Niyama

Definition: Observances; personal disciplines for cultivating positive habits and self-awareness.

Insights: Niyama consists of five personal observances—purity, contentment, austerity, self-study, and surrender to a higher power—that build inner strength and foster spiritual maturity.

Related Sutras

2.29

yamaniyamāsanaprāṇāyāmapratyāhāradhāraṇādhyānasamādhayo'ṣṭāvaṅgāni

Importance: 10/10

Yama (abstinences), niyama (observances), āsana (posture), prāṇāyāma (breath control), pratyāhāra (sense withdrawal), dhāraṇā (concentration), dhyāna (meditation), and samādhi (absorption) are the eight limbs of Yoga.

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2.32

śaucasantoṣatapaḥsvādhyāyeśvarapraṇidhānāni niyamāḥ

Importance: 9/10

Cleanliness (śauca), contentment (santoṣa), austerity (tapas), self-study (svādhyāya), and devotion to Īśvara (Īśvara praṇidhāna) are the niyamas.

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2.40

śaucātsvāṅgajugupsā parairasaṁsargaḥ

Importance: 7/10

From cleanliness (śauca) arises disgust for one's own body and non-contact with others.

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2.41

sattvaśuddhisaumanasyaikāgryendriyajayātmadarśanayogyatvāni ca

Importance: 8/10

Moreover, purification of the mind, cheerfulness, one-pointedness, control of the senses, and fitness for Self-realization are attained.

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2.42

santoṣādanuttamaḥ sukhalābhaḥ

Importance: 8/10

From contentment (santoṣa), unsurpassed happiness is gained.

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2.43

kāyendriyasiddhiraśuddhikṣayāttapasaḥ

Importance: 7/10

From austerity (tapas), through the destruction of impurities, comes perfection of the body and senses.

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2.44

svādhyāyādiṣṭadevatāsamprayogaḥ

Importance: 7/10

From self-study (svādhyāya), communion with the desired deity is achieved.

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2.45

samādhisiddhirīśvarapraṇidhānāt

Importance: 9/10

Perfection in samādhi is attained through devotion to Īśvara.

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