Yoga Philosophy

Yoga Philosophy
The Yoga Darshana is an orthodox system accepting the authority of the Vedas. The aim of its founder, sage Patanjali, was to complete Samkhya system. This is why Yoga has been allied with Samkhya because both of them are considered as complementary schools of Indian philosophy.

The word Yoga in Patanjali's interpretation is seperation instead of union. In fact, seperating the mind from the objects of matter has been the prime concern of sage Patanjali. Thus, he has not rejected the metaphysics of Samkhya but he has included in his philosophy a place for God. Thus, when Samkhya is allied with yoga, it becomes a complete philosophy.

While founding the Yoga Darshana, sage Patanjali has accepted the Purusha and Prakriti of Samkhya. But, Yoga has been more inclined towards control of the mind for the attainment of Kevalya. Thus, Yoga accepts the mind as the medium for the attainment of liberation. The mind in Yoga has been known by "Citta".

According to Yoga Darshana, the "citta" is always pure when it is not disturbed by mental modification. It is as calm as an ocean without waves. As a result sage Patanjali has developed the yoga philosophy with the aim of keeping the "citta" in its original state of purity and stability.

Yoga phiosophy has also explained how the citta is distubed by mental modification also known as "Vritis". According to yoga philosophy, 5 types of mental modifications have been explained as follows:

1.Pramanas
2.Vikalpa
3.Viparyaya
4.Nidra
5.Smriti

These 5 Vritis always disturb the citta that it becomes impossible for the indivdual to concentrate upon the state of Kevalya.  

Pramanas means true cognition. Thus, whenever truth and knowledge is attained, the citta is transformed from a state of ignorance to that of knowledge. Thus, this creates attachment in the citta towards worldliness.

Vikalpa means verbal knowledge which is often based upon doubts. Therefore, such a knowledge will lead to the citta...