YOGA DARSHAN

Yoga philosophy
Founder: Sage Patanjali
Writings of Patanjali:
1. Patanjali Tantra/ Ayurveda Samhita: for eliminating impurity of body
(Physical health)
2. Maha Bhashyam- On grammar of Panini’s Ashtadhyayi: for eliminating
impurity of speech (Social health)
3. Yoga Sutra/ Patanjala Sutra: for eliminating impurity of mind (spiritual &
mental health)
Literatures
Yoga sutra by Patanjali

Yoga bhashya by Vyasa

Tattva vaisaradi by Vachaspati

Vritti and Yoga maniprabha by Bhojaraj

Yoga vartika and yoga sara sangraha by Vijnanabhikshu

Yoga Sutra/ Pātanjala Sutra
Divided into 4 pādas/ parts

1. Samādhipāda: nature, aim, & forms of yoga, modification of chitta,

method of attaining yoga
2. Sādhanapāda: means of attaining samādhi, klesha/suffering, law of
karma
3. Vibhutipāda: inward aspects of yoga, powers acquired by practice of
yoga
4. Kaivalyapāda: nature & forms of liberation
Sānkhya- Yoga: relation
Yoga is the application of the theory of Sānkhya in practical life

It accepts Sānkhya theory of knowledge

It accepts 3 Pramānas of Sānkhya

It accepts 25 principles of Sānkhya

But it believes in GOD

Yoga Psychology: Self & Chitta Vritti
The self: pure consciousness, free from limitations of body & fluctuations of mind
Self confuses itself with chitta due to ignorance
The self knows the objects of the world through modifications of chitta
5 kinds of Chitta vritti( mental modifications)
1. Pramana/ true cognition: through 3 pramanas
2. Viparyaya/ false cognition: wrong knowledge of objects
3. Vikalpa/ merely verbal cognition: idea caused by words- (Rahu’s head),
(consciousness of soul)
4. Nidra/sleep
5. Smruti/memory: reproduction of past experiences
Relation of SELF- Chitta - Body
1. When Chitta modified any kind of vritti, the self is reflected in it as a state
of itself
2. So, self consider itself to be subject to birth-growth-decay-death; it sleeps
& wakes up, imagines & remembers, makes mistakes & corrects errors
etc.
3. It also appears to be subject to 5 Kleshas(sources of sufferings)
4. It is Chitta who performs all these activities not the self
5. Self is above all the happenings of body and mind
5 Klesha
● Avidya: ignorance/ wrong knowledge
● Asmita: I-ness, ego
● Raga: attachment
● Dvesha: aversion
● Abhinivesah: fear of death, clinging to life
Yoga: meaning
● Bondage of the self is due to its identifications with Chitta
Vritti
● So, liberation requires cessation from Chitta Vritti
● Yoga means Chitta vritti Nirodha: cessation of mental
modifications
● Yoga aimed at to prevent the self from identifying itself with
mental modifications
Chittabhumi: States of Chitta
1. Kshipta/ Asakta (Restless/ Distracted)

2. Mudha (Dull)

3. Bikshipta (Partially Concentrated)

4. Ekagra (Concentrated/ One Pointed)

5. Niruddha (Restrained/ Controlled)

Yogānga/ Astānga Yoga: for purification of Chitta
1. *Yama / restrain
2. *Niyama / culture
3. Āsana / body posture
4. Pānāyāma / breath control
5. Pratyāhāra / withdrawal of the senses
6. Dhāranā / attention
7. Dhyāna / meditation
8. Samādhi / concentration
*Yama
1. Ahimsā : abstention from all kinds of injury to any life
(thought, speech & action)
2. Satya : truthfulness in thought, speech
3. Asteya : non-stealing
4. Brahmacharya : control of the carnal desire & passions
5. Aparigraha : non-acceptance of unnecessary gifts from
others
*Niyama
1. Shaucha :
a. Bāhya: purification of the body
b. Ābhyantara: purification of mind by cultivating good emotions & sentiments
2. Santosha: habit of being content
3. Tapa: penance- habit of enduring cold-heat etc, observing austere
vows
4. Svādhyāya: habit of self study (suadhyayana); study of self
(swa-adhyayana)
5. Ishvarapranidhāna: meditation of & resignation to god
Yoga & Education
1. Aims
a. Liberation
b. Control of mental modification
c. Physical health
d. Mental health
e. Relieve from suffering
2. Curriculum
a. All Sabda pramanas
3. Method of Teaching
a. Practice, Self study, study of self, lecture, discussion, experiential learning
4. Nature of Discipline: self discipline, strict discipline
5. Role of Teacher: torch bearer, guide and leader