Define Rajayoga.

Rajayoga, often referred to as "Royal Yoga" or "the path of royal union," is a comprehensive system of yoga outlined by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. It represents one of the classical paths of yoga, focusing on the cultivation of mental and spiritual discipline to attain self-realization and union with the divine.

Rajayoga consists of eight limbs, known as Ashtanga Yoga, which provide a systematic framework for spiritual practice. These limbs include Yama (moral restraints), Niyama (observances), Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breath control), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (absorption or union).

The practice of Rajayoga aims to quiet the mind, control the fluctuations of consciousness, and ultimately lead to a state of profound inner peace and spiritual realization. It emphasizes the importance of ethical living, mental focus, and meditative absorption as means to achieve the highest state of consciousness.

Rajayoga is regarded as a royal path because it offers a systematic approach to self-mastery and spiritual transcendence, making it accessible to individuals of various temperaments and backgrounds. Through disciplined practice, practitioners of Rajayoga seek to attain the highest level of self-awareness and realization of the divine within.