Yogashastra, Yoga-shastra, Yogaśāstra: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Yogashastra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Yogaśāstra can be transliterated into English as Yogasastra or Yogashastra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र).—Works on Yoga.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 37. 27.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र) is the name of a work dealing with the Yoga system of Philosophy. It deals with—Notes on the Yoga-sūtra. Cf. Mitra’s Notices of Sanskrit MSS. VI.
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र) of the Śvetāmbara Jain scholar, Hemacandra, can be dated accurately to the twelfth century because of his prominence in the Jain tradition and his close association with King Kumārapāla of Gujarat. In the final verse, Hemacandra explains that he wrote the Yogaśāstra, which he calls an ‘Upaniṣad of Yoga’, at the request of King Kumārapāla. [...] Hemacandra does not attempt to hide the fact that much of the Yogaśāstra is based on his knowledge of other scriptures (śāstra). Much of the Yogaśāstra’s twelfth chapter is based on the Amanaska's second chapter, so it appears that Hemacandra was willing to rely on the direct experience of others, as it were, in order to write about the highest reality (tattva).
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र) refers to one of the topics discussed in the Rudrayāmalatantra, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 1 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (first series)” by Rajendralal Mitra (1822–1891), who was one of the first English-writing historians dealing with Indian culture and heritage.— The Rudrayāmala-tantra is an elaborate and original Tantra, including the whole range of Śākta knowledge about religion, social orders, castes, sacred places, modes of adoration, forms of ceremonies, etc. It contains roughly 9,000 verses divided into 67 sections.—The catalogue includes the term—Yogaśāstra in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads—[chapter 24: yogaśāstratātparyyārthakathanaṃ ].
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र) refers to “Yoga treatise” and is a Sanskrit work on Yoga, Jain philosophy and practice by the Jain Svetambara philosopher Hemachandra (fl. 12th century). It is a systematic exposition of Jain doctrine using the canonical scriptures (sruta) and tradition (sampradaya), as well as influenced by the Jain scholastic tradition of thinkers like Umasvati and Haribhadra.
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र), composed by the 12th century Jain monk and teacher Hemacandra. This comprehensive treatise on Śvetāmbara Jainism consists of 12 chapters which were usually handed down in two parts, namely chapters 1-4 and 5-12. [...] The first four chapters deal with important topics of the Jaina doctrine. The last eight chapters mainly concern themes of breath control, meditation and divination.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र).—the Yoga philosophy, esp. the work of Patañjali.
Derivable forms: yogaśāstram (योगशास्त्रम्).
Yogaśāstra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms yoga and śāstra (शास्त्र).
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र).—[neuter] the Yoga doctrine.
1) Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—yoga. Paris. (Singh. 5). Rādh. 17. Oppert. Ii, 7114.
—by Dattātreya. B. 4, 2. Burnell. 112^a. Oppert. 995. See Yogagrantha.
—by Patañjali. See Yogasūtra.
—by Vasiṣṭha. Peters. 3, 391. See Vasiṣṭhasaṃhitā.
2) Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र):—yoga from the Vairāṭapurāṇa q. v.
3) Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र):—med. by Ānandasiddha. Bd. 906.
1) Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र):—[=yoga-śāstra] [from yoga] n. any [work] on the Y° doctrine ([especially] that of Patañjali), [Mahābhārata; Yājñavalkya etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of sub voce works.
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र):—n. Yoga-Lehre (unter andern die des Patañjali) [Yājñavalkya’s Gesetzbuch.3,110.] [Mahābhārata 14,546. 549.] [Weber’s Verzeichniss 14,5.] [Oxforder Handschriften 17,a,4 v. u. 71,a,35. 89,a,1. 237,a, No. 568. 302,b,6.] [PAÑCAR.1,10,4.2,8,32.] [Madhusūdanasarasvatī’s Prasthānabheda] in [Weber’s Indische Studien.1,22,18.] [SARVADARŚANAS. 154,2. fgg.] sūtrapāṭha [HALL 18.]
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र):—n. Yoga-Lehre (unter andern die des Patañjli.) sūtrapāṭha m. Titel eines Werkes.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Yōgaśāstra (ಯೋಗಶಾಸ್ತ್ರ):—[noun] = ಯೋಗದರ್ಶನ [yogadarshana].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Yogaśāstra (योगशास्त्र):—n. yoga philosophy;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Yoga, Shastra.
Starts with: Yogashastrapattra, Yogashastrapattrani, Yogashastrasutrapatha, Yogashastratatparyartha, Yogashastravacuri.
Full-text (+707): Vairatapurane yogashastram, Yogashastrapattra, Yogashastravacuri, Khacaratva, Pragata, Tirthaseva, Linata, Aparigraha, Yogashastrasutrapatha, Gunavrata, Anantakaya, Vacayana, Nirmantu, Nirmithya, Mutrasat, Candravatamsaka, Vaiyavritti, Prishthagalana, Pranatilobha, Hiranyaheman.
Relevant text
Search found 91 books and stories containing Yogashastra, Yoga-śāstra, Yoga-sastra, Yōga-śastra, Yoga-shastra, Yoga-shastras, Yogaśāstra, Yogasastra, Yōgaśāstra, Yōgaśastra; (plurals include: Yogashastras, śāstras, sastras, śastras, shastras, shastrases, Yogaśāstras, Yogasastras, Yōgaśāstras, Yōgaśastras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Preksha meditation: History and Methods (by Samani Pratibha Pragya)
11.6. Hemacandra’s Yogaśāstra < [Chapter 2 - Pre-Modern History of Meditation in Jainism]
5. Arhum-Yoga < [Chapter 5 - Other Modern Forms of Jaina Meditation]
11.5. Digambara Meditation: Śubhacandra (11th c. CE) < [Chapter 2 - Pre-Modern History of Meditation in Jainism]
Journal of Ayurveda and Holistic Medicine
Concept of Diet in Yoga Shastra and Ayurveda – A Literature Review < [Volume 11, issue 7 (2023)]
A review on the concept of prana in charaka samhitha < [Volume 8, issue 1 (2020)]
Study of Role of Aahar in Vyadhikshamatava w.s.r. to “Aaharadev Abhivriddhih Balam Aarogyam” < [Volume 12, issue 2 (2024)]
Jainism and Patanjali Yoga (Comparative Study) (by Deepak bagadia)
Sukladhyana (pure meditation) < [Chapter 3 - Jain Philosophy and Practice]
The five Anuvratas < [Chapter 3 - Jain Philosophy and Practice]
The five Mahavratas < [Chapter 3 - Jain Philosophy and Practice]
Yoga Upanishads (study) (by Heena B. Kotak)
Part 14 - Origin and History of Yoga Shastra < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Notes and References for chapter 1 < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Studies in Indian Literary History (by P. K. Gode)
68. Godavaramisra of Orissa and his Works < [Volume 1 (1945)]
11. Upanisadbrahmayogin and Hathayogapradipika < [Volume 3 (1956)]
4. Mammata and Hemacandra < [Volume 1 (1945)]