Patanjali
The Sage Patanjali
500-200 BCE
Not much is known about Patanjali. Most, if not all, scholars believe that the Pantanjali we honor as the author of the Yoga Sutras is a mix of man and myth. Some researchers even suggest that the Yoga Sutras may have been compiled by more than one person using the same title. None the less, whoever wrote the Yoga Sutras was obviously an adept yogi, as only someone who had experienced and reached the highest state of yoga could have such knowledge. Patanjali also brilliantly extracted yoga knowledge from a vast amount of complicated ancient scriptures and communicated it succinctly in a non-judgemental and accessible way to all. References suggest that the author or authors of the Yoga Sutras lived between 500-200 BCE.
The name Patanjali is symbolic. Legend has it that the thousand headed ruler of the serpent race, Ananta, desired to teach yoga on earth and a virtuous yogini named Gonika longed for a son. Unable to conceive for many years, Gonika offered Lord Vishnu a handful of water and tirelessly prayed for her desire. Vishnu was so impressed by her devotion that he permitted a small fragment of Ananta’s infinite body to fall from heaven as a tiny snake into her outstretched palm. Within moments the serpent took human form. Overjoyed that her prayers had been answered, she accepted the gift as her son and named him Patanjali, acknowledging the manner in which her wish was fulfilled. Pata means “fallen” and anjali means “offering” or refers to hands that are joined together and slightly cupped, such as Gonika’s hands were when she prayed to Lord Vishnu and caught the fallen snake. The legend explains why Patanjali is sometimes pictured as half human and half serpent.
There are two other notable books attributed to Patanjali, one on grammar referred to as “Mahabhasya” and one on Ayurveda, the science of life. The book on Ayurveda has never been found. Scholars note that it is likely that these books were written by different authors all sharing the name of Patanjali as India knows of several other Patanjalis and the dates of the 3 books do not coincide.
The Iyengar system of yoga begins each class with an invocation honoring Patanjali. The chant also honors the wisdom provided by the 3 texts attributed to Patanjali- the Yoga Sutras for developing a healthy mind; Ayurveda for a healthy body; and grammar for clarity of speech and thought. We all want these things. Whether or not Patanjali was one person or several, a real man or a mythological figure, the author of one book or many, we honor him as the systematizer of yoga philosophy and yoga practices that flourish today.
Invocation to Sage Patanjali
Yogena cittasya padena vacam
malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena
yopakarottam pravaram muninam
patanjalim pranajaliranato’smi
abahu purusakaram
sankha cakrasi dharinam
sahasra sirasam svetam
pranamami patanjalim.
Let us bow before the noblest of sages Patanjali,
who gave yoga for serenity and sanctity of mind,
grammar for clarity and purity of speech
and medicine for perfection of health
Let us prostrate before Patanjali,
an incarnation of Adisesa,
whose upper body has a human form,
whose arms hold a conch and a disc,
and who is crowned by a thousand-headed cobra