Lakshana Parinama is an important idea in Yoga philosophy. It explains how everything changes slowly with time. The word “Lakshana” means “sign” or “mark,” and “Parinama” means “change.” So together, Lakshana Parinama means “change that happens step by step over time.”
This idea describes how things move from one stage to another. For example, morning slowly becomes afternoon, then evening, and finally night. A small child grows into a teenager, then an adult, and later becomes old. Nothing in life stays the same. Everything is always moving forward.
In yoga, understanding these slow changes helps us stay patient. It teaches us that real growth takes time. Whether we are learning yoga, working on our mind, or trying to improve our habits, progress happens slowly. Lakshana Parinama reminds us to trust the process.
What Is Lakshana Parinama?
Lakshana Parinama is the natural change that happens over time. It shows how something passes through different stages. This change is not sudden. It happens slowly and quietly.
Imagine ice turning into water. First, it melts a little. Then it becomes soft. After some time, it fully becomes liquid. This step-by-step movement is Lakshana Parinama.
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali explains that everything in the world is always changing. Every moment is helping something grow, move, or evolve. Even if we cannot see the change right away, time is still doing its work.
Why Is Lakshana Parinama Important?
Lakshana Parinama helps us understand life better. Here are a few reasons it matters:
1. Change Is Natural
Many people fear change. But this concept teaches us that change is normal and necessary.
2. Growth Takes Time
We often want quick results. But Lakshana Parinama reminds us that real progress comes slowly.
3. Patience Is Power
When we understand that change happens step by step, we become more patient and calm.
4. Every Small Step Counts
Small efforts create big results over time. Even tiny changes matter.
Examples of Lakshana Parinama in Everyday Life
This type of change happens all around us:
1. A Plant Growing
A plant does not grow in one day. First, the seed breaks open. Then a small stem comes out. Later it becomes a plant, and finally a tree.
2. Learning Something New
When learning a language or a sport, you cannot master it immediately. It takes days and weeks of practice.
3. Healing After Sickness
When we fall sick, healing takes time. We slowly feel better each day.
4. Changing Seasons
Winter becomes spring, then summer, then fall. Each season shifts slowly.
5. Emotional Change
If someone is sad today, they may feel normal after a few days. Time helps soften emotions.
These examples show that Lakshana Parinama is happening everywhere, every moment.
Lakshana Parinama and the Mind
The mind also follows the rule of slow change. Our emotions, thoughts, and attitudes shift gradually.
For example:
- A stressed mind can slowly become peaceful through meditation.
- A confused mind becomes clear after thinking and reflecting.
- A fearful person becomes brave by facing small challenges over time.
These changes cannot be rushed. They need patience. Yoga and meditation help this process by calming the mind and giving it space to grow.
Lakshana Parinama in Yoga Practice
Yoga is a perfect example of slow, steady change. When someone starts practicing yoga:
- Their body may feel tight.
- Their breath may feel uneven.
- Their balance may be weak.
But with practice, the body becomes more flexible, and the breath becomes smoother. The mind becomes calmer. This improvement is Lakshana Parinama in action.
Even doing a single yoga pose shows this change. For example:
When you hold a pose for 30 seconds, your muscles slowly open up. At first, you feel stiffness. After a few breaths, the body relaxes a little. With more time, the pose becomes comfortable.
This slow shift is the meaning of Lakshana Parinama.
Lakshana Parinama in Patanjali’s Three Types of Change
Patanjali describes three forms of change:
- Dharma Parinama – Change in inner nature
- Lakshana Parinama – Change happening across time
- Avastha Parinama – Change in a temporary condition
Lakshana Parinama is the time-based transformation, showing how something moves from stage to stage.
How Time Shapes Everything
Time is the main force behind Lakshana Parinama. It teaches us three important lessons:
1. Nothing Happens in One Moment
Whether it is healing, learning, or growing, everything needs time.
2. Change Is Ongoing
Even when things seem still, tiny changes are happening inside.
3. Time Has Its Own Rhythm
We cannot control the speed of time. We can only work with it, not against it.
Lakshana Parinama and Personal Growth
This concept is helpful in daily life. It teaches us how to grow in a better way.
1. Improving Habits
Good habits take time to form. If you want to start waking early or exercising, it will happen slowly.
2. Building Confidence
Confidence grows one step at a time. Small wins create strong self-belief.
3. Learning From Mistakes
We do not become wise in one day. Mistakes teach us over time.
4. Emotional Strength
Handling stress, anger, or sadness becomes easier when we understand that our emotions also change with time.
Lakshana Parinama in Spiritual Growth
Spiritual growth is also a slow, steady journey. People become wiser, calmer, and kinder over time. Meditation, prayer, breathing exercises, and self-reflection slowly change the inner world.
A person may start meditation with a restless mind. After weeks or months, the same person feels more peaceful. This improvement is a sign of Lakshana Parinama.
How to Apply Lakshana Parinama in Your Life
Here are simple ways to use this idea every day:
1. Be Patient With Yourself
Stop expecting quick results. Give your mind and body time to grow.
2. Notice Small Improvements
Celebrate even tiny progress. It motivates you to keep going.
3. Take Daily Action
Consistency is more important than speed. Small daily steps lead to big results.
4. Accept Slow Change
Understand that every good thing takes time.
5. Trust the Process
Believe that time is silently working in your favor.
Conclusion
Lakshana Parinama teaches us that life changes slowly and naturally. Everything grows through stages, whether it is a plant, a person, a skill, or an emotion. This idea teaches us patience, acceptance, and trust. When we understand that real growth takes time, we stop rushing and start enjoying the journey.
Lakshana Parinama reminds us that every moment matters. Even when change feels slow, it is still happening. With time, practice, and patience, we become better versions of ourselves. Life becomes easier when we follow the simple truth: slow and steady transformation leads to real, lasting growth.
Sources:
Yogapedia. (2023, December 21). Parinama. Yogapedia.
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, May 5). Lakshana. Wikipedia.
www.wisdomlib.org. (2020, July 24). Laksana-parinama [Encyclopaedia of Hinduism].
