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Raja Yoga

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The “royal path” of yoga outlined by Patanjali, emphasizing meditation and mental discipline to achieve samadhi.

Detailed Definition
Raja Yoga, or Ashtanga Yoga, consists of eight limbs—from ethical vows to absorption in the divine. It is systematic, introspective, and transformative. In poetry, it appears as the science of the mind—training attention to pierce illusion. Poets describe its stages as steps on a ladder to stillness, where thought dissolves and pure awareness remains. It symbolizes the sovereignty of the self over senses and the disciplined journey from fragmentation to unity.
Example
Example in poetry:
A yoga poem: “Rāja Yoga is the science of mind—where thought becomes stillness”; In a modern verse, “My Rāja Yoga is sitting with anxiety until it dissolves”; A minimalist reflection: “Rāja Yoga: king of disciplines”; A student’s note: “Patanjali’s eight limbs aren’t steps—they’re strands of one rope.”
Additional Notes
Raja Yoga, the "royal path," is the system of yoga codified by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. It is an eight-limbed (Ashtanga) path that leads to Samadhi (absorption). The limbs are Yama (ethical restraints), Niyama (observances), Asana (posture), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (sense withdrawal), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi. It is a comprehensive psycho-spiritual methodology for self-realization.
Also Known As
Royal Yoga Ashtanga Yoga
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