What Are Niyamas in Ashtanga Yoga?

Now the niyamas. After what to regulate, now what to practice.

शौचं संतोषः तपः स्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः

Shaucha is cleanliness of both body and mind. Santosha is happiness arising out of contentment, joy, mental comfort and satisfaction.

चान्द्रायणादिना यत्तु शरीरस्य च शोषणम् ॥
तत्तपः कथितं पुत्त्र ! स्वाध्यायमधुना शृणु ।

शरीरस्य शोषणम् – to reduce the body through severe austerities, through fasting. You know how yogis look. You can see their skeleton. In the whole day the yogi takes only one fistful of food, that too only if absolutely necessary.

Severe austerities such as Chandrayana. Chandrayana is a special type of fasting observed over a period of one month. It starts on a Purnima. You can take 15 balls of rice on that day – small balls of course. Next day 14, 13 on the 3rd day and so on. On Amavasya you don’t take anything at all. Again from the next day increase one ball a day. On the last day, Purnima, back to 15 balls of rice. There are many such austerities through which one can do shoshana of the body. This is called tapa in yoga.

प्रणवः शतरुद्रीयं तथाथर्व्वशिरःशिखा ॥
एतेषां यो जपः पुत्त्र ! स्वाध्याय इति कीर्त्तितः ।

Svadhyaya means chanting of holy mantras such as Omkara, Shatarudreeyam, Atharva Sheersha.

Ishwara pranidhanam – Ishwara pujanam.

स्तुतिस्मरणपूजाभिर्वाङ्मनः कायकर्म्मभिः ॥
मयि भक्तिर्दृढा पुत्त्र एतदीश्वरपूजनम् ।

To worship God with devotion with mind and body by remembering Him, by praising Him with stotras, and through external worship puja is called Ishwarapujanam.

These four – tapas, svadhyaya, shaucha and Ishwarapranidhanam – are together called niyama, the practices that a yogi should follow.

What are the benefits of practising yama and niyama?

Ahimsa – he will not have enemies anymore. He doesn’t have to worry about enemies and his own safety.

Satya – all hindrances will be gone. The hindrances are created by dishonesty. When there are no manipulations to be done, no lies to be told, the channels become clear. Results of his efforts towards achieving yoga come to him without hindrances.

Asteya – when he doesn’t steal, whatever he needs will naturally become available to him. People will come and give them to him.

By observing brahmacharya his physical and mental strength will increase. Lustful thoughts and acts consume a lot of energy. He will preserve all that energy and become stronger day by day. The yogi becomes strong and healthy not by following a balanced dietary plan or taking a cholesterol-free diet or taking breakfast cereals and diet supplements. He becomes strong by preserving energy.

Aparigraha – when he doesn’t covet, doesn’t want to possess, his mind becomes free and he will have knowledge of his purpose on earth.

Shaucha – by keeping the body and mind clean, attachment towards the body reduces. A dislike for physical contact with others comes in. In that state you feel unclean when you touch someone else, even when shaking hands. You will start refraining from all that. Cleanliness leads to mental clarity, focus and cheerfulness.

Santosha – contentment leads to happiness. A yogi cannot afford a gloomy mind.

Tapaha – tapas, with the heat that it generates, burns away the impurities of the mind. The yogi attains full control over his body and senses.

Svadhyaya – through svadhyaya one attains direct communion with Shabda Brahma.

Ishwarapujanam – can lead to the ultimate goal of yoga, samadhi.

A yogi who practices yama and niyama proceeds towards moksha.

• What is the point of niyamas when we already have yamas?
  Yamas stop you from harming and wasting energy. Niyamas build your inner strength and direction. One removes friction; the other creates momentum. You need both.

• Is cleanliness only about hygiene?
  No. It is outer order and inner clarity. Tidy space, simple food, honest speech, and clean intentions. A clean mind notices truth faster and suffers less noise.

• Does contentment kill ambition?
  Contentment cuts craving, not aspiration. It frees you from restless wanting, so you can pursue worthy goals with steady focus and less anxiety.

• Are harsh fasts necessary?
  The aim is discipline, not damage. Reduce compulsions, sharpen will, and respect the body. If a method harms health or duty, it misses the point.

• Is Chandrayana required today?
  It is one structured path of restraint. The principle is measured self-control. You can apply the same logic with safe, time-bound dietary rules.

• Do mantras work if I do not know their meaning?
  Sound regulates attention and breath even without full meaning. Understanding adds depth. Best results come from sound, meaning, and sincerity together.

• Is devotion compatible with self-effort?
  Yes. Devotion purifies motive; effort executes the work. Trust in Bhagavan removes ego-strain; disciplined action delivers results.

• Can a householder practice all this?
  Yes. Adjust intensity to family and work. Honest earning, clean living, mindful consumption, study, and daily prayer are valid sadhana.

• How do I know practice is working?
  Fewer compulsions, quicker recovery from stress, steady cheerfulness, clearer thinking, truthful speech, and kinder choices. You become reliable to yourself.

• Is belief in a personal deity necessary?
  Devotion can be directed to Bhagavan, truth, or the highest good. The form is flexible; the heart’s surrender and alignment are essential.

• Is avoiding touch or people a sign of growth?
  Growth is freedom from clinging, not fear of contact. Keep healthy boundaries without contempt. Warmth and restraint can coexist.

• Why does truth remove obstacles?
  Lies create mental load and fear. Truth aligns thought, word, and action. Alignment cuts hidden friction and frees energy for real progress.

• What does celibacy have to do with energy?
  Scattered desire leaks attention. Restraint channels power into study, service, and meditation. For married life, moderation and fidelity achieve the same aim.

• Is non-possessiveness practical in modern life?
  Own what you need; hold it lightly. Reduce hoarding, share surplus, and avoid status spending. This brings mental space and financial strength.

• Can workouts replace tapas?
  Fitness is good, but tapas targets craving and ego. Add intentional restraint, mindful eating, service, and study to train the will, not just the body.

• Can purity become a trap?
  Yes, if it turns into pride or fear. Keep reason and compassion. Purity should lighten you, not make you brittle.

• Where should a beginner start?
  Keep a simple daily routine, clear a small space, practice one restraint, maintain a short study or mantra session, and review weekly with honesty.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi