Pre-Classical Yoga
Sometime between 1800 and 1500 B.C., Gnostic texts called the Upanishads appeared. The 200 or so scriptures comprising the Upanishads, explained the transcendental self; (atman) and its relation to the ultimate reality (Brahman). The Karma doctrine is believed to have originated with the Upanishads as well. Just as the New Testament rests upon but furthers the Old Testament, so too, the Upanishads further expounds upon the scriptures of the Vedas. The teaching of the Upanishads dawned the era of Pre-classical Yoga.
Around 1400 B.C., a great sage named Vyasa, categorized the Vedic hymns into the 4 Vedic texts we know today: Rig Veda ("Knowledge of Praise"), Yajur-Veda ("Knowledge of Sacrifice"), Sama-Veda ("Knowledge of Chants"), and Atharva-Veda ("Knowledge of Atharvan"). In 1200 B.C., the great enlightened teacher Rishabha started the tradition known as Jainism which is also dedicated to the liberation of the spirit. Then in 1000 B.C., a second urbanization began along the banks of the Ganges River (the former Indus-Sarasvati civilization). Later, in the sixth century B.C., Lord Buddha spread the teaching of Buddhism which stresses the importance of Meditation and ethics over Physical Postures. Buddhism had some similarities with Hinduism; however, Yoga sages saw the limitations of ignoring the physical purification process. Siddhartha Gautama who is skilled in Meditation and is one of the first Buddhists who also studied Yoga attained enlightenment at the age of 35.
Today The Bhagavad-Gita has had perhaps, the most profound influence on Hindu culture and philosophy. This ancient text was written about 500 B.C. and is the first scripture devoted entirely to Yoga. The Bhagavad-Gita confirms that Yoga was quite ancient by the time of its writing. Only 700 verses long, the Gita is a conversation between Prince Arjuna and the God-man Krishna. The Gita's message is to oppose evil in the world. The Gita earned its relevance because of its attempt to blend Jnana-Yoga.Bhakati-Yoga and Karma-Yoga together unifying these various Yogic traditions. Many schools during this era taught ways of reaching deep levels of Meditation in order to surpass the mind and body system to achieve one's true, limitless self.
Buddhism quickly grew, and in 480 B.C. senior disciples of Buddha systematized the Buddhist teachings. For the next few hundred years, the canonical scriptures of Buddhism were structured. In 300 B.C., Jaimini composed the Mimamsa-Sutra, the first authoritative text of Hinduism. Jaimini is regarded as a disciple of Vyasa. Soon after this, Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism and extensively spread Buddhism. This was the greatest era of Buddhist influence in India.
