Darshana — Paired with Samkhya
Yoga
योगदर्शनम् — The practical school of liberation through mastery of the mind. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras define Yoga as the cessation of all mental fluctuations — when the mind stills, consciousness rests in its own nature.
- Yoga Darshana is the practical counterpart of Samkhya — it shares Samkhya's metaphysics (Purusha and Prakriti) but adds the concept of Ishvara and the systematic path of practice.
- Its foundational text is Patanjali's Yoga Sutras (196 aphorisms, ~200 BCE–200 CE), the most concise and complete manual of yogic philosophy and practice in existence.
- The central definition: 'Yogas chitta-vritti-nirodhah' — Yoga is the cessation of the modifications of the mind (Chitta). When the mind stills, Purusha (consciousness) rests in its own nature.
- The Ashtanga (eight-limbed) path systematises the entire journey from ethical conduct to absorption: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi.
- Liberation (Kaivalya) is the state where Purusha recognises its eternal distinctness from Prakriti and all mental modifications — pure, unbounded consciousness.
- The Yoga Sutras identify five Kleshas (afflictions) as the root of suffering: Avidya (ignorance), Asmita (ego), Raga (attachment), Dvesha (aversion), Abhinivesha (fear of death).
Founder
Patanjali
~200 BCE – 200 CE
Associated with Yajurveda
Primary Text
Yoga Sutras (Patanjali)
196 sutras in 4 chapters
The definitive manual of Raja Yoga — philosophy and practice in one
Key Concepts
Chitta-vritti-nirodha
The cessation of all mental fluctuations — the very definition of Yoga. When the mind stops fluctuating, the seer rests in its own essential nature.
Ashtanga Yoga
Eight limbs: Yama (restraints), Niyama (observances), Asana (posture), Pranayama (breath), Pratyahara (withdrawal), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), Samadhi (absorption).
Kaivalya
Liberation — the state of Purusha abiding in its own pure consciousness, entirely disentangled from Prakriti and all mental modifications. The goal of Yoga Darshana.
Samadhi
The final stage of absorption. Samprajnata (with object) and Asamprajnata (objectless). In Nirbija Samadhi (seedless), all samskaras are dissolved.
Klesha
Five afflictions rooting samsara: Avidya (ignorance — the root), Asmita (I-am-ness), Raga (attraction), Dvesha (repulsion), Abhinivesha (clinging to life).
Ishvara
A special Purusha untouched by afflictions, karma, and its results — the eternal witness. Om (Pranava) is His expression. Ishvara-pranidhana (surrender to Ishvara) accelerates liberation.
Key Texts
| Text | Content |
|---|---|
| Yoga Sutras (Patanjali) | 196 sutras in 4 padas: Samadhi, Sadhana, Vibhuti, Kaivalya. The root text. |
| Yoga Bhashya (Vyasa) | The oldest and most authoritative commentary on the Yoga Sutras. |
| Tattvavaisharadi (Vachaspati Mishra) | 9th-century sub-commentary clarifying Vyasa's Bhashya. |
| Hatha Yoga Pradipika | 15th-century manual emphasising physical and energetic practices as preparation for Raja Yoga. |
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