Maharshi Patanjali: The Father of Modern Yoga
Patanjali
Patanjali was a sage in India who is known as the father of modern yoga.
Yoga is a method joining the individual self with the Divine and there are over 300 million yoga practitioners worldwide.
Yoga was passed on by word of mouth from one sage to another. The credit of systematically presenting this great science of Yoga goes to Patanjali. The most prominent of which is the Yoga Sutras, a classical yoga text dating to 200 BCE – 200 CE. That Maharishi is the great sage who codified Raja Yoga, the "royal yoga" in a concise and concise "Yoga Sutras". In addition to the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali also wrote a work on medicine and Panini's work on grammar called the Mahabhashya. He is also the author of Mahabhasya, a commentary on Panini's Ashtadhyayi, a commentary on Katyayana's Vartika.
Patanjali wrote the treatise on:
- Grammar
- Commentary On His Views Of Health Known As Ayurveda
- Yoga Sutras.
Patanjali wrote the treatise on Eight practices / Eight limbs:
Patanjali outlines 8 practices
1. Yama
2. Niyama
3. Asana
4. Pranayama
5. Pratyahara
6. Dharana
7. Dhyana
8. Samadhi
Patanjali's philosophy:
- Dualist divides the universe into two primary elements: Prakriti and Purusha
- The yoga technique is to free us from the burden of incarnation and to give us experience
Patanjali’s Yoga is India's greatest contribution to the world to unite humanity and keep it healthy.
Inspired by this article?
Take your knowledge further with interactive Gurukul lessons and quizzes.
Related Knowledge Articles
Rigveda: The Cosmic Hymns, Astronomical Insights, and Dawn of Human Consciousness
The Rigveda stands as humanity’s oldest surviving literary treasure. Composed in archaic Vedic Sanskrit over 5,000 years ago by inspired Rishis (seers), its 10 Mandalas (books) contain 1,028 Suktas (hymns) and 10,552 Mantras.
Culture & HeritageSamaveda: The Birth of Indian Classical Music, Raga Swaras, and Chanted Mysticism
If the Rigveda is the lyric of knowledge, the Samaveda is its divine song. Composed of 1,875 verses set to intricate musical notes (*Swaras*), the Samaveda is the undisputed origin of Indian Classical Music, vocal ornamentation, and acoustic science.