Yoga, Samkhya, Śhiva and Third Gender
Man in his existence is exposed to various vicissitudes that alongside passing joys involve so much pain, which can be alleviated if not completely overcome only thanks to certain religious, ascetic, or meditative practices that bring their followers to greater awareness and union with the Absolute. Knowledge of this has characterized Indian thought practically since the dawn of time, being already present in the civilization of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa, that is, of the Indus Valley dated to around 2500 BC and considered one of the largest and oldest civilizations in the world. It was there that the seal representing a man in mulabandhāsana position, practiced in hatha yoga to control sexual desire, was found. It is therefore certain that the first inhabitants of Sindh, the pre-Aryans already knew yoga and practiced it. The figure on the seal defined by some scientists simply as a yogi by others interpreted as proto-Śiva in its ascetic aspect, in this case exactly as Adiyo...