Essay name: Yoga-sutra with Bhashya Vivarana (study)
Author:
Susmi Sabu
Affiliation: University of Kerala / Department of Sanskrit
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 attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.
Chapter 3 - The Authorship Problem of Patanjala-yogasutra-bhashya-vivarana
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External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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legends speak that the couple got a child as a favour of devotion to the lord Śiva. After the death of his father, at the age of eight, Śankarācārya left his house to became a sannyasin and travelled all over India by foot in search of a master. He took the discipleship of Govinda Bhagavatpāda and became well versed in all scriptures. Historians are of opinion that Sankarācārya had lived only up to 32 years. During that limited time, he obtained a number of disciples and composed a number of extra-ordinary works to his credit. He had defeated all the rival philosophers and made the philosophy of Advaita Vedānta as the most prominent one. Nearly 300 works are found ascribed to Śankarācārya. To determine the authenticity of the writings ascribed to Śankara is a complicated task because of innumerable ascriptions sometime without any base. 27 Besides original works, there are several commentaries ascribed to Śaṅkara. Even the works of the mendicants of the Sankarite orders are ascribed to Śankarācārya. Govind Chandra Pande, in his work, gives an exclusive list of spurious commentaries ascribed to Sankara. The author further states that, most of these are mythical ascriptions. 110 28
