Introduction to Patanjali's YogaSutras

ntroduction to Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

or Introduction to Patañjali’s-Yoga-Darśana –

Know the Basics of Yoga-Darśana / Yoga-Sūtra of Patañjali.

Before beginning the studies of Śrī Pātañjala-Yoga-Darśana one should take a look at the Introduction to become familiar with the subject matter.
Once the basics are clear then dive deep into the studies of Yogasūtras.

After going through this course you will be able to understand the basics of the theory of Yoga which is propounded by Sage Patañjali. It is known as Yoga-Darśana or Yoga-Sūtras of Sage Patañjali.

The aim of Yoga is to remove the impurities of the Citta, the mind. Sage Patañjali, who was the first to codify Yoga, drew up eight steps for silencing the mind. These eight steps systematically wash away the impurities of the mind, make it progressively pure and clean. Yoga aims to go from Objective world to subjective world.

There are many more meaning to the word ‘Yoga’. Yoga means addition, destiny, coincidence. Yoga also means, path, connection or a topic, e. g. names of chapters of Bhagavad Gītā; twelfth chapter is named Bhaktiyogaḥ, the fifteenth is Puruṣottamayogaḥ. Depending upon the context different philosophies apply different meanings of the word ‘Yoga’.

Yoga is as old as human race. We find seeds of Yoga in Vedas and Upaniṣads. Why someone becomes a Yogī? Because of quest for knowledge. Knowledge not of outside world but of the Self. Yoga practices began during Vedic and even pre-Vedic times. They had the urge to look into the Reality. Because of realizing that something is appearing which is temporary and beyond that something is permanent. Though the moving world appears but there is one unmoving substratum which should be realized. And to know this we need to turn inward, which is given in Yoga.

Many texts define Yoga in their own ways. Some definitions of Yoga according to Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā are: Yoga is ‘to maintain equilibrium’and ‘dexterity in action’, Gītā also defines Yoga as ‘separation from union with pain’, and this comes very close to the Yoga of Sage Patañjali.