Sage Patanjali: The Father of Modern Yoga. The complete lifestory and his contributions

Maharishi Patanjali is a pivotal figure in ancient Indian history. He is revered as a sage and as an incarnation of Adi Shesha, the infinite cosmic serpent upon whom Lord Vishnu rests. Once, while Lord Vishnu watched Lord Shiva perform a cosmic dance, Adi Shesha found it challenging to bear Vishnu’s weight due to Shiva’s powerful energy. Curious, he asked Lord Vishnu about it. Vishnu explained that Shiva's harmony stemmed from his yoga practice. Realizing yoga's value and benefits, Adi Shesha chose to be born as Patanjali on earth. His purpose was to share the wisdom of yoga with humanity. Patanjali was a great spiritual leader who defined the steps necessary for every soul to traverse on its journey back to the infinite spirit or the supreme consciousness.

The Miraculous Birth of Patanjali

A Divine Descent

According to a popular legend, Patanjali did not have an ordinary birth. He is said to have descended from heaven in the form of a tiny serpent into the hands of a devoted woman named Anjali. This divine event inspired his name: “Patanjali,” derived from the Sanskrit words "pata," meaning "fall," and "anjali," meaning hands folded in prayer or reverence. Miraculously, he could speak from the moment he was born.

Another well-known legend recounts a different miraculous birth for Patanjali. Gonika, a dedicated yogini, wished fervently for a son to pass her knowledge to. One day, while praying and offering water from her cupped hands to the sun, a small serpent appeared, transformed into a human child, and became her son. As a result, Patanjali is often called "Gonikaputra," meaning "son of Gonika."

The Life and Places of Patanjali

The exact historical details of Maharishi Patanjali’s life remain largely unknown. Traditional accounts place him in a myriad of regions, including Nepal, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, and various locations across India. Puranic texts like the Matsya Purana, Vayu Purana, and Skanda Purana suggest that Patanjali lived around the same time as great sages like Vyasa and Panini, approximately between 500 BCE and 200 BCE. Irrespective of the place and time of his life, he is believed to have fulfilled his self-appointed destiny.

There are many narratives about Sage Patanjali, but historical facts are scarce. One story mentions his marriage to a woman named Lolupa. In this account, Patañjali encountered Lolupa, described as an exquisitely beautiful maiden residing within the hollow of a tree on the northern slope of Mount Sumeru. Captivated by her beauty, he married her, and they are said to have lived together happily into old age.

Patanjali's Scholarly Contributions

1. Yoga Sutras

Sage Patanjali is traditionally recognized as the author of the Yoga Sutras, a foundational text of classical yoga philosophy. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is highly influential in Hindu philosophy, often referred to as Raja Yoga, meaning “Royal Yoga.” This text contains 196 concise aphorisms divided into four chapters, each addressing a specific aspect of yoga practice and philosophy. The compilation likely occurred between 500 BCE and 200 BCE. The chapters are as follows:

• Samadhi Pada: Discusses the significance of "samadhi," a deep meditation state leading to spiritual unity.

• Sadhana Pada: Focuses on the practices for achieving spiritual growth, describing the path of Ashtanga Yoga—the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

• Vibhuti Pada: Explores various supernatural powers (siddhis) achievable through consistent yoga practice.

• Kaivalya Pada: Explains yoga's ultimate goal: liberation (moksha), complete freedom from worldly limitations.

  
  

2. Ashtanga Yoga: The Eight Limbs

The Sanskrit word “Yoga” means “to yoke” or “to unite.” A yoke joins a pair of animals, allowing them to pull a cart together. It unites the animals to the cart and controls their movement. In a similar way, yogic practice unifies and controls the body, breath, senses, and mind. This internal discipline prepares practitioners for deeper meditation and ultimately supports the pursuit of liberation.

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali outlines eight distinct steps known as Ashtanga Yoga. These guide spiritual seekers toward liberation and self-realization:

• Yama: Ethical guidelines for social interaction, including non-violence and truthfulness.

• Niyama: Personal disciplines that cultivate purity, contentment, self-discipline, and spiritual study.

• Asana: Physical postures that prepare the body to sit comfortably for meditation.

• Pranayama: Breath control techniques that regulate and enhance vital energy.

• Pratyahara: Withdrawing senses from external objects to foster inner awareness.

• Dharana: Concentrating the mind on a single object or idea, deepening meditation.

• Dhyana: Sustained meditation leading to absorption and clarity.

• Samadhi: A state of complete unity and spiritual oneness, where individual awareness merges into universal consciousness.

  
  

Ashtanga Yoga invented by Patanjali

3. Other Works of Patanjali

King Bhoja, an 11th-century ruler and scholar, honored Patanjali as one who purified the mind through yoga, speech through grammar, and body through medicine. Bhoja wrote a commentary known as the Rajamartanda on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. In the opening verses of this text, he praises Patanjali as the author of three foundational works: the Yoga Sutras, the Mahabhashya, and a treatise on Ayurveda, though the medical text is not clearly identified.

The Mahabhashya is another vital contribution by Sage Patanjali. It is an authoritative commentary on Panini’s ancient grammar text, Ashtadhyayi. Composed around the 2nd century BCE, the Mahabhashya significantly influenced the preservation and understanding of Sanskrit as a classical language. Patanjali’s analysis is celebrated for its depth and clarity, making it crucial in Sanskrit linguistics.

4. Ayurveda

Traditionally, another important Ayurvedic text titled Carakavarttika, dating between the 8th and 10th centuries CE, is attributed to a sage named Patanjali. This work is a commentary on the Charaka Samhita, one of Ayurveda’s foundational texts. Due to the time gap, most scholars associate this with a different scholar bearing the same name. Nonetheless, the text is traditionally attributed to Sage Patanjali, reflecting the enduring faith in his divine nature.

5. Dance

Maharishi Patanjali is also celebrated as a patron of classical dance in India. After witnessing Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance, he is worshipped in temples dedicated to Nataraja. Classical dancers, especially those from traditions like Bharatnatyam, honor him for his contributions to rhythm, movement, and spiritual expression. Therefore, he is often regarded as the patron saint of dance.

Legacy and Recognition

The Vishnu Dharmottara Purana refers to Patanjali as Ananta, the divine serpent. He holds the planets on his thousand heads and is often depicted with a human upper body and a serpent’s lower half, symbolizing divine knowledge and kundalini energy. Many regard Patanjali as both a sage and a divine figure, believing that meditating on his image brings clarity and blessings.

Ancient texts suggest that powerful sages like Patanjali possessed remarkable yogic powers. They could live extraordinarily long lives, sometimes spanning centuries or more. Such sages had the power to leave their mortal bodies at will. Patanjali's Jeeva Samadhi, a shrine commemorating his attainment of samadhi through meditation, is located in the Brahmapureeswarar Temple in Tirupattur, Tamil Nadu.

Ultimately, the teachings of Patanjali continue to resonate through time, guiding countless individuals on their spiritual paths. His insights into yoga and consciousness remain integral to the understanding of both physical and spiritual wellness. Yoga, as presented by Patanjali, is not just a form of exercise but a comprehensive philosophical system that promotes harmony, balance, and enlightenment in daily life.