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 ...
Yoga and other Philosophies
The methodology of Yoga is accepted by most of the philosophers. In some philosophies, the modes of good conduct are very essential. To attain this, the philosophies get the aid of Yoga, in which those good qualities are well explained. A common man who wishes to lead a good life has to follow some of the features of Yoga philosophy such as sauca, etc. There are evidences that show the influence of Yoga in Buddhism or vice versa. It is famous that, Yogacara is a division of Buddhism. While talking about this type of Buddhists, 62
Madhavacarya the author of Sarva-darsana-samgraha, explains 202 that yoga is the way to attain the unknown knowledge. S.N. Dasgupta mentions that there are a number of resemblances It is depicted that, the four forms between Yoga and Buddhism. 203 of samadhi viz., savitarka, nirvitarka, savicara and nirvicara were in existence even long before the Buddha. In Buddhism, meditation deserves special significance. It should be noted that, one should have to keep the precept and rules (sila) laid down by the Buddha. The acceptance of Yoga can be seen in the practices of great personalities of other philosophies; for example, those of Vaisesika darsana. It is described that Kanada, the founder of Vaisesika darsana wrote the authoritative Vaisesikasutra after getting blessings from Lord Siva as a result of his Yogic 204 practices. Therefore, it can be said that Yoga was a widespread philosophy even in ancient period. The Brahmasutra otherwise known as Vedantasutra includes 205 a number of aphorisms related directly or indirectly to Yoga. Badarayana in the Brahmasutra, refutes the philosophy of Yoga in 206 the sutra- etena yogah pratyuktah It can be seen that, in Brahmasutrabhasya, Sankaracarya freely uses the term yoga and 63
rejects only the ontology of it. So it is clear that the philosophies of Yoga and Sankhya had fully emerged at the time of Brahmasutra Similarly, the references in the Vaisesikasutra and Nyayasutra can 207 be taken as evidences' for the acceptance of Yoga in other philosophies.