga (Ashtadashang Yoga) through the teachings of Geeta. In His teachings, He has explained many kinds of yoga to lead a perfect life and attain liberation. But He has emphasized on few important forms of yoga i.e. Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Jnana Yoga. In His personal life as well, He has played the role of a yogi--that is why He is called by the name of Yogeshwar Krishna. Krishna is ever known for the yoga of love and wisdom.
Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva is said to be the first Yoga Guru according to mythological tradition. He is known to be the original founder of Yoga and Tantra. Parvati, His consort, was His first disciple to whom He imparted all the abstruse, esoteric, and divine wisdom (related to Yoga and Tantra). Being a cosmic Mother, Parvati, out of love and compassion, spread this knowledge among humans for their inner growth and development.
It is also believed that the second set of yogic teaching was expounded by Lord Shiva to the first seven sages (Saptarishi) at the bank of Kanti Sarowar, near Kedarnath. So it is accepted by the tradition that Lord Shiva is the Adi-Guru of Yoga, belonging to Hatha Yoga and Tantric Yoga.
The same stream of yoga was forwarded and re-established in the society by Dattatreya–that is why he is called the father of Tantra. Much later, Matsyendranath and Gorakhanath carried forward the same tradition by expounding on Hatha Yoga and Tantra, which is called by the name of Nath-sampradaya.
