Light on Yoga Sutra of Patanjali

by B.K.S. Iyengar

Yoga Philosophy explained thru the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. The roots of Yoga can be traced back roughly 5,000 years to the Indus Valley civilization, where seals depicting people performing asanas (yoga postures) were used in trade along the river. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. It is the union of all aspects of an individual: body, mind and soul. Hence, Yoga reunites all opposites - mind and body, stillness and movement, masculine and feminine, sun and moon - in order to bring reconciliation between them. Yoga is one of the six branches in Indian philosophy and is referred to throughout the Vedas - the ancient scriptures of India. There is a legend that says that the knowledge of Yoga was first offered by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati and then passed on to the world.

This book is a fresh translation of the writings of Patanjali, the first man to record the ancient practice of yoga, by Iyengar, the man who introduced yoga to the West. Serious students and teachers of yoga, especially those studying Iyengar yoga, will find this an indispensable guide to wholeness, poise, and peace. This unique edition contains a new translation of the sutras, a commentary by the world's leading teacher of yoga, B K S Iyengar and a forward by Yehudi Menuhin, the renowned musician.

Yoga philosophy was first described in the Yoga Sutra, a collection of aphorisms offered more than 2,000 years ago by the Indian sage Patanjali. Sutras were the earliest - and are still the most profound and enlightening - study of human psyche. In them Patanjali describes the enigma of human existence and shows how through Yoga practice, we can transform ourselves, gain mastery over the mind and emotions and overcome obstacles to our spiritual evolution.

This unique edition renders a new translation of the Sutras and also a commentary by the world's leading teacher of Yoga, B K S Iyengar, who has enriched the text with the wealth of his own experience of the subject. This is an accessible helpful book, of immense value both to students of Indian philosophy and practitioners of Yoga.

Table of Contents:

• Forward by Sir Yehudi Menuhin
• Hints on Transliteration and pronunciation
• List of Important Terms in the Text
• Preface
• Prolouge
• Introduction
  • Samadhi Pada
  • Sadhana Pada
  • Vibhuti Pada
  • Kaivalya Pada
• Yoga Sutras
  • Text, Translation and Commentary
  • Samadhi Pada
  • Sadhana Pada
  • Vibhuti Pada
  • Kaivalya Pada
• Epilogue
• Appendices
  • Appendix 1: A Thematic Key to the Yoga Sutra
  • Appendix 2: Interconnection of Sutras
  • Appendix 3: Alphabetical Index of Sutras
  • Appendix 4 Yoga in Nutshell
• List of Tables and Diagrams
• Glossary
• Index.

About the Author:

Yogacharya B.K.S.Iyengar (Guruji) is a living legend who has taught yoga in unique way to all his students. He finds the meaning of the yoga sutras by his practical search and regular practice of yoga. Thus, he has helped all to experience the wisdom of the yoga sutras. His style of teaching yoga is called "Iyengar Yoga" and is now being followed by certified teachers across the world.

Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja (BKS) Iyengar was born on December 14, 1918. His father Sri Krishnamachar was a school teacher and therefore Guruji has all his father's qualities even at this age. Guruji was a victim of malaria, typhoid and tuberculosis in his childhood .

At the age of 16, he was introduced to yoga by his Guru Sri T. Krishnamacharya. At the age of 18, he was sent to Pune, Maharashtra by his guru to teach and preach yoga as he knew a little of English. This missed his opportunity to learn a lot about yoga directly from his guru.

Guruji was a sincere and committed practitioner. His own practice helped him to explore and achieve perfection in yoga asanas. This is reflected in his teachings all over these years.