Yoga of Synthesis Yoga of Synthesis Swami Sivananda's approach to yoga was to combine the four main paths - Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana yoga and Raja yoga along with various sub-yogas such as kirtan and Hatha yoga. This is reflected in the motto of the society that he formed, the Divine Life Society. The motto says, "Serve (Karma Yoga), Love (Bhakti Yoga), Meditate (Jnana Yoga), Realise (Raja Yoga)." In his own words, "One-sided development is not commendable. Religion and Yoga must educate and develop the whole man - his heart, intellect and hand." These paths are usually seen by others as different
Kirtan Hindu scriptures such as the "Bhagavad-gita" where Krishna describes multiple paths to spiritual freedom, including karma marga (way of works), jnana marga (way of knowledge) and bhakti marga (way of loving devotion to god). "Kirtan" relates to the bhakti marga tradition of Hinduism. References to "Kirtan" as a musical recitation are also found in the Bhagavata Purana, an important Vaishnava text. Kirtan is often practiced as a kind of theatrical folk song with call-and-response chanting or antiphon. The ancient sage Narada revered as a musical genius, is called a "kirtankar" (singer of kirtan) in the Padma Purana. The famous story