[1] In Dharma, particularly Yoga, niyamas and their complement, yamas, are recommended activities and habits for healthy living, spiritual enlightenment, and a liberated state of existence.
For example, the Shandilya and Varaha Upanishads,[17] the Hatha Yoga Pradipika,[18] verses 552 to 557 in Book 3 of the Tirumandhiram of Tirumular suggest ten niyamas.
The education process in ancient India, where Vedas and Upanishads were memorized and transmitted across generations without ever being written down, required a series of Vrata niyamas over a number of years.
[17] Shivayoga Dipika, Sharada Tilaka, Vasishtha Samhita, Yoga Kalpalatika, Yajnavalkya Smriti, and many others, each discuss 10 niyamas.
[17][30] The Bhagavata Purana discusses eleven niyamas, with kind hospitality of guests, to one's best ability, as an additional virtuous behavior.
Rhys Davids was the first western scholar to draw attention to the list of pañcavidha niyama in her 1912 book, Buddhism.
[38] Western Buddhist Sangharakshita has taken up Mrs Rhys Davids conception of the niyamas and made it an important aspect of his own teachings on Buddhism.