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 5 - Observations
13 (of 44)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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In Yoga philosophy, God is not believed as the director of prak峁泃i and Y.S., has no mention about this. However, Vivara峁嘺k膩ra possesses the opinion that God is the power behind creation, maintenance, and distruction of the universe.52 The same 53 idea is seen in the sub-commentary of V膩caspati Mi艣ra who
connects God with evolution and involution of the world.
Bhojar膩ja in his commentary observes that the conjunction of
prak峁泃i and puru峁 cannot happen without the will of God. But
such an idea is not even mentioned anywhere in Y.S.
PYSBV treats God as the source of all knowledge
and scriptures (knowledge) reveal God. Whenever Vivara峁嘺k膩ra
gets opportunity to mention about God, he utilizes it effectively.
For example, it is said that by the attainment of pr膩tibha or t膩raka,
54 the knowledge of everything arises. Here, Vivara峁嘺k膩ra points
out that pratibha arises by itself to the one who practices samyama
on oneself or by extreme devotion to God.
55 While explaining the power i艣itva, it is said that the
yogin gets mastery over production, maintenance and destruction
of the elements and their products. Still the yogin does not cause
reversal of the properties of things like make the fire cool and so
on. The reason behind this is shown by Vivara峁嘺k膩ra as the will
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