YAMAS & NIYAMAS - Svadhyaya
Yoga Sutra 2.44 — Svādhyāyāt iṣṭa-devatā saṁprayogaḥ
“Through self-study, comes the opportunity to be in the company of bright beings.”
Svādhyāya,, is the practice of self-study and inner reflection. The word combines Sva (self) and Adhyāya (study), meaning both study of the small self — our personality, habits, and mind — and the higher Self, the essence of consciousness itself.
In the Yoga Sutras, Patañjali says that through Svādhyāya comes the opportunity to be “in the company of bright beings.” This poetic phrase points to a profound truth. When we study ourselves and the sacred teachings, our inner vibration refines. The mind quiets, the heart opens, and we align with higher consciousness — what he calls “bright beings” are the Rishis and the Siddhas. In the company of such light, we begin to remember our own.
Traditionally, Svādhyāya includes mantra japa (repetition of sacred sound) and study of scriptures like the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, or Upanishads. Mantra aligns the mind with divine frequency, while study deepens understanding and reflection. But Svādhyāya is not limited to text or chant. It is any form of self-inquiry that brings awareness — journaling, meditation, honest observation of our actions, or mindful reflection on daily experiences.
On the mat, Svādhyāya becomes a living practice. As we move and breathe, we learn to observe ourselves — our reactions, thoughts, and emotions. Instead of striving for perfection in the pose, we turn the awareness inward: How am I being right now?
The mat becomes a mirror, showing where we cling, where we resist, and where we let go. The breath itself becomes mantra — So Hum (“I am That”) — connecting body, mind, and spirit through the rhythm of awareness.
Off the mat, Svādhyāya continues through conscious living. We practice it when we reflect before reacting, choose truth over comfort, or seek wisdom that uplifts rather than distracts. We practice it in mantra, in mindful communication, and in noticing our inner dialogue. Over time, this self-study replaces ignorance (Avidyā) with understanding (Vidya), and our life becomes the very scripture we study.
Ultimately, Svādhyāya is a devotional act — not to gain knowledge, but to remember who we are beneath all knowledge. As we turn inward, the veils of confusion thin, and we enter into the company of light — within and around us.
“Through self-study, the veil thins, and the light of the Self begins to shine through.” ✨