What Is Sāṅkhya Yoga: Understanding Through Patanjali Yoga System

Introduction:

Kapila Muni, a legendary antiquity sage, is the inventor of the Sāṅkhya-Yoga philosophical system, which is an essential element of India's ancient intellectual history. Sāṅkhya is both a metaphysical philosophy dealing with the elemental laws of the physical cosmos and a spiritual knowledge system with its own methodology that concludes in complete consciousness of the Supreme Absolute. Kapila, on the other hand, is no ordinary philosopher or sage. He is an avatar (incarnation) of the Supreme Absolute Truth, according to Vedic tradition, India's oldest sacred literature.

Sāṅkhya-Yoga is an old Hindu tradition and one of the six major systems. It is also one of the yoga paths mentioned in the yogic text, the Bhagavad Gita, as the path of accurately recognising the principles or tattva of existence.

As a philosophical tradition, Sāṅkhya, which means "number" or "to count," is concerned with the correct classification of Prakriti and Purusha elements. The purpose of Samkhya-Yoga is for practitioners to understand the distinction between spirit (Purusha) and matter (Prakriti).

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, which influence much of our modern-day understanding of yoga philosophy, are founded on Sāṅkhya, and as such, Sāṅkhya defines yoga language. Some practitioners believe that learning and studying Sāṅkhya can help them reach higher levels of awareness in their yoga practice.

Because Sāṅkhya-Yoga teaches its practitioners the nature of spirit and matter on an intellectual and analytical level, it is regarded as a path most suited for persons who prefer to engage with the world and their spiritual development through experiments, deep thought, and philosophy.

Sankhya-Yoga and Patanjali-Yoga:

As theistic schools developed, a 26th element, the Parama Purusha or God, was added (Purusha and Parama Purusha are here synonymous with Atman and Paramatman). Purusha Prakriti is the equivalent of the later theistic concept of Shiva-Shakti. Shiva is the energetic male force, and Prakriti is the complementary female energy. Many of the terminology and concepts of Sankhya, which are also described in the Bhagavad-gita, were incorporated into the Vedanta schools.

Patanjali-yoga, also known as raja- or Astanga-yoga, has a close relationship with Sāṅkhya, its "sister" darshan. Yoga is based on the Patanjali Sutras, a collection of 194 aphorisms. They are classified into four categories: samadhi (trance), sadhana (practise), vibhuti (mystic powers), and kaivalya (the ultimate aim). The procedure is separated into eight steps (angas).

Although popular Hatha-yoga is related to Astanga-yoga, particularly the third stage, the activities in Patanjali's approach are developed to guide meditation and self-realization rather than physical wellness. The yogi must be able to sit comfortably, without straining or napping off, and must have complete control over his or her breathing. Patanjali also cautions the yogi not to be seduced by mystic siddhis (perfections), but to focus on the ultimate aim of self-realization. This entails discriminating (based on Sāṅkhya), purifying oneself of basic traits (lust, greed, anger, and so on), and total mastery over the mind and senses.

Patanjali also advises scriptural study and submission to the Lord, both of which bring serenity, illumination, and samadhi. The realisation that one is not the body but the soul within is referred to as Kaivalya. It is attained when the yogi is focused on the Lord residing within the heart and is no longer swayed by the three Gunas - Sattva Guna, Raja Guna, and Tama Guna. (qualities of material nature).

Sāṅkhya Philosophy's 24 Elements:

The Pradhana is one of the three unmanifest modes of nature (goodness, passion and ignorance). The subtle (astral) body is made up of three subtle elements, and the outer body is made up of five gross elements. They are presented here in descending order of subtlety to grossness. The living being has five senses for gaining knowledge and five active senses, each of which is related to one of the five elements and the accompanying sense object. The Soul is the ultimate element.

Pradhana: 

1. False-ego
2. Intelligence
3. Mind

Five gross elements:

1. Ether
2. Air
3. Fire
4. Water
5. Earth

Five Sense Objects:

1. Sound
2. Touch
3. Sight
4. Taste
5. Smell

Five senses for getting knowledge:

1. Ear
2. Skin
3. Eye
4. Tongue
5. Nose

Five active senses:

1. Voice
2. Legs
3. Arms
4. Reproductive organs
5. Evacuating organs

Scriptural Verse: "Yoga is the regulation of the mind's contents. When thoughts are stilled, the eternal soul becomes aware of its own nature." Derived from:1:3-3 of the Yoga Sutras.

The Eight Yoga Stages:

1. yama - Limits and prohibitions
2. niyama - Cultivating virtues
3. asana - Physical postures
4. pranayama - Exercising your breathing
5. pratyahara - Withdrawal of senses
6. dharana - Concentration
7. dhyana - Meditation
8. samadhi - Trance (absorption of the mind on one point)

Conclusion:

Sāṅkhya refers to an analytical account of the body and soul. Lord Krishna used an analytical depiction of the soul to lead Arjuna to the point of buddhi-yoga, also known as bhakti-yoga. As a result, Lord Krishna's Sāṅkhya and Lord Kapila's Sāṅkhya, as stated in the Bhagavata Maha Puran, are the same. They are all bhakti-yoga practises. As a result, Lord Krishna stated that only the less intelligent class of mankind distinguish between sāṅkhya-yoga and bhakti-yoga (sāṅkhya-yogau pṛthag bālāḥ pravadanti na paṇḍitāḥ).

We'll get to know about other mentioned yogas in-depth in our upcoming content. Stay tuned.

Spiritual Sources: Bhagavad-gītā and Bhāgavata Maha Purāṇa