About the Book
This book provides a concise exposition of the philosophical and religious doctrines found in Patanjali's Yoga-sutra and its commentaries. While Patanjali's exact date remains uncertain, his work on Yoga, defined as the final annihilation of mental states, is the earliest systematic compilation on the subject. The volume aims to elucidate the intellectual foundation of Yoga, encompassing philosophical, psychological, cosmological, ethical, and religious doctrines. It distinguishes Rajayoga from other types like Hathayoga and Mantrayoga, focusing solely on theoretical aspects rather than mystical practices or miracles. Affinities between Samkhya and Yoga are explored, offering readers essential insights into the Yoga system of thought.
About the Author
Surendranath Dasgupta (1887-1952) was an Indian scholar renowned for his expertise in Sanskrit and Indian philosophy. Born in Bengal, he excelled in Sanskrit at Calcutta's Ripon College before obtaining master's degrees in Sanskrit and Western philosophy. Dasgupta earned acclaim for his contributions to the History of Indian Philosophy, a groundbreaking five-volume series. His career included teaching positions, prestigious lectures, and international recognition. Despite health issues, Dasgupta remained dedicated to his scholarly pursuits until his death in 1952.
Prologue
THIS little volume is an attempt at a brief exposition of the philosophical and religious doctrines found in Patañjali's Yoga-sūtra as explained by its successive commentaries of Vyāsa, Vācaspati, Vijñāna Bhikshu, and others. The exact date of Patañjali cannot be definitely ascertained, but if his identity with the other Patañjali, the author of the Great Commentary (Mahābhāshya) on Panini's grammar, could be conclusively established, there would be some evidence in our hands that he lived in 150 в.с. I have already discussed this subject in the first volume of my A History of Indian Philosophy, where the conclusion to which I arrived was that, while there was some evidence in favour of their identity, there was nothing which could be considered as being conclu-sively against it. The term Yoga, according to Patañjali's definition, means the final annihilation (nirodha) of all the mental states (cittavṛtti) involving the preparatory stages in which the mind has to be habituated to being steadied into particular types of graduated mental states. This was actually practised in India for a long time before Patañjali lived; and it is very probable that certain philosophical, psychological, and practical doctrines associated with it were also current long before Patañjali. Patañjali's work is, however, the earliest systematic compilation on the subject that is known to us.
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