Yogashika Upanishad

The Yoga Sikhopanishad belongs to the Krishna Yajur Veda. Yoga sikha means head of the yogas. As the name implies, the Upanishad deals with the principles and practice of yoga in six chapters as a conversation between Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva, with Shiva as the World Teacher. The Upanishad reveals the secrets of yoga, as a revelation of God himself, emphasizing the importance of both jnana and yoga in achieving salvation and how the inner transformation takes place with the practice of Maha Yoga, or great yoga, which is said to be a combination of Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga. The meaning and significance of all these four yogas is also explained in the Upanishad. The body is described as the temple of Shiva. It has the potential to manifest occult powers, when it is purified and perfected with the help of Kundalini yoga. It is the seat of Kundalini energy and various chakras associated it. All the yogas are said to be a combination of Prana, Apana and Samana in varying degrees. The second and third chapters describe nadha or the inner sound, called Sabda Brahman. The fourth chapter confirms the principle of monism (Advaita) that there is no difference between the Supreme Self and the individual self and that the world is but an illusion or dream. In the fifth chapter we are advised not to practice yoga for the sake of siddhis or powers. The following is an original translation of the Upanishad by P.R. Ramachander. Hope it will help you to understand the meaning and significance of Yoga and the inner sound (nadha) in liberation.