Mahayog ~ Accelerated path of spiritual growth

121

Who is Acharya Rajesh?

Acharya Rajesh is an internationally acclaimed guru dedicated to propagating yoga, Ayurveda, and natural healing practices such as naturopathy and acupressure. But his unique contribution to the world of spirituality is Mahayog Meditation, a powerful practice blending Raj Yog, Hath Yog, and Bhakti Yog. 

A qualified Yoga Acharya from Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar in India, he has spent years living among monks and sadhus in the Himalayas, immersing himself in Vedic wisdom and spiritual practices. With over two decades of teaching experience, he has conducted 2000+ camps and been invited to 200+ workshops and media discussions on yogic sciences.

In this interview, conducted in Hindi by Parveen Chopra, founding editor of alotusinthemud.com, Acharya Rajesh explains Mahayog, how he developed it and its transformative power.

This is a translation of what Acharya ji shared with Lotus while ensconced in his center named Aarogyam in Noida, near Delhi.

Yog has three primary forms: Bhakti, Hatha, and Raj. The journey of spiritual evolution begins with Bhakti, the path of devotion, moves through Hatha, which strengthens the body and mind, and leads to Raj Yog. When Raj Yog is firmly established, knowledge unfolds naturally, illuminating a seeker’s life. Lord Shiva, revered as Mahayogi, embodies the confluence of all 3 forms of Yog. 

Mahayog ensures that all other forms of Yog follow naturally when one embarks upon this system. Meditation, the cornerstone of Raja Yog, plays a vital role here, as it fosters wisdom and inner illumination.

Mahayog: Generating Premium Prana and Inner Growth

Mahayog is a unique meditation practice that revolves around breathing techniques designed to activate, channel, and align the body’s energies. Acharya Rajesh imparts it in a 3-day program.

The Three Stages of Mahayog Meditation

Over the course of three days, participants in Mahayog program undergo three structured sessions, each playing a crucial role in energy activation:

1. Activation of Energy – The body’s dormant energies are awakened.

2. Channeling of Energy – These energies are directed toward inner balance and clarity.

3. Alignment of Energy – The energies are harmonized, becoming fertilizers for personal growth and higher consciousness.

At its core, Mahayog is a meditation practice that employs deep, conscious breathing to induce a meditative state. The breath serves as the bridge between the body and mind, purifying the system and elevating one’s inner experience.

The Role of Prana: The Foundation of Life

Acharya Ji explains that the body relies on three fundamental elements: prana (life force), food, and water. Prana is the most essential, But in today’s world, the air we breathe is often impure and depleted of vitality. Mahayog works to filter, refine, and purify prana, ensuring that only the highest quality life force nourishes the body and mind.

A key aspect of Mahayog is the activation of the Vishuddhi or Throat Chakra, which serves as a purification center for prana. As breath flows through this chakra, it undergoes a powerful cleansing process, ensuring that premium-quality prana is distributed throughout the body.

Acharya Ji states that if we seek to elevate our physical, mental, and spiritual growth to the highest level, we must cultivate premium prana – the purest and most potent life force. The technique of Mahayog is the key to generating this premium prana, unlocking a state of balance, vitality, and deep inner awakening.

Mahayog is not just a practice – it is a gateway to higher living, where purified energy fuels clarity, peace, and transformation.

Mahayog: The Path to Energy Balance and Expansion

Mahayog is a structured meditation practice that systematically aligns and enhances the body’s energies through premium prana (refined life force). When these energies begin to function optimally, they are focused on a central point, leading to deep meditation. This process, which unfolds over three days, is the foundation of Mahayog.

Balancing Energy: The Core of Mahayog

In the human body, energies are polarized:

• The left side represents negative energy (passive, receptive, cooling).

• The right side represents positive energy (active, dynamic, heating).

Mahayog works to harmonize these energies, bringing the body into a state of equilibrium. This inner balance creates a profound shift that practitioners can tangibly experience, allowing them to move forward in life with greater clarity, stability, and strength.

Balancing the Forces of Creation and Destruction

Acharya Rajesh draws an analogy between Mahayog and Samudra Manthan (the churning of the cosmic ocean). In this mythological event, divine beings (Devas) and demonic forces (Asuras) struggled to extract both nectar and poison from the depths of existence. This churning represents the interplay of positive and negative energies – a fundamental dynamic of life.

• Negative energy has the function of breaking down and deconstructing.

• Positive energy is responsible for building up and creating.

• Both forces are essential, as negativity balances positive creation, ensuring transformation and growth.

Mahayog harmonizes these opposing energies, bringing equilibrium to the body and mind. From a spiritual standpoint, it provides stability and authentic progress, acting as a catalyst for deep introspection and self-discovery.

Bridging the Inner and Outer Worlds

Mahayog aligns the material and the spiritual, helping you cultivate inner clarity while remaining engaged with the world. Through meditation and self-inquiry, Mahayog allows one to navigate life with wisdom, balance, and profound self-awareness.

Ultimately, Mahayog is not just a practice – it is a transformative journey toward self-realization, harmony, and enlightenment. It unites all paths of Yog, ensuring that the seeker experiences a complete and holistic evolution.

Advanced Mahayog: Chakra Activation Program

Once the initial 3-day program is completed, the body retains a reservoir of energy that continues to circulate and expand. Even a daily practice of just 10 minutes sustains this transformation, keeping the energies active, directed, and growing.

For those seeking a deeper experience, Mahayog offers a 7-day residential program called the Mahayog Chakra Activation Program. This advanced course is designed to awaken and energize the chakras, unlocking even greater levels of inner power and awareness. However, it is only open to individuals who have:

• Completed the foundational three-day Mahayog program
• Practiced the technique consistently for 90 days

This intensive retreat is often conducted in Rishikesh or other serene locations, offering a deeply immersive experience in a natural, high-energy environment.

Mahayog: A Lifelong Path to Transformation

Mahayog is not just a meditation technique – it is a system of energy mastery that leads to lasting transformation. By balancing internal energies, refining prana, and activating chakras, it empowers individuals to unlock their highest potential, experiencing greater health, clarity, and spiritual growth.

The Journey of Acharya Rajesh: The Birth of Mahayog

Acharya Rajesh does not have a guru in a traditional physical form – he believes that learning comes from everyone and every experience. However, the seed of Mahayog was planted in him during a fateful encounter in Rishikesh.

While pursuing his M.Sc. in Yoga Science at Gurukul Kangri University, Haridwar, he attended a 7-day workshop, where he met various sadhus and saints. One morning, at the Ganga Ghat, he encountered a saint performing a Dhooni (a sacred fire ritual). The saint called him over the next morning, placed his hand on Rajesh’ s head, and simply asked him to keep breathing.

Time seemed to dissolve – an hour passed unknowingly, and in that stillness, he experienced profound epiphanies. The saint spoke little, yet something deep within Acharya Rajesh awakened. The next day, when he went to find the saint again, he had vanished. From that moment onward, a continuous flow of energy began circulating within him, marking the beginning of his transformation.

The Early Days: Healing and Spreading Mahayog

Soon after, Acharya Rajesh held his first healing camps in Kolkata. His ability to channel energy was first recognized when he miraculously helped a professor’s grandson’s wife recover from paralysis. This defining moment cemented his faith in the practice, and from there, Mahayog began to take form.

He then embarked on a journey with Swami Karamveer, once a collaborator of the now-famous Swami Ramdev, traveling to Dhanu, near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. There, a businessman provided them with a small kutiya (hut) in an orchard, where they stayed for four months, performing yagyas and deepening their practice. During this period, Acharya Rajesh shared his self-developed kriya with Swami Karamveer, and through years of intense sadhana, Mahayog evolved into its present form.

From Sadhana to Teaching: The Expansion of Mahayog

For 17 years, Acharya Rajesh immersed himself in Mahayog, refining and deepening its practice before he began teaching it. Now, Mahayog is rapidly expanding, reaching seekers far and wide. Despite his independent journey, he believes that the mysterious saint he met years ago at the banks of the Ganga is still guiding his path, orchestrating his destiny.

Acharya Rajesh emphasizes that Mahayog is a path of rapid evolution, especially for the youth, helping them grow spiritually and energetically. His journey – from an unexpected awakening to developing Mahayog into a transformative practice – is a testament to the power of breath, meditation, and divine guidance.

How are Kapalbhati & Anulom-Vilom Different from Mahayog?

Many people associate breathing techniques with pranayam, but Acharya Rajesh Ji clarifies that Kapalbhati and Anulom-Vilom serve different purposes, distinct from Mahayog.

• Kapalbhati is a kriya (cleansing technique), not a pranayama. It is used for detoxifying the body, removing impurities, and improving oxygenation.

• Anulom-Vilom is often mistaken for Nadi Shodhan (subtle energy purification), but in its modern form, it is a modified and incomplete version of the original practice.

• Mahayog, on the other hand, is a Vidya (a sacred knowledge system) aimed at creating and cultivating premium prana.

The Process of Mahayog Breathing

Mahayog Kriya begins with deep breathing, done 3-4 times. Mahayog directs the breath to flow between the nostrils and the Vishuddhi Chakra. This initiates an inner churning process (manthan), harmonizing the left and right energy channels. The result is a balanced state of being, where physical, mental, and emotional energies align.

The Universal Connection Within Us

Acharya Rajesh believes that nothing should be followed blindly – understanding is key. He explains that the human body is like an ocean, a microcosm of the entire universe. Everything that exists outside, including planets and cosmic forces, also exists in subtle (sukshma) form within us.

For instance, when an astrologer says that someone’s moon is weak, it indicates emotional instability. Instead of merely relying on external remedies, Mahayog works on internal balance, helping individuals align their inner planetary energies, bringing greater stability and clarity in life.

The Vision of Mahayog: Spreading to All, Especially Children

Acharya Rajesh envisions Mahayog reaching everyone, from seekers to everyday individuals. He believes that children, especially from the age of 7, should be taught that everything they seek externally has its true source within. By practicing Mahayog, they can expand their potential and grow holistically. However, the impact of Mahayog depends on the individual’s commitment to the practice.

Acharya Ji welcomes good-hearted individuals who resonate with this vision to join in spreading Mahayog. It is a transformative path that empowers people to cultivate premium prana, balance energies, and unlock their highest potential.

For more information, contact: https://www.maharishirajeshyogi.org/

Translated and edited by Navni Chawla