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 ...
Commentaries on Yogasutra
Vyasa bhasya (Vyasa-bhashya): The commentary ascribed to Vyasa, generally known as Vyasabhasya, is the oldest and popular commentary on Yogasutra of Patanjali Because of the popularity of this commentary, it is one of the most often copied texts in the field of 149 classical Indian Philosophy. There is not much information about the life and date of its author. Rajamartandavrtti: This famous commentary on Yogasutra of Patanjali is written by Bhojadeva. According to the tradition, he lived in the 11th Century A.D. Bhojadeva was the king of Dhara. The vrtti is considered as very important among the commentaries of Yogasutra of Patanjali The language is very simple and there are no exaggerations in this commentary. Besides this Rajamartandavrtti, there are numerous commentaries written on the Yogasutra of Patanjali They are: Maniprabhavrtti of Ramananda Sarasvati (7th Century A.D.), Yogasutradipika of Bhavaganesa (disciple of Vijnana Bhiksu, Vrtti of Nagojibhatta (18th Century A.D.), Yogasiddhantacandrika and Sutrarthabodhini by Narayanatirtha 52
(18th Century A.D.) Vrtti by Yasovijayasuri of 18th Century A.D.) Among and Yogasudhakaravrtti by Sadasivabrahmendrayati. these, the commentary by Bhojadeva deserves special attention. Sub-commentaries on Vyasa-bhashya The commentary of Vyasa is much scholastic and bears concealed meanings. Therefore, in course of time there a number of sub-commentaries. Some of the subcommentaries have got independent position in the history of Special mention should be given to subcommentaries called Tattvavaisaradi of Vacaspati Misra and Yogavartika of Vijnana Bhiksu. Yoga literature. Tattvavaisaradi: Tattvavaisaradi of Vacaspati Misra is considered as the first written subcommentary on Vyasabhasya available today. The date of Vacaspati Misra is ascertained as 9th Century A.D. He belonged to Mithila and according to historians, he was patronized by the king Nrga. Vacaspati Misra a vedantin, who wrote the celebrated subcommentary called Bhamati on Brahmasutra He is also well known for his vast knowledge in various systems of Indian Philosophy. He is the only scholar who wrote different scholarly commentaries on different philosophies. Therefore, he is popular as the 'dvadasa- 53
darsana-kanana-pancanana' and 'sarvatantra-svatantra. The lucid and flawless style of his language places him among the top commentators. The sub-commentary starts with two benedictory verses; the first one praising Lord Visnu and the second one offering obligations to Patanjali and Vedavyasa. At the end of each chapters of the sub-commentary Tattvavaisaradi of Vacaspati Misra, the contents are summarised in verses. 150 Yogavartika: Vijnana Bhiksu is generally considered to have lived in the 16th Century A.D. His Yoga Vartika of Vijnanabhiksu is a vast sub-commentary on Vyasabhasya. There are visible divergences in Yoga Vartika of Vijnanabhiksu and Tattvavaisaradi of Vacaspati Misra When compared with Tattvavaisaradi of Vacaspati Misra, Y.V shows more indebtedness to the philosophy of Yoga. The author relies on quotations in appropriate places.