The yama or the yamas?

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Is it the yama or the yamas? Is it the niyama or is it the niyamas?

Thanks :slight_smile:

#2

It depends on the context. Yama and niyama by themselves are abstract terms, i.e., self-control, observances. If you are talking about particular forms such as the yamas and niyamas enumerated by Patnajali, then it’s legitimate to say [I]the yamas[/I] or [I]the niyamas[/I].

#3

If you want the correct Sanskrit word, yama as well as niyama, are the same both as singular and plural. “Yamas” is a hybrid transliteration for the convenience of the English-speaking people.

Similarly, the word ‘Yoga’ needs to be correctly said like “Yoke” or “Coke” and not as “yogaa” as it is generally said.

#4

@ Suhas Tambe

Can you tell us how nouns are declined and verbs are conjugated in Sanskrit?

#5

Just trying to guage what Suhas knows about Sanskrit. In a way, I think he’s right. I believe its an adjective in Sanskrit. It’s a Sanskrit word that’s been sort of adopted as an English word. In other words, we try to use the Sanskrit word, but we treat it like an English word. A Sanskrit speaker probably would not say [I]yamas[/I], because they use different endings to indicate things like gender, number, and case. I think [I]yamas[/I] is accepted usage in the English language, though. This is a quote from the Apte Sanskrit-English dictionary:

The [I]yamas[/I] are usually said to be ten, but, their names are given differently by different writers

#6

Hi David,

I’m not a Sanskirit scholar so it’s best to find one of those if the question remains as currently constructed. Having spent time with me I’m sure you can image my position would be that it is far more profound for one’s living to live them than to pronounce them.

As recently as this past weekend at YJ I heard them as yama and niyama from you know who.

#7

You are right InnerAthlete; afterall words are only vehicles. In Veda (same as single and plural), wherever pronunciation is vital (typically in the mantra), the text comes with exact notations to ensure right sound vibrations and that no single word can have two meanings. This was very vital when Veda were not written but were handed over by guru to the disciple for consigning to memory.

But otherwise, even if Sanskrit words are used as if they were English, to facilitate better reading and understanding, I think it is OK.

(Asuri, my mother-tongue is Marathi, a derivative of Sanskrit, and I have studied Sanskrit for 6 years in school.)