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 ...
Devotion to God (Isvara-pranidhana
Devotion to God (isvara-pranidhana) is considered as a means to attain samadhi. Vyasa-bhashya and Patanjala-yogasutra-bhashya-vivarana explain the word pranidhana as a special kind of devotion (bhaktivisesa). Vyasa-bhashya states that, God pleased by the special kind of devotion i.e., pranidhana, favours him with samadhilabha and phala (attainment of samadhi and its result), merely because of the yogin's deep desire (abhidhyanamatrena) for samadhi. In addition to this point, Patanjala-yogasutra-bhashya-vivarana explains the word anugraha (favour) as 'God's appearance before the yogin (pratyabhimukhibhavamapadita). 195
In this context, the words of Tattvavaisaradi of Vacaspati Misra and Yoga Vartika of Vijnanabhiksu have similarities viz., the word 'avarjitah' is explained as abhimukhikrtah. Vivaranakara does not mention the term pranidhana while explaining the chanting of pranava. At the same time, following Vyasa-bhashya, Patanjala-yogasutra-bhashya-vivarana states that the yogin who does both these practices i.e., repetition of pranava (pranavajapa) and meditation on God (paramesvaradhyana), achieves onepointedness of mind. Yoga Vartika of Vijnanabhiksu defines pranidhana as the repetition of pranava along with the meditation on Brahman.