YOGA ASANAS SEBAGAI MEDIA REALISASI KETUHANAN DALAM PERSPEKTIF TEOLOGI HINDU

Abstract

Yoga asanas in the modern era are commonly understood as physical exercises aimed at improving health, fitness, and relaxation, often overlooking their spiritual and theological foundations within the Hindu tradition. In Hindu teachings, however, yoga asanas constitute an integral component of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga, serving as a means of bodily purification, mental discipline, and spiritual development leading toward the realization of the Divine. This study aims to analyze yoga asanas as a medium for divine realization from the perspective of Hindu Theology. The research employs a qualitative library research approach, drawing on primary sources such as the Yoga Sūtras of Maharshi Patañjali, the Bhagavad Gītā, and the Upaniṣads, complemented by scholarly books and articles on yoga, philosophy, and Hindu theology. Data were analyzed using a descriptive-interpretative method supported by a hermeneutic approach to uncover the theological meanings embedded in yoga asana practice. The findings reveal that yoga asanas are not merely physical exercises but instruments of spiritual transformation that integrate the body, mind, and consciousness. Asanas prepare practitioners for higher stages of yoga, including prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna, and samādhi, ultimately leading to the realization of the unity between Ātman and Brahman. The study highlights the importance of restoring the theological understanding of yoga asanas as a genuine spiritual path and contributes to the development of Hindu theological studies and spiritual education.