Preface

The Darshanas in the form of sūtras are short aphorisms, easy to remember, providing the essence of Vedic knowledge, and simultaneously preserve the secrecy with their cryptic form. They were created to preserve the six complementary views of Vēdas. The Sankhya sūtras provide inside-out metaphysics. Yōga sūtras provide the practices to be undertaken to realise the truth. The Nyaya sūtras give the logic and method to validate arguments in a debate. The Vaisesika sūtras give outside-in metaphysics. The Mimamsa sūtras throw light on epistemology and hermeneutics. The Vēdanta sūtras, also called Brahma sūtras, elucidates the nature of ultimate reality, the Brahman.

The yogic cross-legged meditation posture carved in the Indus seals takes the antiquity of Yōga to the Indus Valley civilization, ~2500 BCE. We find mention of Yōga in the Upanishads and Mahabharata, which are dated around 800 BCE. Sage Patanjali's Yōga sūtras as a darshana has survived to this day and is available to us. Its timeframe is estimated to be between 500 BCE to 200 CE by scholars. While Sāmkhya deals with the inside-out metaphysics, Yōga of Patanjali is a practical guide on how to practise and obtain liberation (Kaivaly) using the Sāmkhya metaphysics. Thus, it deals with practical epistemology, the process to acquire knowledge that enables one to get liberated. Yōga sūtras advocate a realistic worldview with the multiplicity of beings and a theistic personal God. Surrender to God (Īshvara-pranidhana) and grace (prasāda) are critical aspects of yōga sūtras.

"(The liberation is attained) by devotion and surrender to God (Īśvara). Being untouched by obstacles, fruits of activities, and desires is the speciality of the soul called īśvaraḥ. In HIM the seed of omniscience (sarvajña) is ever infinite. HE is the teacher to the ancients as well, as he is not bound by time. HE is conveyed by the pranavah (syllable 'Om'). By its repeated utterance (japa) one understands and feels it." - Yōga sūtras 1.23-28

"On reaching the equanimous state that needs no deliberation on topics related to soul and super-soul (nirvichāra samādhi) profound knowledge is received with grace (prasādaha)." - Yōga sūtras 1.47

- Madhukrishna Sudhindra