The four forms of yoga practiced in Hinduism are jnana, bhakti, karma and raja, with two subtypes -- hatha and tantra. Raja yoga is the most obscure of the four, with the least amount of Hindu followers, according to the University of Idaho. As with other forms of yoga, raja yoga embraces the nurturing of the mind through meditation.
Background
In Sanskrit, raja means "king" or "royal union," which is indicative of the theory that the mind is the center, or king, of the body. Developed by Patanjali in approximately 200 BCE, the focus of raja yoga is complete control of the senses and body of the participant. According to Lander University, the foundation of raja yoga is exploration of the true self, which moves beyond the barriers or science and common knowledge.
Why Raja is Different
Yoga as a whole focuses on connecting the human body, mind and breathing in such a way that it brings balance to the individual. Each of the four yoga types achieves this in different ways. While some types of yoga focus on exercise, range of motion, stretching and coordination, raja yoga has one main focus -- meditation. At times, a raja yoga instructor may incorporate breathing and posture techniques into a session, but the sole purpose is to enhance meditation.
Eight-Step Process
Reaching complete fulfillment through raja yoga is a lengthy process. Strict moral discipline guides the raja yoga follower through eight steps, the first of which is yama -- the avoidance of injury, greed, sensuality and stealing. Niyama is the second step of achievement, requiring individuals to invoke cleanliness, self-control, devotion, studiousness and contentment. Step three, or asana, promotes physical posture, while step four, or pranayama, calms the spirit. The spiritual journey continues with steps five, six and seven -- pratyhara, dharana and dhyana -- requiring extraordinary mental discipline to withdraw from the present and enter into deep concentration and meditation.
Goal
The goal of raja yoga is for an individual to achieve samadhi. In the Hindu religion, samadhi is liberation from samsara or the cycle of death and reincarnation. Northern Virginia Community College explains that it is through samadhi or moksha that one circumvents life's usual stages, bypassing all earthbound goals and desires, in favor of spiritual-related goals. Moksha is the eighth and final goal of raja yoga, in which the self becomes one with brahman -- the ultimate spiritual reality.
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