https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/yoga-vasistha-english

Vashist is also the name of a village located in Manali, India. The village is famous for its natural hot springs, which are believed to have healing properties, and is home to a temple dedicated to Yogi Vashist.

Yogi Vashist is a figure in Hindu mythology who is believed to have been one of the great sages of ancient India. According to legend, he lived in the Himalayan Mountains and was known for his deep knowledge of yoga, meditation, and the Vedas (the ancient scriptures of Hinduism).

One of the most famous stories associated with Yogi Vashist is the story of how he taught Lord Rama, the hero of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, about the nature of reality and the illusion of the material world. In this story, Yogi Vashist shows Lord Rama a series of illusions that make him question the true nature of existence, and ultimately helps him achieve enlightenment.

Another famous story associated with Yogi Vashist is the story of how he was able to create a wish-fulfilling cow named Kamadhenu. According to legend, Yogi Vashist used his deep knowledge of yoga and meditation to create Kamadhenu, which was said to be able to grant any wish.

Yogi Vashist is an important figure in Hindu mythology and is revered by many as a great spiritual teacher and guide. His teachings on yoga, meditation, and the Vedas continue to inspire and influence people around the world today.

In Hindu mythology, Yogi Vashist is considered to be one of the Saptarishis, or the seven great sages who were responsible for preserving and passing on the ancient knowledge of the Vedas. He is believed to have lived in ancient India, in the Himalayan region, and was known for his wisdom and knowledge of yoga, meditation, and the Vedas.

According to legend, Yogi Vashist was a spiritual teacher who played an important role in the lives of many ancient Hindu kings and sages. One of his most famous students was Lord Rama, the hero of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana. In this epic, Yogi Vashist appears as Rama’s guru, or spiritual teacher, and teaches him the principles of dharma (righteousness) and the nature of reality.

Yogi Vashist is also associated with the creation of the wish-fulfilling cow Kamadhenu, which is said to have been created through his deep knowledge of yoga and meditation. According to legend, Kamadhenu was able to grant any wish and provided infinite abundance to those who possessed her.

Today, Yogi Vashist is still revered as a great spiritual teacher and is a source of inspiration for many people who practice yoga and meditation. His teachings on the nature of reality, the importance of dharma, and the practice of yoga and meditation continue to be studied and followed by spiritual seekers around the world.

Yogi Vashist and in the old Scriptures

There are several ancient Hindu scriptures that mention Yogi Vashist and his teachings. One of the most important texts is the Yoga Vashistha, also known as the Maharamayana. This text is believed to have been written by the sage Valmiki, who is also the author of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana.

The Yoga Vashistha is a collection of stories and dialogues between Lord Rama and his guru Yogi Vashist, in which they discuss the nature of reality, the nature of the self, and the principles of yoga and meditation. The text is considered to be one of the most important philosophical works in Hinduism and is widely studied by scholars and practitioners of yoga and meditation.

In addition to the Yoga Vashistha, Yogi Vashist is also mentioned in several other Hindu scriptures, including the Brahma Purana, the Vishnu Purana, and the Mahabharata. These texts describe Yogi Vashist as a great sage and spiritual teacher, and offer insights into his teachings on yoga, meditation, and the Vedas.

There are several other important texts in Hinduism that are studied by scholars and practitioners of yoga and meditation. Here are a few examples:

1. The Bhagavad Gita: This is a sacred text that is part of the epic Mahabharata. It is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and his disciple Arjuna, in which they discuss the nature of dharma, the path of self-realization, and the principles of yoga.
2. The Upanishads: These are a collection of ancient Hindu texts that explore the nature of reality and the self. They are considered to be some of the earliest and most influential philosophical works in Hinduism.
3. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika: This is a text that focuses specifically on the practice of hatha yoga, which is a system of physical postures and breathing exercises that is widely practiced in India and around the world.
4. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: This is a text that outlines the principles of classical yoga, which includes ethical guidelines, physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques.

These are just a few examples of the many important texts in Hinduism that are studied by scholars and practitioners of yoga and meditation.

Later I will update this article, or even create a new one, talking about the metodhes used by another Himalayan Traditions.