• Why memory matters today? Beyond cognitive storage, smṛti supports self-awareness, discernment, and liberation. Purifying memory leads to clarity which aligns thought, action, and insight. Know daily yogic practices that nurture memory. 

This article has two authors. Dr. Natesh Babu, Director, CODE, S-VYASA and Dr. Atmakur Snigdha Madhuri, Assistant Professor, CODE, S-VYASA.

Yoga, an ancient practice rooted in India, has long been revered for its profound impact on the mind and body. Beyond its well-documented physical benefits, yoga offers deep insights into cognitive function, particularly memory. Memory-related challenges have become increasingly common in today's fast-paced world, where distractions and stress levels soar. Ancient yogic traditions recognized the intricate connection between mental clarity and mindfulness, developing techniques to enhance memory and concentration. Yoga bridges tradition and modernity, offering timeless solutions for improving memory and overall mental well-being. Ancient yogic texts, such as the Yoga Sūtrās of Patañjali, explore the nature of memory (smṛiti) and its role in consciousness.

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Anubhūti-viṣaya-saṁpramoṣaḥ smṛtiḥ

Memory is the retention of experiences. - Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra 1.11

As per Mahārṣi Patañjali, retrieving stored information is an integral function of memory. Recollection of previously stored impressions awakens, stirs in the unconscious, and then springs forth into the conscious awareness, breaking through the barrier between the two. Yet, when a memory surfaces, it often pulls along other memories, becoming intertwined so that the original memory is no longer clear. In other words, the memory becomes distorted, mingling with different thought patterns. Hence, focusing on one’s ability to recall the proper knowledge precisely is very important.

Memory in Indian Philosophy: More Than Mental Storage

Memory (Smṛti) is the ability to analyse and synthesize assimilated information. It is one of the most revered faculties in the Indian knowledge tradition—not merely a tool for recalling facts but a bridge between experience and present awareness. In the yogic worldview, the cultivation of memory is deeply tied to the path of self-realization, clarity of thought, and inner transformation.

In ancient Indian texts, memory is considered a subtle and powerful aspect of consciousness. In the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, Smṛti is described as one of the five vrittis (mental modifications) influencing the mind’s state. While uncontrolled vrittis can lead to confusion, a purified memory guides prajña—deep insight.

Memory is closely linked with: Manas (the lower mind), Buddhi (intellect), and Ahaṅkāra (sense of identity)

A refined memory (sattvic Smṛti) helps maintain inner balance and accurate perception, essential for meditative stability and progress on the yogic path.

Spiritual memory - path of self-realization

In the Bhagavad Gītā, the term Smṛti refers to memory or recollection and is often discussed in the context of one's ability to recall the proper knowledge and spiritual wisdom. However, the Gita also highlights the importance of Smṛtiḥ in spiritual practice, particularly concerning how memory affects a person's actions, consciousness, and path to liberation. 

One key reference to Smṛti in the Gītā occurs in Chapter 2, Verse 63, where Śrī Kṛṣṇa explains the sequence of events that lead to a person's downfall: 

Dhyāyato viṣayān pumsaḥ (dwelling on sense objects)

Saṅgas teṣupajāyate (leads to attachment) 

Saṅgat saṁjāyate kāmaḥ (from attachment arises desire) 

Kāmat krodho'bhijāyate (from unfulfilled desire comes anger)

Krodhād bhavati sammohah (from anger comes delusion) 

Sammohāt smṛtiḥ-vibhramah (from delusion, loss of memory) 

Smṛtiḥ-bhrāmsād buddhi-nāśo (from loss of memory, destruction of discrimination) 

Buddhi-nāśāt praṇaśyati (from the destruction of discrimination, one perishes)

In this verse, Śrī Kṛṣṇa explains that Smṛtiḥ-vibhrama (memory loss or forgetfulness) is a critical stage in a person's downfall. When people lose their Smṛti, they forget their true nature and spiritual wisdom. This loss of memory leads to the destruction of Buddhi (discriminative intellect), which in turn results in the individual's spiritual decline and loss of control over their actions. 

In the spiritual context of the Gita, Smṛti is crucial because it represents the memory of one's true and divine nature, duties (Dharma), and teachings received. Maintaining this spiritual memory is essential for progress on the path of self-realization. Forgetting this wisdom leads to attachment to worldly desires, delusion, and ultimately suffering.

Smṛtiḥ, Vāsana, and Saṁskāra: The Inner Imprint

According to Vedantic and yogic teachings, every experience leaves an impression or Saṁskāra on the mind. These Saṁskāras create latent tendencies or vāsanās, which influence behaviour, emotions, and thought patterns. These positive or negative impressions shape how we respond to situations and interact with the world. Over time, these vāsanās can lead to habitual thought and behaviour patterns that may not always serve our well-being.

Yoga, in its essence, aims to purify these impressions by cultivating awareness and deepening self-understanding. Through meditation, mindfulness, Āsanās, and Prāṇāyāma, yoga helps the practitioner become more aware of these latent tendencies and, over time, release or transform them. The purification of Saṁskāras allows the mind to be clearer, and memory to be a more helpful tool for growth and insight, free from the burdens of past conditioning.

Thus, yoga is not just about physical flexibility or relaxation; it is about shaping the landscape of the mind—bringing it to a state of balance, clarity, and conscious presence. This enables individuals to break free from old patterns and make more deliberate, mindful choices, fostering a healthier, more integrated relationship with memory, behaviour, and experiences.

Yoga and Memory

Yoga and memory are deeply interconnected, each reinforcing the growth of the other. The Yoga Sūtras state: “Śraddhā-vīrya-smṛti-samādhi-prajñā-pūrvaka itareṣām” (Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra 1.20), indicating that for those who are progressing gradually, yoga develops through faith (śraddhā), energy (vīrya), memory (smṛti), deep absorption (samādhi), and higher awareness (prajñā). Here, smṛti—memory—is highlighted as a key factor in sustaining one's practice and integrating yogic insights. Memory allows practitioners to retain inner experiences, reflect, and deepen their understanding. Yoga purifies memory, leading to clarity and precision in awareness.

This relationship is further elaborated in the sutra “Smṛti pariśuddhau svarūpa-śūnyevārtha-mātra-nirbhāsā nirvitarka” (Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra 1.43), which explains that when memory is thoroughly purified through practice, only the essence (artha) of the object shines forth in consciousness, free from the ego or mental overlays. The mind becomes so clear that it still reflects reality without distortion. Thus, through yoga, memory is refined; through that refined memory, one advances further in yoga, entering deeper states of clarity, insight, and inner absorption.

Yoga Practices to Strengthen and Refine Memory

Through practices like Āsana (to stabilize the body and nervous system), Prāṇāyāma (to harmonize energy and brain activity), and Dhāraṇā–Dhyāna (to sharpen focus and inner stillness), the practitioner gradually clears mental fog and strengthens Smṛti. Ancient commentaries mention that strong memory supports Nididhyāsana (deep contemplation) and leads to Ātma-jñāna (self-knowledge).

Thus, various methods can be employed to improve memory, including physical postures, breath control, transitions from random thinking to meditative states:

1. Āsana (Physical Postures): 

Āsana, as defined in Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra (2.46), refers to a steady, comfortable posture that supports the practice of yoga. The sutra "Sthira-sukham Āsanam" translates to "Posture is that which is steady and comfortable." Āsana forms the foundation for physical stability and mental focus in yoga. When performed correctly, Āsanās bring the body into a state of balance, helping to harmonize physical health and mental clarity.

The goal of practicing Āsanās is to create ease and stability in the body, which allows the practitioner to sit for meditation without discomfort. This aspect of yoga requires strength and flexibility, as it frees the body from tension, enabling the practitioner to move into deeper states of awareness and concentration. Āsanās also cultivate mindfulness and presence, as each posture requires attention to alignment, breath, and body sensations.

Challenges in Āsana practice include the tendency to either overstrain or become too relaxed. The key to mastering Āsanās is finding a balance between effort and surrender, or sthira and sukha. Regular practice of Āsanās enhances physical flexibility, strength, and endurance while calming the mind and preparing it for more profound meditation.

2. Prāṇāyāma (Breath Control):

As described in Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra (2.49), Prāṇāyāma is the regulation of the breath, which is seen as the bridge between the body and the mind. The sutra "Tasmin sati shvasa-prashvasa-yor-gati-vichchhedah Prāṇāyāmah" translates to "Prāṇāyāma is the cessation of the movement of the inhalation and exhalation." This practice involves conscious control of the breath to enhance the flow of prana (life energy) throughout the body and mind.

Prāṇāyāma involves techniques such as long, slow inhalations, exhalations, and breath retention, each of which influences the body’s energy, nervous system, and mental state. The practice helps to clear blockages in the prana channels, known as nādis, and can regulate the flow of energy, which calms the mind and promotes emotional balance.

A significant aspect of Prāṇāyāma is its ability to cultivate awareness of the breath and body, which serves as a tool for the practitioner to anchor attention and reduce distractions. The mental focus required in Prāṇāyāma helps cultivate dhāraṇa (concentration) and prepares the mind for more profound meditation. The practice also enhances lung capacity, regulates heart rate, and can induce a state of calmness or alertness depending on the technique used.

3. Dhāraṇā (Focus):

As Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra (3.1) describes, Dhāraṇā means focusing the mind on a single object. The sutra “Deśa-bandhaḥ cittasya dhāraṇā” translates to “binding the mind to one place or object.” It is the first of the internal limbs of yoga and serves as a foundation for deeper meditative states like Dhyāna and Samadhi. In Dhāraṇā, the practitioner chooses a point of focus, such as the breath, a mantra, or a visual object, and consciously tries to bring the mind back whenever it wanders.

A key challenge in Dhāraṇa is Cañcalatā, the mind’s tendency to become distracted. This restlessness is countered by cultivating ekāgratā  (one-pointed focus), helping the mind stay anchored. Unlike Dhyāna, where attention flows steadily, Dhāraṇa allows for some variation in thoughts about the chosen object, as long as the focus remains on it. For example, one might observe different aspects of the breath but remain centred on breathing as the object.  Practicing Dhāraṇa improves mental clarity, attention, and self-awareness. It builds the mental discipline for more profound meditation and lays the groundwork for stillness and inner absorption.

4. Dhyāna (Meditation):

Dhyāna, as defined in Pātañjali’s Yoga Sutras (3.2), is the practice of meditation characterized by a continuous and uninterrupted flow of the mind toward a chosen object. The sutra describes Dhyāna as “Tatra pratyayaikatānātā dhyānam,” meaning “meditation is the uninterrupted continuity of that mental focus.” Building upon Dhāraṇā, which involves effortfully fixing the mind on one object, Dhyāna deepens that concentration into a steady, effortless stream of awareness. The mind becomes fully absorbed, flowing smoothly without wavering.

Central to Dhyāna is the concept of Pratyaya, the content or object of thought at any given moment. The pratyaya remains consistent in this state, and the mind no longer jumps between objects or distractions. This leads to Ekatānatā, or one-streamedness, where attention flows like a quiet, focused, unbroken river. Unlike Dhāraṇa, which still involves effort to maintain focus, Dhyāna is more refined, with reduced mental effort and increased stillness.

Practicing Dhyāna cultivates deep inner calm, mental clarity, and self-awareness. It prepares the practitioner for Samādhi, where the meditator, the meditation process, and the meditation object merge into unity.

In summary, these practices represent a progression from focused concentration to deep meditation and ultimate absorption, each contributing to enhanced memory and cognitive function.

Why This Matters Today

In today’s fast-paced world, our attention is scattered, and our memories are often clouded by digital overload, emotional stress, and constant distraction. As modern minds grapple with information fatigue, anxiety, and diminishing attention spans, the ancient insights on Smṛti, as offered by the Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gītā, are more relevant than ever. Yoga provides physical wellness and a profound method to restore clarity in thought and memory.

Memory is not just about recalling facts but about remembering who we are. The loss of Smṛti is not merely forgetfulness but a forgetting of dharma, purpose, and inner wisdom. By consciously cultivating memory through yoga, we can anchor ourselves in clarity, resilience, and inner stability. These practices hold the key to recovering our capacity for mindful living and spiritual growth.

Key Takeaways

1. Memory is a spiritual faculty – Beyond cognitive storage, smṛti supports self-awareness, discernment, and liberation.

2. Purifying memory leads to clarity – A sattvic smṛti aligns thought, action, and insight.

3. Daily yogic practices to nurture memory

Āsana: Grounds the body and calms the nervous system.

Prāṇāyāma: Balances energy and emotions.

Dhāraṇā: Trains the mind in focused attention.

Dhyāna: Cultivates effortless awareness.

Reflection: Reinforces wisdom and moral clarity.

4. Recall to Realign: Let each moment of remembrance (of wisdom, calm, or self-awareness) be an opportunity to realign with your highest potential.

Thus, yoga refines the mind and purifies memory, transforming it into a bridge between past experiences and present wisdom. But how does this ancient insight align with modern scientific understanding? In the next part of this series, we’ll explore how yoga influences brain function and enhances memory, from working memory to long-term recall, through the lens of neuroscience and contemporary research.

Next in the Series: “How Yoga Influences Memory-Modern Scientific Understanding.”

References 

1. Saraswati, S. (2006). Four chapters on freedom: Commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Yoga Publications Trust.

2. Mitchell, S. (2002). The Bhagavad Gita. Crown Publications.

3. Nagendra, H. R., & Telles, S. (2008). Yoga and memory. Bengaluru, India: Swami Vivekananda Yoga Prakashana

Authors are Dr. Natesh Babu, Director, CODE, S-VYASA and Dr. Atmakur Snigdha Madhuri, Assistant Professor, CODE, S-VYASA. www.svyasadde.com

S-VYASA stands for Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana. CODE stands for Centre for Open and Distance Education

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