It is becoming very difficult to ignore the connection between many aspects of Celtic culture and corresponding or equivalent Indian conceptions.

Below I have juxtaposed another seal from Harappa, the horned

God Shiva prototype(on right), in a firm Yoga posture known now as ‘Gorakshasana’ or variant thereof with a Celtic bronze

sculpture (on Left) depicting ‘Padmasana’.

Celtic figure in lotus pose - found on a viking ship near Oslo, Norway

Swami Janakananda reports in his magazine ‘Bindu’ no. 8 that this portrayal of a man sitting in yoga’s most famous posture, Padmasana, “is part of a ‘bucket’ found on the ‘osberg’ Viking ship in the Oslo fiord in Norway”.

http://www.scand-yoga.org/english/bindu/bindu8/index.html

An interesting aspect of the Celtic bronze is that the meditator appears to be sitting astride a log or rolled cloth. This would exert pressure upon the Muladhara Chakra (Mid-perineum region) and exactly the same pressure technique is used in the Bihar School of Yoga Kriya technique called ‘Manduki Kriya’.

The ‘Goraskshasana’ variant shown on the seal from Harappa also places extreme pressure on the ‘root point’ of Muladhara Chakra and the complex of pelvic floor muscles.

Another example of the ubiquitous spread of the Lotus posture appearing in Swami Janakananda’s Bindu #8 is Clay sculpture from West-Colombia. Museum of Ethnology, Berlin.

Swamiji comments: “It is common knowledge that the use of the Lotus pose in the Indian yoga tradition and in the Far East dates back a very long time. It is perhaps not so well-known that sculptures and rock-carvings of this and other poses have been found in the old cultures of Egypt, Mexico, Colombia, and Scandinavia.”

Many researchers are currently cross-connecting the fertilization between cultures and the universality of Yoga postures, concepts and practices.

Researchers currently pursuing projects tracing the spread of Yoga techniques throughout the World include my friends:

· Neil Campbell, a sociology graduate in Scotland, has written copious research articles relating so-called Pagan origins with the Indus Valley civilization. http://www.geocities.com/indianpaganism/articles.html

· Swami Janakananda Saraswati is looking at global cross-connections.

Scandinavian Yoga and Meditation School
http://www.scand-yoga.org/english/om/index.html

The need for such inquiry is best summed up by Paramahamsaji Satyananda’s statement quoted in my book, ‘Ecstasy Through Tantra’”

“Paramahansa Swami Satyananda Saraswati, the great Tantric Guru of Monghyr, Bihar State, North –East India, has stated in his book Tantra Yoga Panorama, ‘Six thousand years ago almost two thirds of the human population in Mexico, North America, in France, Egypt, the Middle East, Afghanistan, India, ceylon, Thailand, Tibet, China, Japan and many other lands practised this science’ “

Page 113: Ecstasy Through Tantra: Llewellyn Worldwide (USA)

This statement in particularly relevant now since in the last four years researchers such as Dr. David Frawley et al, have pushed the dates back of Indo-Aryan civilization and turned the historical concepts of the Indo-Aryan invasion upside down. Simultaneously several Indian Academics have presented strong evidence indicating they have broken the coded writing found on Harappa seals.

For an excellent review of this evidence see

Indus Valley Seals Deciphered!

Alphabetic Writing Originated
with the Ancient Hindus

-- Book Review --

Vedic Glossary on Indus Seals
by Natwar Jha

http://www.indiastar.com/jha.htm

Dr Jonn Mumford (Swami Anandakapila Saraswati) is an International lecturer and author whose works include "Ecstasy through Tantra", "A Chakra & Kundalini Workbook", "Magical Tattwas - Hindu Tarot for the West" and "Mind Magic Kit".(Llewellyn Publications, USA).

He was initiated into the Saraswati order by Paramahansaji Swami Satyananda, Bihar School, in 1973 and began his inner journey with Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Guru Maharaj.

For information on Dr Mumford's private consultations, Distance learning Programs contact:
Email:
Swami Anandakapila Saraswati
Dr Jonn Mumford
drjonnm@ozemail.com.au
(Swami Anandakapila Saraswati)
Website: Consultations: Distance Learning Programs
http://www.jonnmumfordconsult.com

Satyam Yoga Centre

Acknowledges the support and continuing inspiration from Swami Anandakapila Saraswati

and gratefully hosts his interesting Tantra Yoga articles with permission.

Uploaded 11 July 2006

Guru Poornima

Mounamurti