Essay name: Yoga-sutra with Bhashya Vivarana (study)
Author:
Susmi Sabu
Affiliation: University of Kerala / Department of Sanskrit
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 attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.
Chapter 4 - Textual Examination of the Text
81 (of 124)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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lightness like cotton wool (t奴la) etc. so he can walk over water with his feet. Having attained that he can walk up even on spider's web (奴r峁嘺n膩bhitantu), then acquiring lightness like that of the flame of a firebrand (kokilatantusam膩na-l膩ghava) he flies upon the rays of the Sun. Then he flies in air as he wishes. 255 There is also reference to the mastery over the
256 elements, sense-organs and pradh膩na. In that context itself, it
is said that the body acquires a very quick motion like that of
mind. After attaining this power, the yogin acquires the power of
omniscience (sarvaj帽膩t峁泃va) and the nature of control over
everything (sarvava艣itva). This siddhi is known as visoka.2
The perfections
257 It is depicted that, the perfections come into being
as the outcome of the practice of samyama on the elements
(bh奴ta). The perfections are -anima (minuteness), laghima
(lightness), mahima (largeness), prapti (obtaining), pr膩k膩mya
(irresistible will), va艣itva (control) and i艣itva (supremacy).
The yogin who had attained the power anima is able
to become subtler than the subtlest by just desiring so (s奴k峁膩dapi
s奴k峁ataro bhavati icch膩ta岣�). By that he can enter into
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