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{{Short description|Ethical rules in Hinduism and Yoga}}
{{About|the concept in Hinduism|the deity|Yama|the police unit|Yamas (Israel Border Police unit)}}
{{Hinduism}}
{{Contains special characters|Indic}}
The '''{{transliteration|sa|yamas}}''' ({{langx|sa|यम|translit=yama}}), and their complement, the [[niyama]]s, represent a series of "right living" or ethical rules within [[Yoga]] philosophy. The word {{transliteration|sa|yama}} means "reining in" or "control".<ref name=monierwilliamsyamas/> They are restraints for proper conduct given in the [[Vedas]] and the [[Yoga Sutras]] as moral imperatives, commandments, rules or goals. The {{transliteration|sa|yamas}} are a "don't"s list of self-restraints, typically representing commitments that affect one's relations with others and self.<ref name=lasater42/> The complementary {{transliteration|sa|niyamas}} represent the "do"s. Together {{transliteration|sa|yamas}} and {{transliteration|sa|niyamas}} are personal [[obligation]]s to live well.<ref name=lasater42>{{cite journal|author-link=Judith Lasater|first=Judith|last=Lasater|date=November–December 1998|title=Beginning the Journey|journal=[[Yoga Journal]]|pages=42–48}}</ref>

The earliest mention of {{transliteration|sa|yamas}} is in the [[Rigveda]]. More than fifty texts of Hinduism, from its various traditions, discuss {{transliteration|sa|yamas}}.<ref name=svb/> [[Patanjali|Patañjali]] lists five {{transliteration|sa|yamas}} in his [[Yoga Sutras of Patanjali|Yoga Sūtras]]. Ten yamas are codified as "the restraints" in numerous Hindu texts, including Yajnavalkya Smriti in verse 3.313,<ref name=monierwilliamsyamas/> the Śāṇḍilya and [[Vārāha Upanishad]]s, the ''[[Hatha Yoga Pradipika]]'' by Svātmārāma,<ref name="svatmaram" /> and the [[Tirumantiram]] of [[Tirumular]].<ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite book|title=Yoga for the three stages of life|first=Sŕivatsa |last=Ramaswami|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sUzBl2k7Z98C|publisher=Inner Traditions / Bear & Company|year=2001|
isbn=978-0892818204 |page=229}}
|2={{cite book |title=Teaching of Yoga |first=G. K. |last=Devanand |year=2008 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-8131301722|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L3mBLHWxgPsC |page=45 |quote=Yama is a "moral restraint" or rule for living virtuously. Ten yamas are codified in numerous scriptures, including the Hatha Yoga Pradeepika compiled by Yogi Swatmarama, while Patanjali lists five yamas and five niyamas (disciplines) in the Yoga Sutras.}}
}}</ref>

The {{transliteration|sa|yamas}} apply broadly and include self-restraints in one's actions, words, and thoughts.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Debra|last=Weiss|year=2006|title=Ahimsa: Nonviolence from a Yoga Perspective|journal=Fellowship|volume=72|issue=1–2|page=25}}</ref>

==Etymology and meaning==

The earliest mention of {{transliteration|sa|yamas}} is found in the Hindu scripture Rigveda, such as in verse 5.61.2, and later in the [[Jain literature|Jain Agamas]].<ref name=monierwilliamsyamas>{{cite book|first=Monier|last=Monier-Williams|title=Sanskrit English Dictionary with Etymology|publisher=Oxford University Press|chapter=Yama|page=846}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=June 30, 2021|title=Yama|url=https://www.unitedwecare.com/self-care/yoga/types-of-yoga/raja-yoga/8-limbs-of-yoga/yama|website=United We Care|access-date=July 3, 2021|archive-date=August 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805111838/https://www.unitedwecare.com/self-care/yoga/types-of-yoga/raja-yoga/8-limbs-of-yoga/yama/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Sanskrit: क्व वोऽश्वाः क्वाभीशवः कथं शेक कथा यय । पृष्ठे सदो नसो'''र्यमः''' ॥२॥ ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेद:_सूक्तं_५.६१ ऋग्वेद: सूक्तं ५.६१] Rigveda, Wikisource)</ref> The word {{transliteration|sa|yama}} in the Rigveda means a "rein, curb", the act of checking or curbing, restraining such as by a charioteer or a driver.<ref name=monierwilliamsyamas/> The term evolves into a moral restraint and ethical duty in the [[Jain Agamas]].<ref name=monierwilliamsyamas/><ref>{{cite book|first1=Michael|last1=Palmer|first2=Stanley|last2=Burgess|year=2012|title=The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Religion and Social Justice|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|isbn=978-1405195478|page=114}}</ref> The {{transliteration|sa|yamas}} were explained in detail by [[Patanjali|Patañjali]] in the [[Yoga Sutras of Patanjali|''Yoga Sūtras of Patanjali'']] as the first step of the eight-fold path of yogic philosophy and practice for attaining enlightenment and union of the mind, body and soul.<ref name=":1" />

{{transliteration|sa|Yamas}} means "restraint", particularly "from actions, words, or thoughts that may cause harm".<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Yoga Meditation: Still Your Mind and Awaken Your Inner Spirit|last=Sturgess|first=Stephen|publisher=Watkins Publishing Limited|year=2014|isbn=978-1-78028-644-0|location=Oxford, UK|pages=18–19}}</ref>

==Yamas by source==

The number of Yamas varies with the source:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! 5 Yamas<br/>[[Yoga Sutras of Patanjali|''Yogasūtra'']] 2.30<ref>{{cite book |last1=Āgāśe |first1=K. S. |title=Pātañjalayogasūtrāṇi |year=1904 |publisher=Ānandāśrama |location=Puṇe |page=102 |url=https://archive.org/stream/patanjaliyoga/yoga_sutras_three_commentaries#page/n111/mode/2up}}</ref><br/>cf. [[Ethics of Jainism]] !! 10 Yamas<br/>[[Shandilya Upanishad|Śāṇḍilya Upanishad]],<ref>{{cite book|first=K. N.|last=Aiyar|year=1914|title=Thirty Minor Upanishads|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|isbn=978-1164026419|pages=173–176}}</ref><br/>[[Svātmārāma]]<ref name=svatmaram>{{cite book |title=The Hatha Yoga Pradipika |author=Svātmārāma |author-link=Svātmārāma |author2=Pancham Sinh |publisher=Forgotten Books |edition=5 |year=1997 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9sBFttVx6ukC |isbn=978-1605066370 |page=14 |quote=अथ यम-नियमाः अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं बरह्यछर्यम कश्हमा धृतिः दयार्जवं मिताहारः शौछम छैव यमा दश १७}}</ref><ref>{{multiref2
|1={{cite book |last1=Lorenzen |first1=David |title=The Kāpālikas and Kālāmukhas |year=1972 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0520018426 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/kapalikaskalamuk0000lore/page/186 186–190] |url=https://archive.org/details/kapalikaskalamuk0000lore/page/186 }}
|2={{cite book |title=Merging with Śiva: Hinduism's contemporary metaphysics |last= Subramuniya |publisher=Himalayan Academy Publications |year=2003 |isbn=978-0945497998 |page=155 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JupkNVxfwHgC}}
}}</ref>
|-
| 1 
| colspan="2" | [[Ahiṃsā]] (अहिंसा): Non-violence (literally "Non-harming")
|-
| 2
| colspan="2" | [[Satya]] (सत्य): Truthfulness (Not lying); speech that is non-deceptive, non-distorted, and purposeful<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mookerji |first=Radha Kumud |title=Ancient Indian education: brahmanical and Buddhist |date=1998 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0423-4 |edition=[5.] repr |location=Delhi |pages=313}}</ref>
|-
| 3 
| colspan="2" | [[Asteya]] (अस्तेय): Not stealing
|-
| 4
| colspan="2" | [[Brahmacharya]] (ब्रह्मचर्य): Chastity,<ref name="ad">{{cite journal|first=Arti|last=Dhand|year=2002|title=The dharma of ethics, the ethics of dharma: Quizzing the ideals of Hinduism|journal=Journal of Religious Ethics|volume=30|number=3|pages=347–372|doi=10.1111/1467-9795.00113 }}</ref> sexual restraint,<ref name="brahmacarya2">{{multiref2|1={{cite book|first=Louise|last=Taylor|year=2001|title=A Woman's Book of Yoga|publisher=Tuttle|isbn=978-0804818292|page=3}}
|2={{cite book|first=Jeffrey|last=Long|year=2009|title=Jainism: An Introduction|publisher=[[IB Tauris]]|isbn=978-1845116262|pages=101, 109|quote=The fourth vow—brahmacarya—means for laypersons, marital fidelity and pre-marital celibacy; for ascetics, it means absolute celibacy; John Cort explains, 'Brahmacharya involves having sex only with one's spouse, as well as the avoidance of ardent gazing or lewd gestures...'}}}}</ref> focus (not distracted)
|-
| 5 
| colspan="2" | [[Aparigraha]] (अपरिग्रहः): Non-avarice, non-possessiveness
|-
| 6 || — || [[Forgiveness#Hinduism|Kṣamā]] (क्षमा): Patience, forgiveness.<ref name=ss>{{cite book|first=Stuart|last=Sovatsky|year=1998|title=Words from the Soul: Time, East/West Spirituality, and Psychotherapeutic Narrative|publisher=State University of New York|isbn=978-0791439494|page=21}}</ref>
|-
| 7 || — || [[Dhrti]] (धृति): Fortitude, perseverance with the aim to reach the goal
|-
| 8 || — || [[Compassion#Hinduism|Dayā]] (दया): Compassion<ref name=ss/>
|-
| 9 || — || [[Ārjava]] (आर्जव): Non-hypocrisy, sincerity<ref>{{cite book|first=Jadunath|last=Sinha|title=Indian Psychology|page=142|volume=2|publisher=Motilal Banarsidas|oclc=1211693}}</ref>
|-
| 10 || — || [[Mitahara|Mitāhāra]] (मिताहार): Measured diet
|}

At least sixty ancient and medieval era Indian texts are known that discuss {{transliteration|sa|yamas}}.<ref name=svb>{{cite book|first=S.V.|last=Bharti|year=2001|title=Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: With the Exposition of Vyasa|publisher=Motilal Banarsidas|isbn=978-8120818255|pages=672–680}}</ref> Most are in Sanskrit, but some are in regional Indian languages. Of the sixty, the lists in eleven of these texts are similar, but not the same, as that of Patanjali's.<ref name=svb/> Other texts list between one and ten {{transliteration|sa|yamas}}; however, ten is the most common.<ref name=svb/>

The order of listed {{transliteration|sa|yamas}}, the names and nature of each {{transliteration|sa|yama}}, as well as the relative emphasis vary between the texts. Some texts use the reverse of {{transliteration|sa|niyamas}} in other texts, as {{transliteration|sa|yamas}}; for example, {{transliteration|sa|vairagya}} (dispassion from hedonism, somewhat reverse of the {{transliteration|sa|niyama}} {{transliteration|sa|tapas}}) is described in verse 33 of Trishikhi Brahmana Upanishad in its list of {{transliteration|sa|yamas}}.<ref name=svb/> Many texts substitute one or more different concepts in their list of {{transliteration|sa|yamas}}. For example, in the ten {{transliteration|sa|yamas}} listed by Yatidharma Sangraha, {{transliteration|sa|[[akrodha]]}} (non-anger) is included as a {{transliteration|sa|yama}}.<ref name=svb/> Ahirbudhnya Samhita in verse 31.19 and Darshana Upanishad in verses 1.14-15 include {{transliteration|sa|dayā}} as a {{transliteration|sa|yama}}, and explain it as the ethical restraint of not jumping to conclusions, being compassionate to every being, and considering suffering of others as one's own.<ref>{{cite book | last=Varenne | first=Jean | title=Yoga and the Hindu Tradition | publisher=University of Chicago Press | date=1976 | isbn=978-0-226-85116-7|pages=197–202}}</ref> In verse 31.21, Ahirbudhnya Samhita includes {{transliteration|sa|kṣamā}} as the virtue of forgiveness and restraint from continued agitation from wrong others have done.<ref name=svb/> Mahakala Samhita in verses II.11.723 through II.11.738<ref>{{cite book|url=https://sanskritdocuments.org/scannedbooks/forencoding/mahAkAlISamhitaGuhyakalikhandaPart2.pdf|title=Mahakala Samhita|publisher=Government of India Archives|language=sa|pages=302–304}}</ref> lists many of the ten {{transliteration|sa|yamas}} above, but explains why it is a virtue in a different way. For example, the text explains {{transliteration|sa|dayā}} is an ethical precept and the restraint from too much and too little emotions. It suggests {{transliteration|sa|dayā}} reflects one's inner state, is the expression of kindness towards kin, friend, stranger, and even a hostile person, and that one must remain good and kind no matter what the circumstances. This view of {{transliteration|sa|dayā}} is shared in Shandilya Upanishad and Jabala Darshana Upanishad.<ref name=svb/><ref>{{cite book | last=Gajendragadkar | first=K. V. | title=Neo-upanishadic philosophy | publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan | publication-place=Bombay | year=1959 | oclc=1555808}}</ref> Atri Samhita in verse 48, lists {{transliteration|sa|anrshamsya}} ({{lang|sa|आनृशंस्य}})<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=AnRzaMsya+&trans=Translate&direction=AU|url-status=dead|title=AnRzaMsya|website=Sanskrit-English Dictionary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230151621/http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&beginning=0+&tinput=AnRzaMsya+&trans=Translate&direction=AU|archive-date=2014-12-30}}</ref> as the restraint from cruelty to any living being by one's actions, words or in thoughts. Shivayoga Dipika in verse 2.9 substitutes {{transliteration|sa|sunrta}} for {{transliteration|sa|satya}}, defining {{transliteration|sa|sunrta}} as "sweet and true speech".<ref name=svb/>

==See also==
* {{annotated link|[[Temperance (virtue)#Hinduism|Dama]]}}
* {{annotated link|[[Niyama]]}}
* {{annotated link|[[Religious vows]]}}
* {{annotated link|[[Samatva (Equanimity)|Samatva]]}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite web |author=Swaraj Ji |date=11 October 2022 |title=Discover the Foundations of Yoga: Yama and Niyamas |url=https://namasteyogaschool.com/blog/the-yamas-and-niyamas/ |access-date=11 October 2022 |website=Namaste Yoga School}}

{{Yoga}}
{{Hindudharma}}
{{virtues}}
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[[Category:Codes of conduct]]
[[Category:Eight limbs of yoga]]
[[Category:Ethical issues in religion]]
[[Category:Hindu ethics]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]