Preface
The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute was established as a tribute to one of the greatest Sanskritists that our country has produced Mahämahopadhyaya, Vidya Vacaspati, Darśana Kalānidhi, Kulapati Prof. S. Kuppuswami Sastri (1891-1944); he was also conferred with the most coveted 'I.E.S' by the then British Government during the pre-independence era of this great land. Prof. Kuppuswami Sastri stood as a colossus of Sanskrit and Sastraic studies when they were neglected in this part of the country. Single handedly, he brought a revolution in higher learning in Sanskrit. The Madras Sanskrit College, Chennai established in 1906, of which he was made the first Principal, stands as a testimony to his greatness even today. He attracted hundreds of students and scholars from different parts of India who benefitted from his training both in traditional and modern methods of learning and teaching in Sanskrit and different Śästras. The Presidency College (Madras), Annamalai University (Chidambaram) and Rajah's College, (Thiruvaiyaru) were some of the prestigious institutions where he nurtured Sanskrit studies and Comparative Philology. He was widely respected in India and The KSRI has firmly established itself as a centre for learning in different branches of science, arts, architecture, philosophy, religion, Yoga etc. Prof. Kuppuswami Sastri was a pioneer in bringing to light ancient books which were lying as manuscripts. His disciple Dr. V. Raghavan edited innumerable manuscripts and brought them to light. Dr.S.S. Janaki, who followed the footsteps of her mentor also, was an adept in the critical edition of manuscripts. We are happy to continue the same tradition and bring to light from oblivion some texts dealing with various subjects. The Yoga Sangraha, as the name suggests is a compendium of Yoga. The author is unknown. In about 200 verses, the text throws light on various unknown features of Yoga and human anatomy and physiology. The treatment of Nadis and Asanas widely differs from other Hamha Yoga texts. The text touches upon Ayurveda also when it deals with the digestion of food, the transfer of the nutrients to various parts of the body and the elimination of the unwanted from the body. This book is edited for the first time along with introduction, English translation and notes. It is based on three manuscripts, the details of which have been given in the Introduction.
Introduction
The word Yoga has become universal. People from different walks of life have realized the value of Yoga in their worldly and spiritual life. However, not many original books on Yoga are known to people, including scholars engaged in the study of Yoga and practitioners of Yoga. Some of the popular texts on Yoga are Yogasütras (YS) of Patanjali, Yoga Yājñavalkya (YY), Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP), of Svātmārāma, Śiva Samhitā (SS), Hatha Ratnavali (HR) of Śrīnivāsa Yogīndra, Yoga Upanisads and Gheranda Samhita (Gh.S). Few works of Goraksanātha like Amanaska Yoga, Yoga Bīja and Goraksa Samhita (GS) have also attracted the attention of scholars. These are only few in number compared to a vast number of unpublished texts on Yoga which lie scattered in many parts of India. Our Institute has taken up the task of bringing out critical edition of some rare and unpublished texts on Yoga. Yoga Sangraha (Y.San) is one such text, which is unique with regard to the content. As in the case of many texts on Yoga and Šäkta, the author of Y.Sań does not reveal any information about himself. This text in the form of the in struction by the Guru to his disciple. It is in Anustubh metre, It consists of 184 verses (GOML) excluding the first two verses in which prayer is offered to lord Ganesa and the Guru. Although Y.San contains details which are found in the texts on Hatha Yoga, it cannot be termed as a text belonging to this school. The treatment of Nadis, Asanas, Prānāyāma etc. differs from the descriptions given in the popular texts on Hatha Yoga. The description of Nadis, how the food is digested and the nutrients are taken to different parts of the body and the unwanted elements are eliminated are dealt with in this text, making it clear that the author of Y.San was well versed with Ayurveda.
Asana (101)
Bhakti Yoga (21)
Biography (52)
Hatha Yoga (93)
Kaivalyadhama (58)
Karma Yoga (33)
Kriya Yoga (85)
Kundalini Yoga (60)
Massage (2)
Meditation (341)
Patanjali (139)
Pranayama (70)
Women (33)
Yoga for Children (13)
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