Analysis Of The Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

The Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras comprise four chapters called as Padas – the Samadhi Pada (51 sutras), the Sadhana Pada (55 sutras), the Vibhuti Pada (55 sutras) and the Kaivalya Pada (34 sutras).
Yoga is defined by Patanjali as “Citta vrtti nirodaha” i.e. complete silencing of the mind.

Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga of Bhagavad Gita
Karma Yoga can be said to be the main message of Bhagavad Gita. Man cannot remain without performing Karma (includes both over actions and mental experiences) even for a moment. Every Karma is enchaining because it gives rise to a samskara (deep latent impression of the karma) and these samskaras necessarily have to fructify and provide their consequences which is in the form of another Karma. Thus, the
If human life is full of sufferings, the karma-samskaras are responsible for these sufferings because of binding man to the samsara-chakra. In the context, the concept of Karma Yoga becomes clear. Is it possible to perform karma without begetting samskara? In answer is the famous definition of Yoga, “Yogaha karmasu kaushalam”. Yoga is the skill or dexterity in karma / action i.e. skill of performing karma without begetting samskaras. Only motivated or desired-backed acts give rise to samskaras. Is it possible to act without desire for fruits of the action? Is Nishkama karma possible? One way is to perform an action as a duty – duty for duty’s sake - wherein action without motives or desire is possible. Another way is to surrender oneself completely to a higher altar such that the doer-ship and the enjoyer-ship of the actions rests on the altar. One is just an instrument for action and hence there is no ownership of action nor do the fruits of the action motivate one. This is the path of Bhakti Yoga. When an individual through knowledge and discrimination realizes the way, he is entrapped in the chain of Karma-samskara-karma leading to the never-ending cycle of
It is said that any person who can chant or sing Vedas can achieve the ultimate salvation or union with supreme consciousness only by chanting the mantras, which is the aim of Mantra Yoga.
Mantras embody energy in sound form. They have the capacity of delivering a person to the final goal of Self-realization. The elaborate science of Mantras called Mantra Shastra prescribes Mantra Sadhana or practice of mantras. When this sadhana is successful it fructifies into Mantra Siddhi – the accomplishment of power embodied in the mantra. In fact, Patanjali in his Yoga sutras says that mantras are one of ways in which siddhis are attained . Mantra yoga is an esoteric form of yoga.
In Japa Mantra, Mantra or Name of the Divine is repeated during practice. Japa forms an important part of yoga as it acts like a spiritual food for the hungry. It is like a support system for eg. like a rod in a blind man’s hand. In todays world it is the easiest quickest, safest and surest way to attain immortality and constant joy. By lessening the negativities Japa can help in purifying the heart and steadying the mind. It may also help in reducing the samskaras and bring in vairagya bhava i.e. non-attachment. Thus, minimizing desires may make one fearless, removes misconception and gives