Deha

Deha

देह, deha

Translated from Sanskrit deha means "body", also correlates with the terms śarīra, piṇḍa, kośa, kāya, rūpa.

In Nath tradition, spiritual perfection is inseparably linked with perfection of the body, for which practices of hatha-yoga (kāya-sadhana) are used.

In Nath tradition, the body is an instrument of cognition of the universe, since there is an identity between the macrocosm (para-piṇḍa, Shiva’s body) and the microcosm (vyaṣṭi-piṇḍa, human body). Through the body, Nath learns the world and attains spiritual realization.

The impure body is unfit to receive the Supreme Wisdom, moreover, it is unable to carry out the continuous meditation preceding it. Through hatha-yoga, the body in need of purification is brought to a mature state (pakva). The body becomes free from disease, destruction and death, siddhis and an immortal divine body (divya-deha) are found. In this way, physical immortality is acquired, which is the direct natural result of physical purification. The methods of hatha-yoga, combined with raja-yoga, make it possible to achieve the state of jīvanmukti.