A detail guide on Yoga Sutras is presented here in this section.
Yoga Sutras

Yoga Sutras - Believed to have been compiled by Maharishi Patanjali, the origin of the Yoga Sutras dates back to 3rd century BC but some of the archaeological findings suggest this to be as old as 3000 BC.
Despite the fact that this Yoga Sutras has been serving mankind since time immemorial by being an only definitive text on the philosophy of classical yoga, there is absolutely no or very little information available about its founder, sage Patanjali.
Possessing the most debated identity, this sage scholar is known just as a great philosopher and grammarian. In an acute absence of information, he is even taken to be a physician at times. But his medical treaties are not available anymore.
Placed in a very broad time frame, the Yoga Sutras of sage Patanjali delineates the autonomous path of Raja Yoga that has over 195 aphorisms. These sutras are prearranged in about four padas or chapters:
- Samadhi Pada
- Sadhana Pada
- Vibhuti Pada and
- Kaivalya Pada
Acting as acute antonyms to the theoretical texts of the West, the classical Indian texts are typically poised in the shape of exceptionally brusque and self-contained aphorisms or sutras. Literally standing for 'threads' each of these sutras are thoughts that have blossomed individually and are further abound to form the ultimate circlet of an intricate philosophy.
Indian scholasticism has been known world over for its tradition of inviting a congregation of commentaries and glosses for their appropriate comprehension by the average learner. And Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is no exception to this rule. It got six basic commentaries including the following
- Yoga Bhashya by Vyasa,
- Tattva-Vaisharadi by Vachaspati Mishra,
- Yoga-Varttika by Vijnana Bhikshu,
- Raja-Martanda by Bhojaraja,
- Bhasvati by Hariharananda Aranya and
- Patanjala-Rahasya by Raghavananda Saraswati.
A number of other expositions on this exemplary text are also available.