Priyanka Tiwari
Share
Suspense crime, Digital Desk : As the world celebrates International Yoga Day, many practitioners roll out their mats without knowing the ancient sage credited as the "Father of Yoga"—Maharishi Patanjali. But his title comes with a crucial distinction: Patanjali did not invent yoga, which had existed in various forms for centuries. Instead, his genius was in systematically compiling and codifying this vast, scattered knowledge into a single, definitive guide.
Before Patanjali, who is believed to have lived around the 2nd century BCE, yogic practices and philosophies were diverse and orally transmitted across different traditions. There was no unified text or structured system that one could follow.
This is where Patanjali’s monumental contribution comes in. He authored the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, a foundational text that transformed yoga from a loose set of practices into a coherent and accessible philosophical system. The Sutras are a collection of 196 concise aphorisms (sutras) that provide a practical and philosophical roadmap for the mind.
At its core, the text offers one of the most famous definitions of yoga: "Yogas-chitta-vritti-nirodhah," which translates to "Yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind."
To achieve this state of mental tranquility and ultimate liberation (Kaivalya), Patanjali laid out a clear, step-by-step path known as Ashtanga Yoga, or the Eight Limbs of Yoga. This framework includes:
Yama (ethical standards)
Niyama (self-disciplines)
Asana (physical postures)
Pranayama (breath control)
Pratyahara (sensory withdrawal)
Dharana (concentration)
Dhyana (meditation)
Samadhi (a state of enlightenment or union)
This holistic system elevated yoga beyond mere physical exercise, presenting it as a profound discipline for achieving mental clarity, spiritual growth, and self-realization. By creating this structured framework, Patanjali provided a timeless guide that has remained the philosophical bedrock for most forms of yoga practiced today. It is for this immense contribution—organizing the chaos into a clear path—that he is rightfully honored as the Father of Yoga.
Read More: Margashirsha Purnima 2025 Brings Spectacular Supermoon to Night Sky
