There are many words in Sanskrit that indicate a process, a sequence of growth with regard to controlling the mental and outward behaviour. All these ideas are defined by only one word in English: restraint.

The whole concept revolves around only one thought: ‘restrain yourself’. There is no understanding of the process involved; the clarity is not there. Therefore, people think of the yamas and niyamas as moral and ethical impositions.

In the yogic tradition, different levels of restraint are defined by the use of words such as daman, nigraha, yama, sanyam, danti, etc. Each word represents one state of experience, one level of attainment.

Each word indicates a different meaning, purpose and direction. The word nigraha means to use judiciously what you receive. The root ni indicates niyantran, to control, to manage, and graha, or grahan, means to receive. Therefore, the meaning of nigraha is to use judiciously what you receive.

Similarly, the literal meaning of the word yama is to control, but its implication depends on the context. For example, in pranayama the usage of ‘yama’ refers to control of prana or breath, but in the context of yama and niyama, yama means to keep in check the negative qualities and cultivate the positive qualities that can counteract the effects of that negativity.

Another word, sanyam, means being completely established in the state of yama or control. It means absolute, total control over all the activities of the mind and the senses. Without letting go of the reins, keeping the horse completely under control; it cannot escape, it cannot do as it wills, it will do only what the master tells it. That is sanyam.

6 July 2016, Ganga Darshan, Munger

From the book “Yoga Chakra 4, Cultivating Sadgunas”, pg. 14-15, Sw. Niranjanananda Saraswati