Yoga-sutra with Bhashya Vivarana (study)
by Susmi Sabu | 2013 | 55,404 words
This essay studies the enduring and relevance of Yoga in India, highlighting its evolution from a comprehensive philosophy to primarily a physical practice. It further underscores the importance of studying Yoga texts to understand its historical trajectory. Special attention is given to the Patanjala Yogasutra Bhashya Vivarana, a significant work ...
Four-fold division of Yoga
Practice of Yoga—The acquaintance of practical features is the main speciality of Yoga philosophy. It helps an aspirant to step forward systematically to attain the final goal. Yogasutra of Patanjali clearly illustrates the different means of Yogic practices, different types of yogins, etc. Four-fold division of Yoga Y.S, Vyasa-bhashya and Patanjala-yogasutra-bhashya-vivarana explains the four-fold division (caturvyuhatva) of Yoga philosophy. They are- heya 140 (to be avoided) i.e., samsara which is full of pain, heyahetu (the cause of samsara), hana (destruction of samsara) i.e., kaivalya and hanopaya (the method to destruct samsara). Heya- duhkha (pain): Pain is that by which living beings are strive to overcome. 141 It is of three kinds viz., adhyatmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika. The pain which is to come in a future life after death is to be destroyed through right vision. One should strive only to eliminate future births and not try to restrain 142 pain that is present in this life. The cause of pain is nothing but ignorance which relates pradhana and purusa. 143 182
Hanopaya (means of release): The detachment from the 'seen' is called hanopaya. The 'seen' are special arrangements of pradhana or which are the gunas and their derivatives. Since purusa has no activity by its nature, the realisation of this aspect through right vision is the means of release."