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The basic concept of yoga is to unite the atman or individual soul with the Paramatman or the Universal Soul through Yogic training and exercise. By cleansing one's mind and controlling one's thought processes one can attain the state of salvation where the individual self is a part of the Divine Self.
This in a nutshell is the philosophy of yoga. Samadhi, the penultimate path of Ashtanga yoga, encapsulates this philosophy. Through yoga, a yogi can perceive the world in its true light and accept the truth in its entirety.
Yogic symbols have been created to bring health, happiness, and peace of mind. In fact, the yoga symbols are thousands of years old. During the ancient times the holy rishis observed animals, birds, other creatures and plants to develop asanas (Sanskrit for yogic poses), postures, and movements. Many of these yoga positions and yoga symbols were named after these animals and plants. They include:
a) Bakasana which represents the crane posture,
b) Matsyasana or the horse posture,
c) Shalabhasana or the locust posture,
d) Simhasana meaning the lion posture,
e) Matsyasana or the fish posture,
f) Padmasana or the lotus posture,
g) Suryasana meaning the sun or the salute to the sun.
Complex symbols are used to describe the chakras. This is known as the energy of the whirling motions. These motions are symbolized as lotuses, with each chakra containing a certain number of petals, color, geometric shapes, and a presiding god. One of the most well known of paintings symbolizes Hatha Yoga (ha means sun and tha means moon). The picture shows the spine known as Yogadanda, which symbolizes the staff of god, followed up by the Kundalini which is the serpent power coiled at the base of the spine. Lastly, symbol of the sun and moon are also used for the major nadis.
It has been observed that varied yoga schools use different symbols as these relate to the styles that these schools represent. The most widely used and the most common yogic symbol is Om. The word Om has its origin in Sanskrit. The Om is the ancient sound by which the earth was formed, which is very similar to the concept to the Greek Logos. Om symbolizes unfolding or expansion. When the word is said, it begins in the lungs and ends on the lips.
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