Brief History of the Koghan System
From beginning to present
Shiva taught the Koghan Yoga system to the great warrior Arjuna prior to the battle of Kurukshetra, where Krishna spoke the “Bhagavad Gita” to Arjuna. This encounter is documented in the Mahabharata, chapter 28 “Pasupata,” around 3000 B.C.
The Story of Arjuna
Arjuna and his family had lost their kingdom in a gambling match for 13 years. While the rest of his family made a pilgrimage around India, Arjuna, with an uncontrolled mind, ventured into the Himalayas to obtain celestial weapons and divine answers to his predicament. High in the mountains, Arjuna got into an argument with a forest dweller over shooting a boar with an arrow. When a fight broke out, the forester gained the advantage over Arjuna. Praying to Shiva for help, the forester immediately revealed himself as Shiva. Thus, Arjuna’s instruction began.
Teachings of Shiva
First, Arjuna had to learn to control his mind and his senses with breath. Then, Shiva taught him how to gather and generate his powerful life force through his spine, into his chakras, and energize his whole being. Shiva describes the Kundalini energy, which flows through the chakras and the body, to be like lightning in the “Shiva Sutras.”
This is why Shiva is always represented with the Ajna or 3rd eye chakra and the Trident.
For more Koghan history and details on “Shiva,” see the chapter on “Dhanda.”
Hpyu or Pyu Tribe
After the battle, several tribes from India, Tibet, and China migrated to Burma to escape numerous wars between various kingdoms. The most notable of these tribes was the Hpyu or Pyu from Northern India, who were of the Brahmin caste. They established a peaceful Hindu kingdom in the Irrawaddy valley around 500 B.C., embracing a spiritual lifestyle that included Koghan Yoga alongside Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Tantric Yoga, and Hatha Yoga. This fusion led to the creation of the Hanthawaddy yoga system. Cultural and Spiritual Integration By the 3rd century A.D., the Pyu had built their capital at Sri Ksetra, near present-day Pyay, adorned with golden stupas, temples, and monasteries. Their cultural ideals embraced Brahmanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Tantrism, Mysticism, and Shamanism, reflecting a rich tapestry of spiritual beliefs.
Revival of Dhanda
Yoga Anant Krishna Vaidya, an internationally renowned yogi, was a key figure in reviving and systematizing Dhanda Yoga between 1880 and 1940. He taught yoga as the foundation for physical fitness, emotional growth, and spiritual enlightenment. In 1914, he founded the Hanuman Vayayam Prasark Mandal in Amraoti, India, where he integrated the use of the staff, rope, and stone with various yogic postures to develop strength, stamina, and flexibility.
Public Demonstrations in India and Burma
In the early 1910s, Anant Krishna Vaidya organized public demonstration teams that traveled across India and Burma, showcasing yoga exercises and staff drills. These demonstrations were warmly received, and they influenced physical education programs, sports, and athletics. Vaidya's teachings also reached Burma's leading educational institutions and gymnasiums.
Bando Association and Bando Yoga
At this time, Saya U Ba Than Gyi, who later became director of health and physical education in Burma, was influenced by Anant Krishna Vaidya’s teachings. U Ba Than Gyi incorporated Dhanda Yoga asanas into the Bando training program, systematizing the postures and exercises. In 1946, he founded the National Bando Association. In 1959, Dr. Maung Gyi brought these teachings to the United States, founding the American Bando Association and becoming a professor at Ohio University.
Dr. Maung Gyi's tireless efforts have preserved these ancient art forms. His dedication has ensured that the profound wisdom of Dhanda Yoga continues to thrive, benefiting his devoted students and future generations.