There probably is no Text that has been as misinterpreted as Patanjali‘s Yoga Sutra, barring the exception of Srimad Bhagavd Gita.
We have charlatans ranging from Chandra Swamy,Baba Ramdev to our own Sri Sri Ravi Sankar,Nithyananda.
These frauds have some funny names like Sudarshana Kriya.
Nothing can be further from the Text of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra.
Yoga Sutra has to be read in original.
I have been thinking for quite some time now to reproduce the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali with The Text and a strict translation.
The first lines till the line before the last was written on 5 June 2012.
Normally I write as I feel straight without writing on MS Word, edit and post to WordPress.
If, in the middle, I felt like not proceeding, I delete the post and that’s it.
In this case I do not know why I did not delete the post.
This morning i decided to write on Yoga Text and as I started writing in my normal way, I noticed had a draft made already!
I had just returned from visiting the temples in South India(20 temples in 5 days), which included a Tirupattur, where the only Temple of Brahma exists(there is a post on this under Hinduism,Bhakthi).
This Temple has the Jeeva Samadhi of Patanjali(Vyakrapada).
Is this a coincidence?
Onto the subject.
Many sites are available on Patanjali and I am not planning to write on the Life of Patanjali.
My intention is to write a Text explanation, with out any color, of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra.
As many know there are Four ways to realize the Self or God in Hinduism.
But the path to realization need not necessarily be through only these.
As Lord Krishna says in The Bhagavad Gita ,these are some of the ways the learned(look, who is calling others ‘learned’),but one should and is free to choose what suits him best’
Ramanana Maharishi also echoed the same.
The Four paths are.
Gnana Yoga, The Path of Knowledge
Karma Yoga, The Path of Action.
Bhakti Yoga, The path of Devotion or Surrender and
Raja Yoga, The path of Consciousness Managemet.
Patanjali explains the Raja Yoga by his Sutras, Aphorisms.
There are 196 Sutras .
These appear under Four Chapters.
1.Samadhi Pada, explains the different Samadhis or the Super States that one can attain by practising Dhyana( there is no word in Sanskrit that is used to mean ‘ Super Natural,Super State when it tries to explain Philosophy for in Hinduism nothing in the Universe is Super Natural; every thing is Natural).
2.Sadhana Padam, contains details thre Rules for Yoga.
3.Vibhuti Pada has Benefits, results and the super powers one would acquire by practicing Yoga.
4.Kaivalya Pad, which describes the Liberation of the Soul.
One important point has to be borne in mind.
Patanjali’s Yoga is not some thing one should learn by Text Book .
One has to learn it from a Guru and this Guru is definitely not the self advertises masters of Yoga however famous they are.
If your thirst and yearning for Yoga is intense you will have a Guru reaching out for you.
Please read my post on ‘Upadhyaya, Acharya and Guru”
Sutra 1.
Atha: Yoganusaasanam.
“This. is., is precept of Yoga’
What is Yoga?
Yoga means ‘Union’ or more correctly Reunion.
Union is with the Reality from which we delude that we are different.
Yoga seeks to take us to this original State.
Related:
http://ramanisblog.in/2013/04/12/brahmas-temple-forms-the-base-of-a-triangletirupattur/
https://ramanisblog.in/2011/07/05/guru-acharyaupaadhyaayar-kanchi-periyavar/
Reblogged this on HINDUISM AND SANATAN DHARMA.
Dear Sir,
Good one! Yes, I do agree that when you are seeking, a guru will reach out to you and that is the law of the universe. However, these days, it is us who go and look for a guru, which is sad! Many times, we do get misled too.
I would like to mention an episode from the Mahabharata, that says that Guru Drona had found the Pandavas, & he wanted to tutor them but it was Bheeshma Pitamaha who requested him to teach the others as well (the Kauravas). The rest of the story we all know. In spite of being tutored by the best guru of that time, the Kauravas reminded corrupt and dharma could not live in their hearts till the last breath.
Also, I have a doubt, when we say Yoga means union, does it mean the union of Jivatma to its Paramatma? Like that of Andaal with Sri Krishna, the Gopikas with Sri Krishna and Mira with Sri Krishna? I believe they all left the mortal remains and became one with the supreme (Aikyam)…
Just a doubt. Hoping to get answers… Thanks!
1.If one yearns for a Guru, He shall reach you even if you are unable to find one.
I would like to add in the passing that what is being stated in the Mahabharata is what has happened and not what ought to have happened.
In a situation where there is a clash between Sruthi and Smriti, the Sruthi takes precedence, the Vedas.
2.Yoga talks about the cessation of Thought waves.
So, any method that facilitates this is welcome.
For those who believe in Advaita it is reverting to original State, Brahman.
If it is Visishtadvaita, qualified Monism, or Dwaitha, Dualism, it is attaining the Lotus Feet of Sriman Narayana or worshiping Hm
Well, I believe that Mahabharata is too real a text and that it deals with complex scenarios of life and not some thing as ideal as the Ramayana! And in Kaliyuga, it is not possible to take reference from an idealistic story, such as Ramayana. Even the villain was so ideal that in spite of kidnapping a woman, he did not harm her chastity, which will never happen in a time like the present!
Mahabharata talks about the realities of a patriarchal society. A world similar to the present days, where there are men who do not even look at other women, there are those who do not think before disrobing their own sister-in-law in public! However, when there is such decline in dharma, lord comes for the rescue. Quoting Srimad Bhagavad Gita that states the same, Chapter 4, Verse 7,8:
yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
However, it is us who try to idealize people and suppress people’s learning abilities! Even the attainment of samadhi is a complex yogic science, and so is becoming one with supreme, or realizing the supreme within one self, but some, use words like miraculous death and how the mortal bodies remain even after their death, etc. Such people are misleading the gen next and then they start looking for answers in other religions. Well, we are not even a religion, we are made to look like one. Sad truth! But, such discussions help opening up possibilities of a fresher India with more acknowledgment towards our great culture. Thanks for posting your articles in multiple places, enabling greater learning! Jai Sriman Narayana!
It is nice to read your articles on different topics related to Hindu scriptures.They are very enlightening.But can you publish them in a book form so that a larger number of people may get the benefits of your wisdom.
Thank you, sir.
I do not know how to go about it or who would be willing to publish them.
.
Your advice is welcome.