AN INTRODUCTION

      The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are one of the six darshanas of Hindu or Vedic schools and, alongside Bhagavad Gita and Gherand Samhita, are a milestone in the history of Yoga. Yog Sutras are a set of aphorisms (sutras), which are short and easy to memorize. They are part of an ancient oral tradition, which means you don't learn by reading and reasoning alone but you listen and chant. Though brief, the Yoga Sutras are an enormously influential work that is just as relevant for yoga philosophy and practice today as it was when it was written.

          The title of the Patanjali's work consists of two Sanskrit words: Yoga and Sutra. 'Yoga', as used by Patanjali, refers to a state of mind wherein thoughts and feelings are held in check, and 'Sutra' means thread. It refers to the thread of a mala, upon which the yoga aphorisms are strung like beads. For that reason the title is sometimes rendered in English as the 'Yoga Aphorisms'. Yoga as a system of thought and practice has a primary reference to the philosophical system that flows from the teachings of the ancient Indian Yoga philosopher, Patanjali. Other great works elaborating on Yoga are the Siva Samhita, the Hath yoga Pradipika and the Gherand Samhita.

             Shiv Samhita is the fundamental work on yoga, said to originate from Lord Shiv, the founder of yoga. The Gherand Samhita is much more practical covering aspects such as asanas, how to perform it and its effects; mudras, the control of senses, pranayam (breath control), meditation, and super consciousness. The Hatha Yoga Pradeepika by Swami Swatmarama is a much later text (16th Century) which deals with the pre-requisites of yoga, the asanas, pranayam, mudras, bandhas and Raj Yoga. The Patanjali's Yog Sutra provide terse treatment to the complex subject of Yoga and seamlessly covers aspects such as types of yoga, practice of yoga, powers of yoga and the ultimate aim or result of yoga.

           Yog Sutra deals with the subject matter at a psychological, psychosomatic and metaphysical level. Although a spiritual document, Yog Sutra doesn't deal with specific Gods, chakras, kundalini or other trappings of the varied yogic traditions. It doesn't even elaborate us on how to perform any postures. In all, Yog Sutra comprises of 195 aphorisms divided into 4 chapters or Pada, as follows: 1) Samadhi Pada (51 sutras); 2) Sadhan Pada (55 sutras); 3) Vibhuti Pada (55 sutras) 4) Kaivalya Pada (34 sutras) Patanjali's yoga is also known as 'Astang yoga' (Astang means eight limbed).

          In Sadhan Pada, Patanjali narrates eight limbs of yoga practice. Interestingly, only one of them deals with physical postures (mainly with seating positions). The eight limbs are:

1) Yama (abstentions): Ahimsa (non-injury), Satya (truth), Asteya (noncovetousness), Brahmacharya (continence) and Aparagriha (abstinence from avarice).

2) Niyama (observances): Saucha (purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerities), Svadhyaya (study) and Ishvarapranidhana (surrender to God).
3) Asana (posture): Asana literally means 'seat' but in broader sense they refer to various body postures. Patanjali dwells only on seating postures in Yog Sutra.
4) Pranayama: Control of prāna or vital breath
5) Pratyahara (Abstraction): Control of the senses by the withdrawal of prana from them so that they do not follow nature of mind.
6) Dharana (Concentration): Fixing the attention on a single object.
7) Dhyana (Meditation): A state of quiescence, wherein mind dissolves and become free of all thoughts.
8) Samadhi: Super-conscious state or state of liberation