Unit 2 - INTRODUCTION TO YOGA TEXTS

2.1 - Patanjali Yoga Sutras

● Author - Patanjali
● 196 Sutras divided into 4 Chapters
1. Samadhi pada (Chapter on Enlightenment) - 51 Sutras
2. Sadhana pada (Chapter on Practice) - 55 Sutras
3. Vibhuti pada (Chapter on Powers) - 56 Sutras
4. Kaivalya pada (Chapter on Liberation) - 34 Sutras
● Samadhi pada - It opens with a definition of yoga, as a state which emerges when the
fluctuations in the mind are stilled.Samadhi Pada expresses the goal of concentration, as a
means of achieving vairagya (detachment) through ahbyasa (practice).
● Sadhana pada - Sadhana means “spiritual practice,” It focuses on the steps the yogi can take to
reach a state of union with the divine or higher Self. It also explains about Ashtanga Yoga (Eight
limbs) .
● Vibhuti pada - It is dedicated to the deeper progression of yoga practice, with a focus on the
mind's power to manifest.
● Kaivalya pada - This chapter portrays a yogi who has attained the end goal of liberation.

Ashtanga yoga ( 8 limbs of Yoga)

1. Yamas(Universal morality)
2. Niyamas(personal observances)
3. Asana(Postures) - Body posture which should be steady & Comfortable.
4. Pranayama(Breath control) - Stretching/expansion of prana(the vital life force) .
5. Pratyahara(Sense withdrawal) - One gains the ability to withdraw the senses from their objects
thus achieving perfect control over the senses.
6. Dharana(Concentration) - Focusing on a single object for a long period of time.
7. Dhyana (Meditation) - Yogi enters the state of meditation,When one can focus on single object
for long time without interruption
8. Samadhi (Absorption) - The self awareness of mind disappears and only the object of meditation
shines through is called the state of “Samadhi”.

Yama (Universal morality)

It has 5 Parts
● Ahimsa (Non- Violence)- It means not to injure. It means kindness, friendliness, thoughtful
consideration of other people and things.
● Sathya (Truthfulness)- to speak the truth we have to consider what we say how we say it and in
what way it could affect others.
● Asteya (Righteousness)– Non- stealing that we should not take nothing that does not belong to
us.
● Brahmacharya(Wisdom) - Sense control, it's suggest that we should form relationship that
foster our understanding of the highest truths
● Aparigraha(Simplicity) - It means to take only what is necessary and not to take advantage of a
situation

Niyama(personal observances)
It has 5 parts
Saucha(Cleanliness)- Means Purity and Cleanliness as both an inner and Outer aspect
Santosha (Contentment) - the feeling of being content with whatever we have.We should accept that
there is a purpose for everything.
Tapas(Self- discipline) - The idea that we can direct our energy to enthusiastically engage life and
achieve our ultimate goal. It helps us burn up all the desires that stand in our way of this goal.

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Svadhyaya(self study) -It means enquiry or examination to find self awareness in all our activities and
efforts
Ishvarapranidhana(celebration of spirituality) - To lay all your actions at the feet of God. There is
some omnipresent force larger than ourselves that is guiding and directing the course of our lives.

2.2 - Bhagavad Gita

● It comes from the Sanskrit word.
● Meaning - “Song of God”
● Author - Maharshi Veda Vyasa
● Bhagavad Gita divided into,
3 sections (Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga)
18 Chapters
700 verses
● Bhagavad Gita is the “backbone” of a great epic Mahabharata.
● It describes the war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas on the battlefield of Kuru-kshetra
that takes the form of a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna just before the war is about to
begin.
● Pandu is ruler of the kingdom and he has five 5 sons namely Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna,
Nakula and Sahadeva are known as pandavas.
● Dhritarashtra is elder brother of pandu and he has 100 sons in which Duryodhana is eldest are
known as Kauravas.
● Due to jealousy of Duryodhana , The Pandavas were tricked by Duryodhana's uncle, Shakuni in
a gambling game of dice, called Chaturanga.
● Yudhisthira was invited to play and failed the game miserably by losing his possessions and
kingdom.
● Therefore, the Kauravas viciously took advantage of the Pandavas and sent them on exile for 12
years is called “VANAVASAM” and 1 year “AGNATHAVASAM”
● When the Pandavas returned from their exile to the kingdom, Duryodhan (the eldest son of the
Kauravas) refused to restore the kingdom to his cousins (the Pandavas) and was ready to battle
for it.
● On the battlefield, Arjuna throws down his bow and refuses to fight.
● The Kauravas and Pandavas are related and they are mutual friends and family members
fighting on both sides. Accordingly, when Arjuna sees all his former friends and comrades on the
opposing side, he loses heart and refuses to take part in a battle which will result in their deaths
as well as many others.
● At the time, Krishna started to teach the mysteries of dharmic action in the world.
● The rest of the text is the dialogue between the prince and the god on what constitutes right
action, proper understanding and, ultimately, the meaning of life and nature of the Divine.

18 chapters
ARJUNA -VISHADA YOGA - The Yoga of despondency of Arjuna.
When Arjuna was confused about his duties and felt hopeless, Krishna approached this method on the
battlefield.
SANKHYA YOGA - The Yoga of Knowledge.
Highly intellectual people preferred to practice this method.
KARMA YOGA - The Yoga of Action.
It is a path of Action and talks about our absolute duty. It is all about being active and working towards
betterment of ourselves and others. Here, lord Krishna said that Karma yoga is greatest Yoga anyone
can practice.
JNANA YOGA - The Yoga of Knowledge as well as Disciplines of Knowledge and action.
Krishna says that there is nothing in this world more than knowledge

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KARMA -SANYASA YOGA - The yoga of Action and Renunciation.
This Yoga explains about actions, inactions and working for supreme. Lord Krishna explains the concept
of action with detachment and renunciation in actions.
ATMA -SANYAMA YOGA - The yoga of Self- Control.
It is practiced by great sages to get discipline.Lord Krishna talks about 'ashtanga yoga,' and how to
practice it so one may gain mastery of the mind
VIJNANA YOGA - The Yoga of achieving supreme in the path of wisdom.
Lord Krishna tells us about the absolute reality, why it is difficult to overcome Maya.
AKSARA- PARABRAHMA YOGA - The Yoga of imperishable Brahman.
It describes how to remain connected to supreme power . Lord Krishna explains the various ways of
renouncing the material world.
RAJA-VIDYA-RAJA-GUHYA YOGA - The Yoga of Sovereign Science and Secrets.
Here, devotion has been stated to be the topmost important means to connect the Supreme.
VIBHUTI YOGA - The Yoga of Divine Glories.
This Yoga discusses the Opulence of supreme throughout the Universe. Lord Krishna reveals his
manifestations as Arjuna prays to him to describe more of his 'opulences'
VISVARUPA-DARSANA YOGA - The Yoga of the Vision of Cosmic Form.
Lord Krishna grants Arjuna's wish and reveals his universal form.
BHAKTI YOGA - The Yoga of Devotion.
It develop feelings of unconditional love and devotion. Lord Krishna praise enthusiastically the glory of
true devotion to God.
KSETRA-KSETRANJA VIBHAGA YOGA - The Yoga of individual and ultimate consciousness.
The kshetra refers to our body which is material and mutable whereas ksetranja refers to the conscious
knower of the body. Lord Krishna shows us the difference between the physical body and the immortal
soul.
GUNATRAYA- VIBHAGA YOGA - The Yoga of three gunas.
Lord Krishna reveals the three Gunas of material nature - goodness, passion and ignorance
PURUSOTTAMA YOGA - The Yoga of the supreme spirit.
Lord Krishna explains the purpose and value of knowing and realizing God.
DAIVASURA-SAMPADA-VIBHAGA YOGA - The yoga of the divine and the evil nature.
Lord Krishna explains specifically about the two kinds of nature among the human beings.
SHRADDHA TRAYA-VIBHAGA YOGA - The Three Types of Material Existence.
Lord Krishna tells us about the three divisions of faith and how these different qualities determine that
character of human beings and their consciousness in this world.
MOKSHA-SANNYASA YOGA - Ultimate Revelations of the Supreme Truth.
It is the path of liberation. Lord Krsishna summarizes the takeaways from the previous chapters and
from this Arjuna learns to tell nectar from poison and returns to war.
2.3 - Hatha Yoga Pradipika
● Hatha is made up of two words “Ha” and “Tha”.
● Ha - Prana shakti /Life force
● Tha - Mental force
● Basically, There are 3 nadis - Ida, Pingala and Sushumna.
○ Ida - Mental force
○ Pingala - Vital / life force
○ Sushumna - Neutral force
● Author - Swatmarama also known as Sahajananda Chintamani.
● Meaning - Light on Hatha Yoga
● This text explains various aspects of an individual like Physical, mental and spiritual aspects.
● 389 Slokas divided into 4 chapters
1. 67 Verses - Asanas
2. 78 Verses - Shatkarma & Pranayama
3. 130 Verses - Mudra & Bandha
4. 114 Verses - Samadhi

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 ● Its mainly focuses on “Shatkarma”
● SHATKARMA MEANS “PURIFICATION” Of whole body.
● They are namely,
1. Kapalbhati (Skull Cleansing)
2. Trataka (Eye cleansing)
3. Neti (Nasal cleansing)
4. Dhauti (Digestive tract Cleansing)
5. Nauli (Abdominal massage)
6. Basti (Colon cleansing)
● It helps in completely removing impurities from the whole body.
● It creates balance among activities and processes of body, mind & energy. So,this balance
awakens the central force Sushumna nadi.

2.4 - Gheranda Samhita

● Author - Sris Chandra Vasu.
● It is also known as Ghatastha Yoga.
● This book is a step by step detailed manual of yoga taught by “sage Gheranda to student
Chandakapali”.
● The Gheranda Samhita speaks about sevenfold yoga
● 351 Slokas divided in 7 chapters
1. Shatkarma for body cleansing - 6
2. Asana for body strengthening - 32
3. Mudra for body steadying - 25
4. Pratyahara for mind calming - 5
5. Pranayama for inner lightness - 10
6. Dhyana for inner perception - 3
7. Samadhi for self liberation and bliss - 6
● Goal :perfection of an individual's body, mind and soul through a seven step lifelong continuous
self-development.
Note :
Name of the Textbook Author No. Of Chapters No. Of Slokas

Patanjali Yoga Sutra Patanjali 4 Chapters 196

Bhagavad Gita Veda Vyasa 18 Chapters of 3 Section 700

Hatha Yoga Pradipika Swatmarama 4 Chapters 389

Gheranda Samhita Sris Chandra Vasu 7 Chapters 351