Yoga and Freedom: What Does Mokṣa Really Mean?
Rethinking Freedom in Yoga
(According to Śrī T. Krishnamacharya’s Lineage)
When many people speak about yoga today, they often describe it as freedom.
In their view, yoga offers the freedom to explore who you are, the freedom to grow, and even the freedom to transform yourself moment by moment.
Although this modern interpretation may sound inspiring at first glance, the authentic teachings of yoga — especially as preserved by Śrī T. Krishnamacharya and the Viśiṣṭādvaita Sampradāya — offer a much deeper, more sacred, and far more beautiful understanding of what true freedom actually means.
The Modern View: Freedom as Self-Exploration
In contemporary yoga culture, freedom is usually equated with personal exploration. Specifically, many people believe that yoga allows:
- The ability to define who I am.
- Continuous personal evolution and change.
- Inner peace achieved through self-expression.
- The creation of one’s own version of truth.
Because of this perspective, yoga is often seen as a personal journey without a fixed goal. It becomes centered entirely on one’s autonomy, choices, and individual desires. As a result, the practitioner adopts the mindset:.
“I choose who I want to become.”
However, this modern view raises an important question that deserves serious reflection:
Is this truly freedom?
The Traditional Teaching: Freedom as Liberation (Mokṣa)
According to Śrī T. Krishnamacharya’s lineage, yoga has only one ultimate purpose: Mokṣa — true liberation.
Unlike modern interpretations, Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta explains that mokṣa is not the freedom to endlessly explore or reinvent oneself. Rather, it is freedom from bondage — specifically, from:
- Ignorance (avidyā),
- Karma (the chain of actions and reactions), and
- The repeated cycle of birth and death (saṁsāra).
Thus, the authentic teaching offers a radically different view of the self. According to this tradition:
- You are not here to invent or redefine yourself.
- You are an eternal soul (jīva) who has always existed.
- You are intimately connected to God (Īśvara), although temporarily covered by ignorance.
As Krishnamacharya clearly taught:
“Yoga is for the vision of Īśvara.”
The Nature of True Freedom in Yoga
Because of this eternal relationship with God, true freedom in yoga takes on a much deeper meaning. It means:
- Freedom from suffering, karma, ignorance, and the cycle of rebirth.
- Freedom to return to your eternal, natural relationship with God.
- Freedom that arises through complete surrender (śaraṇāgati) and loving service to the Supreme.
In contrast to the modern emphasis on personal independence, mokṣa is actually complete dependence on the grace of God. As Viśiṣṭādvaita teaches, the soul finds its eternal bliss not in self-centered exploration but in lovingly serving Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Being.
Not Becoming Something New, But Returning to Who You Truly Are
While modern yoga often speaks of becoming something new or constantly reinventing oneself, the traditional teaching emphasizes something very different.
Authentic yoga is not about becoming, but about returning — returning to who you have always been. You are:
- An eternal servant of God,
- Filled with bliss (ānanda),
- Sustained by devotion (bhakti) and
- Anchored in divine love.
This subtle yet profound distinction transforms one’s entire approach to yoga practice.
The Role of Yoga Practice: A Sacred Means, Not the Final Goal
At this point, a natural question arises:
What, then, is the role of yoga practice?
In this sacred tradition:
- Āsana, prāṇāyāma, meditation, and mantra are not techniques to gain personal power or worldly success.
- Instead, they are acts of devotion that prepare the heart for surrender.
- Ultimately, mokṣa is not achieved by personal effort alone but is granted by divine grace.
As Śrī T. Krishnamacharya wisely explained:
“Yoga is not for siddhis or personal gain, but for surrender and service to the Lord.”
Key Differences Between the Modern and Traditional Views
Key Differences Between the Modern and Traditional Views
Modern View | Krishnamacharya’s Teaching |
Freedom to become whoever I choose | Freedom from bondage to return to God |
Self-exploration | God-realization |
Personal autonomy | Complete surrender |
Psychological peace | Eternal service and bliss |
The Path of Yadu Yoga: Preserving the Authentic Teaching
At Yadu Yoga, we remain fully committed to honoring and preserving this sacred vision.
Yoga, in its original purpose, is not a tool for endless self-creation. Rather, it is a sacred path of returning — returning through surrender, devotion, and divine grace to our eternal identity as loving servants of the Supreme Being.
Join the Journey of Authentic Yoga
If you are ready to move beyond modern interpretations and reconnect with yoga’s authentic roots, we warmly invite you to explore our trainings, retreats, and online teachings. Through these programs, you can experience yoga as it was originally taught — as a path of surrender, transformation, and divine grace.
Learn more about our programs: