Patanjali

Patanjali (Sanskrit पतञ्जलि Patañjali, [ pʌtʌɲʤʌlɪ ] ) was an Indian scholar and the author of the Yogasutra, the classic guide of yoga, which is why it is also referred to as the "Father of Yoga ". Besides the Yogasutra him a grammar and an ayurvedic scripture be attributed, but it is disputed whether the authors of the same name are identical.

Life and Legend

About the life of Patanjali is not known, it is believed to have lived in the period between the 2nd century BC and the 4th century AD. According to legend, his mother was Gonika ( Skt. Goṇikā ), which is why it is also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra. This was a living as a hermit ascetic. Since she was a woman no students to share their knowledge, they prayed to the sun god Surya. Since a small snake fell from the sky in her hands, which turned into a boy and begged to be allowed to be their students. Therefore Gonika named him Patanjali ( Skt. pat "fly ", " fall "; Añjali " greeting and Bethaltung "). An alternative legend has it that he fell into the hands of the grammarian Panini. He is regarded as the incarnation of the world serpent Shesha.

Iconography

In Indian art Patanjali is represented as a hybrid creature, with his abdomen represents a composite coiled serpent to the hips, the upper body is that of a man who has his hands folded in greeting and Bethaltung ( Skt. añjalimudrā ). Above his head to fan out an umbrella shape of a many-headed serpent.

Works

Patanjali is given as the author of Yogasutra, which is considered a standard work of philosophical yoga today. As this has been commented already in the 5th century by Vyasa in Yogasutrabhasya, his life before the 5th century must have been lying. Vyasa comment was again narrated by Shankara ( 788-820 ), one of the leading Indian scholars. The Yogasutra was the first time the Islamic polymath al -Biruni (973-1048) translated into Arabic, today there are many translations in different languages.

Patanjali is also the author of the Mahabashya ( Skt. Mahabhasya " great comment "), a comment on the grammar of Panini Astadhyayi. Then he would have to be dated to the 2nd century BC.

The third work is attributed to Patanjali nor the Charakapratisamskrita, a commentary on the Charakasamhita, which is one of the oldest treatises on Ayurveda. According to legend, he is said to have written the comment after he got to know the body functions at a dance class. This comment is lost, however, so it is not possible to check the time and authorship.

Identity of the three authors

For the first time finds himself at King Bhoja of Malva ( 11th century ), who wrote the Rajamartanda, a commentary on the Yogasutra of Patanjali. In it there is an indication that the grammarian and the author of the Yoga Sutras are identical. Around the same time put dChakrapanidatta ( 11th century ) is equal in his work Ayurvedadipika, commenting on Charakasamhita, the grammarian with the author of Charakapratisamskrita as well as with the mythical snake king Ahipati ( " snake father ").

It was only in the 18th century to find more information about the identity of the three Patanjali. In Shivarama ( 18th century ) there is a hymn in honor of Patanjali, which belong to all three works the same person:

" Yogena cittasya Padena VACAM Malam śarīrasya tu vaidyakena yo'pākarot -TAM pravaraṃ munīnāṃ patañjaliṃ prāñjalir - ānato'smi With folded hands I bow to Patañjali, the excellent Wildasketen, has eliminated the impurity of the mind through yoga, the language through grammar, of the body through medicine. "

Many modern yoga masters follow this view, particularly BKS Iyengar is a proponent of this view, and can each sing at the beginning of his lessons in the traditional Shivarama anthem.

The opinions about the identity of the three authors, however, is controversial in scientific research. Surendranath Dasgupta believes that the language of both works having clear parallels. Even Richard von Garbe holds the grammarian and the Yoga Master for the same. In contrast, Hermann Jacobi pointed out that the vocabulary of the two plants was too different and assumes the existence of two homonymous authors, as well as Arthur Berriedale Keith and James Haughton Woods.