Hatha Yoga
(हठ योग)Literal Meaning
Forceful/willful union
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
'Ha' (sun) and 'tha' (moon) plus 'yoga' (union); a physical discipline codified in medieval texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, balancing solar and lunar energies through asana and pranayama.
Spiritual Insight & Context
Far from just physical exercise, hatha yoga was designed as body-based preparation for raja yoga's deeper meditation, purifying the body so it could sustain higher states of awareness.