Author: Arun Ganesan

Adiyogi means the first yogi. According to yogic philosophy, Lord Shiva is not just known as a God, but as the Adiyogi or the first yogi – the originator of yoga and the first guru or Adiguru. He was the one who first put this seed into the human mind. From Sanskrit, adi means first and yogi refers to an adept in yoga. On another level, when we say “Shiva,” we are referring to a certain yogi, the Adiyogi or the first yogi, and also the Adi Guru, the first Guru, who is the basis of what we know as the yogic science today. Yoga is the means to know the essential nature of our existence. The first ones to learn Yoga The great privilege of learning Yoga for the first time from the Adiyogi was given to Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Eventually, Lord Shiva chose the Sapta Rishis (the seven sages) to learn Yoga from him and spread it all over the globe. On Shiva’s instructions, these rishis then moved on to the various parts of the globe to spread the message of Yoga. Hindu myth maintains that Matsya, a fish, overheard Adiyogi’s teachings to Parvati and attained enlightenment. Matsya then accepted Shiva’s offer of reincarnation and came to be known as Matsyendra, after whom the yoga posture Matsyendrasana was named. He was also one of...