Maharishi Patanjali and the Yoga Sutras

Statue of Maharishi Patanjali at Patanjali Yogpeeth, Haridwar, India 

(Pic courtesy: Wikipedia)

Maharishi Patanjali was a great scholar, ascetic and intellect of ancient India who is believed to have existed in the time period of 4^th to 2^nd century BC. In the Indian tradition, Maharishi Patanjali is regarded as “Svayambhu” (self-born). He is considered as a highly evolved soul, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who incarnated of his own will in a human form to help humanity.

Very little historical information is now available about him. Still he is still revered and credited for compiling the art of Yoga. Patanjali gathered all the bits and pieces related to Yoga and complied them into what is known as the Yoga Sutra in Sanskrit along with his commentaries in a text which is now known as “Patanjalayogasastra”. He was the first divine being who realized the potential of Yoga and the power it could unleash if practiced properly, so in a way the onus of enlightening the world goes to this great sage, little did he knew that many years down the lane his compilation will have this huge impact on the humans, it will be a boon to mankind.

Patanjali realized that it was getting too diversified and complex for anyone to understand the science of Yoga in any meaningful way. So he assimilated and included all aspects into a certain format – as the Yoga Sutras around 500 BC. Patañjali divided the Yoga Sutras into four chapters, he wrote the eight sutras known as Ashtanga Yoga around 500 BC, describing the eight limbs of Yoga, each focusing on the importance of achieving the balance between body and mind, health and harmony, step by steps guide on how to achieve it through discipline and practice.

A brief rundown of the 8 limbs:

• The Universal Morality (Yama), explaining the virtue of nonviolence/non-injury to others.
• The Personal Observance (Niyam), telling us how Niyama helps in the personal growth.
• Body Poses (asanas), using asanas to open the physical body and bring about the flexibility in life.
• Breathing exercises (Pranayam), how to channelize the “Prana” the Vital source for our living, how to breathe deeply resulting in ultimate relaxation of mind.
• Controlling our senses (Pratayahara), so that we are better able to control our cravings, so that we are not influenced by outside sensations that tend to impact our inner peace and tranquillity, resulting in a physical or mental imbalance.
• Inner awareness and power of concentration (Dharana),focussing attention in one direction instead of going out in many different directions, concentrating on what is more wholesome for body and mind, for soul and how to achieve the concept of “One point focus”.
• Meditation (Dhayana), how to further unify the consciousness, how to see things clearly and lift the veil of confusion and illusion that clouds our sense our reasoning… and the final step
• Oneness, union with supreme power with Divine (Samadhi), in this state body and senses are at rest, yet the mind is alert, one goes beyond consciousness, perfect state of harmony and tranquility!

Patanjali is also regarded as a great scholar of Sanskrit language. Sutra is a Sanskrit term which means ‘thread’. The Yoga sutras are compiled by Patanjali in a thread form, but today due to lack of proper understanding and ignorance, have just taken these sutras and are trying to implement it as it is. It must be understood that a thread is of no consequence by itself as though there can never be a garland without the thread but no one ever wears a garland for the sake of the thread. Patanjali complied the Yoga principles as sutra (thread) with the motive that each master makes his/her own kind of garland. Just as on the thread flowers, beads, pearls and diamond can be put according to convenience, the Yoga sutras are also vital but that is not a goal by itself.

The Jeeva Samadhi (shrine) of Maharishi Patanjali is believed to be situated in Tirupattur Brahmapureeswarar Temple Complex, located about 30 km from Trichy town in the Tamil Nadu province of South India, where Lord Brahma installed 12 Shiva Lingams and worshipped Lord Shiva. Though now not physically present in the world, Maharishi Patanjali’s contribution in the science of Yoga by the compilation of Yoga sutras will always be remembered and is still followed by large number of Yoga practitioners worldwide.  

For more information visit the official website of Ministry of Ayush: http://www.indianmedicine.nic.in/

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