Oṃ Śraddhāyai Namaḥ l
Śraddhā is often translated as faith. However, its meaning goes much deeper than this definition. Śraddhā is the divine energy that fuels our spiritual journey.
Dr. Kausthub Desikachar explains: “Śraddhā is an attitude, a conviction that we have the capacity to manifest into our potential. If yoga is not based on śraddha, then yoga techniques will not work for personal and spiritual transformation.”
Śraddhā enriches our life and makes it meaningful. It gives us a purpose to move forward and helps us stay grounded through change and uncertainty. It makes us humble and open to learning, while deepening our respect for the practices that support our growth.
All the tools of yoga are empowered by śraddhā. The Yogasūtra-s clearly explain that any spiritual path begins with śraddhā—that it gives us the energy to pursue our goals with clarity. The more intense the śraddhā, the closer the goal.
Śraddhā is often translated as faith. However, its meaning goes much deeper than this definition. Śraddhā is the divine energy that fuels our spiritual journey.
Dr. Kausthub Desikachar explains: “Śraddhā is an attitude, a conviction that we have the capacity to manifest into our potential. If yoga is not based on śraddha, then yoga techniques will not work for personal and spiritual transformation.”
Śraddhā enriches our life and makes it meaningful. It gives us a purpose to move forward and helps us stay grounded through change and uncertainty. It makes us humble and open to learning, while deepening our respect for the practices that support our growth.
All the tools of yoga are empowered by śraddhā. The Yogasūtra-s clearly explain that any spiritual path begins with śraddhā—that it gives us the energy to pursue our goals withclarity. The more intense the śraddhā, the closer the goal.
This foundational role of śraddhā is echoed in the Bhagavadgītā, which declares that those who possess deep śraddhā attain the highest knowledge, both worldly and spiritual. Such a person, having realized the truth, reaches supreme peace.
What happens when we don’t have śraddhā: as yoga practitioners, yoga teachers, or a person leading an everyday life? An absence of śraddhā creates a lack of stability and security, and may cause us to lose sight of our goals. Śraddhā energizes us and fills us with self-belief.
It offers a sense of security and protection, boosts our inner strength and confidence, and ultimately brings lasting happiness and peace. The divine embodiment of śraddhā is Goddess Śraddhā, a Divine Mother. She nourishes and protects us—guiding us when we feel lost, strengthening us when we are weak, and helping us rise above obstacles with courage.
This foundational role of śraddhā is echoed in the Bhagavadgītā, which declares that those who possess deep śraddhā attain the highest knowledge, both worldly and spiritual. Such a person, having realized the truth, reaches supreme peace.
What happens when we don’t have śraddhā: as yoga practitioners, yoga teachers, or a person leading an everyday life? An absence of śraddhā creates a lack of stability and security, and may cause us to lose sight of our goals. Śraddhā energizes us and fills us with self-belief.
It offers a sense of security and protection, boosts our inner strength and confidence, and ultimately brings lasting happiness and peace. The divine embodiment of śraddhā is Goddess Śraddhā, a Divine Mother. She nourishes and protects us—guiding us when we feel lost, strengthening us when we are weak, and helping us rise above obstacles with courage.
As we walk the path of yoga and self-transformation, let us offer this prayer:“May Goddess Śraddhā bless us with unwavering faith—in our teachers, our path, and ourselves—now and always.”
As we walk the path of yoga and self-transformation, let us offer this prayer:“May Goddess Śraddhā bless us with unwavering faith—in our teachers, our path, and ourselves—now and always.”