Yoga-sutra with Bhashya Vivarana (study)
by Susmi Sabu | 2013 | 55,404 words
This essay studies the enduring and relevance of Yoga in India, highlighting its evolution from a comprehensive philosophy to primarily a physical practice. It further underscores the importance of studying Yoga texts to understand its historical trajectory. Special attention is given to the Patanjala Yogasutra Bhashya Vivarana, a significant work ...
The three Gunas (in Yoga)
It is depicted that, the gunas are three in number viz., sattva, rajas and tamas. The quality of sattvaguna is said as illumination (prakhya). The quality of rajoguna is motion (pravrtti). Obstruction (sthiti) is the quality of tamoguna. Objects that are made up of the elements have all these three gunas. According to the predominance of any one of the gunas, determines the nature of that object. Vivaranakara gives some explanations to this particular idea. Ether is predominantly sattvic. Wind is predominantly rajasic. Fire and water are predominantly sattvic and rajasic. Earth is predominantly sattvic, and tamasic. The instruments (karana) and the sense organs of knowledge along with mind are illuminative, so they are predominantly sattvic.38 At 157
the same time, the sense-organs of action having activity as the important quality are predominantly rajasic.