Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali: Containing His Yoga Aphorisms with Vyasa's Commentary in Sanskrit and a Translation with Annotations Including Many Suggestions for the Practice of Yoga

973 Pages·1984·12.36 MB·English

by  Swami Hariharananda Aranya

Yoga Philosophy of Patañjali : Containing
His Yoga Aphorisms With Vyasa's
title: Commentary in Sanskrit and a Translation
With Annotations Including Many
Suggestions for the Practice of Yoga
Pataänjali.; Hariharåananda åAranya;
author:
Mukerji, Paresh Nath; Vyåasa.
publisher: State University of New York Press
isbn10 | asin: 0873957296
print isbn13: 9780873957298
ebook isbn13: 9780585069685
language: English
subject Yoga.
publication date: 1983
lcc: B132.Y6P267 1983eb
ddc: 181/.45
subject: Yoga.
Page i
Yoga Philosophy of Patañjali
Containing His Yoga Aphorisms with Vyäsa's
* Commentary in Sanskrit and a Translation with
Annotations Including Many Suggestions for the Practice
of Yoga
By
Samkhya-yogacharya*
Swämi* Hariharänanda* Äranya*
Rendered into English
by
P. N. Mukerji, C.B.E., R.B., M.A.
STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS
ALBANY
Page ii
This book was first published in English by Calcutta University Press
in 1963. Revised editions were published by them in 1977 and 1981.
Published by State University of New York Press, Albany
©1983 State University of New York
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner
whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
For information, address State University of New York Press, State
University Plaza, Albany, N.Y., 12246
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Patanjali.
Yoga philosophy of Patanjali.
*.
Includes index.
1. Yoga. I. Hariharananda* Aranya*, Swami. II. Mukerji, Paresh Nath,
1882-. III.
Vyasa*. Yogabhasya*. English & Sanskrit. 1983. IV. Title.
B132.Y6P267 1983 181'.45 83-4944
ISBN 0-87395-728-8
ISBN 0-87395-729-6 (pbk.)
20 19 18 17

Page iii
CONTENTS
Preface to the First Edition vii
Introduction
I. Indian Philosophy of Liberation xi
II. Yoga, What it is, and What it is not xvii
Yoga Philosophy of Patañjali:
Book I. On Concentration 1
Book II. On Practice 113
Book III. Supernormal Powers 249
Book IV. On the Self-in-Itself or Liberation 346
Appendixes
A. Jnana-yoga 411
*
B. Tattvas and their Realisation 416
C. The Doctrine of Karma 424
D. Collection of Yoga Aphorisms 445
E. Diacritical Marks, Glossary of Sanskrit Words 457
Index 471

Page vii
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
Yoga is one of the six systems of Indian Philosophy, and Patañjali's
Yoga-sutra
is one of the earliest treatises amongst them. His Yoga aphorisms deal
with the mind and its fluctuations, showing the way how they can be
controlled and how complete mastery over the mind can lead to
cessation of misery and attainment of peace leading to salvation. The
pithy maxims were amplified by Vyasa and this amplification has come
to be regarded as an integral part of the aphorisms to ensure correct
understanding of the philosophy underlying them. Various
commentators in ages past gave their observations and interpretations
to elucidate the complex problems relating to the human mind, but
very few in recent times have attempted the task. One of these very
few was Samkhya-yogacharya* Srimat* Swami* Hariharananda*
Aranya*, Head of the Kapila* Monastery.
Under monastic convention the previous life-history of a monk is a
sealed book but this much is known and can be stated that the revered
Acharya* Swamiji* hailed from a well-to-do Bengali family and after
a scholastic education voluntarily renounced wealth, position and
comfort in search of truth in his early life. Cheerfully accepting the
austerities and privations of the life of an ordained monk, he spent
most of his time in solitude and a good many years in solitary caves in
complete and undisturbed possession of his soul so very necessary for
deep contemplation and realisation of truth as did the ancient sages of
India. The first part of his monastic life was spent in the caves of
Barabar* hills in Bihar, hollowed out of single granite boulders
bearing the inscriptions of Emperor Asoka* and very far removed
from human habitation. He spent some years at Tribeni, in Bengal, at
a small hermitage on the bank of the Ganges and several years at
Hardwar*, Rishikesh and Kurseongall in the Himalayas. His last years
were spent at Madhupur in Bihar where he lived the life of a hermit in
a dwelling containing a built-up cave. The only means of contact at
that time between him and his disciples was through a window
opening on a big hall. He spent the last twenty-one years of his life in
that solitary sequestered residence where he left his mortal abode.
While leading a hermit's life the revered Swamiji* wrote numerous
philosophical treatises, the Yoga-darsana* being his magnum opus.
Most of his books, the product of his meditation and realisation, were
written
Page viii
in Sanskrit or in his native language, Bengali. At first most of the
books were published and distributed gratis by his disciples; nobody
made his writings a commercial asset. When through the writings of
other writers quoting him and his philosophical views, Western
scholars came to know of his vast erudition, they started referring
spiritual problems to him for solution. They also made requests for
publication of his Yoga-darsana
in English. This request very much perplexed him as he had retired
from such undertakings long before, let alone preparation of a big
book like the present one. This book has been published in Bengali by
the University of Calcutta where it has been accepted as a standard
work of reference in Indian Philosophy. Later, an edition of the book
in Hindi was published by the University of Lucknow for the
edification of the scholars of India who do not read Bengali. During
the last few years of his life Swami Hariharananda* Aranya* asked
several scholars, both Indian and non-Indian, to take up the work of
rendering his Bengali Yoga-darsana* into English, but unfortunately
his wish remained unfulfilled when he shuffled off his mortal coil.
I was attracted to the monastery at Madhupur when after prolonged
quest in various parts of India in search of a spiritual guide I had come
to this quiet little place more for rest than for search. By the merest
accident I heard of the Philosophy taught at the Kapila* Monastery.
The revered Acharya* Swamiji* was then fasting and would not see
any visitors, I was told. But would I see the younger Swamiji*, if I
really wanted to hear anything on a spiritual subject? The monks of
the monastery were very particular and as they did not like to be
disturbed for nothing, were I serious in wishing to meet the Swamiji*?
After a serious heart-searching I took courage in both hands and said
'yes'. I was informed later that I could see the younger Swamiji* the