Basic Information on 5 Steps of Vihangam Yoga
Vihangam Yog
a or Brahmavidya was the only form of yoga known to the sages. With the passage of time this got fragmented and the various fragments appeared in different forms as complete yoga practices. Some of such yoga practices are Raj yoga, Hath yoga, Mantra yoga, Laya yoga, Bhakti yoga and Kundalini yoga. Vihangam Yoga thus happens o be the mother of all yoga practices. This is an esoteric Metaphysical science of consciousness that is to be learnt from, and practiced under the guidance of the Sadguru.
First Stage Meditation
Here a practitioner first learns the location of mind and the technique to arrest it in the outside world "The light of the body is the eye. If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light" says-St. Mathew in the Bible(6:2).
Second Stage Meditation
As the meditation progresses the practitioner begins to experience the ten Anahad sounds one after other and sees the five material constituents that the body is comprised of, without difficulty. Next, the practitioner learns how to withdraw the consciousness that remains associated with mind from the outside world and fix it at a secret and sacred location inside the Brahmand (the portion above neck). The Brahamandi sound of "Om" is vividly heard. Bible: in the Bible St. John has described this experience in the following words: and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their forehead and there shall be no night there and they need no candle, neither light of the sun, for the Lord God giveth them light. (Revelation 22:4 and 5).
Third Stage Meditation
Gradually, the Bhamandi sounds, "Soham", "Shakti" and "Rarankar" appear as his meditation progresses, "Niranjan" having already appeared before "Om". The consciousness, still attached to mind, is then raised up to the tenth gate i.e Brahmarandhra, and held there. Subsequently, the Kundalini rises and gives way without much effort. This happens to be the end in many forms of yoga. The same is achieved after prolonged arduous practice in Hatha yoga. St. John in his Revelations has mentioned the experiences of this gate as follows: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man bear my voice and open the door, I shall come unto him and will sup with him and be with me " (Revelation 3:20).
F
ourth Stage Meditation
In the case of Vihangam Yoga, the consciousness hereafter enters the Akshar Mandal where Mind and Praan (breath) are subdued. The practitioner now experiences his soul in its purest form-devoid of mind and Pran. The meditation of Vihangam yoga is then begun by this pure soul. The Bible mentions it as "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of creation of God.”(Revelation 3: 14).
Fifth Stage Meditation
The pure soul now proceeds to the eleventh gate i.e. Sahastrardh, and as it proceeds further, merges and identifies with the Supreme Soul. St. John says (Revelation 14:2) "And I heard a voice of a great thunder and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps."
