Maharishi Patanjali “Ishwara Pranidhana” Devotion in Yoga as taught by Maharishi Patanjali Shriram Sarvotham Ishwara Pranidhana: Devotion to the Divine Page 1 of 6 Ishwara Pranidhana – Devotion to the Divine Maharishi Patanjali is precise and succinct in his teaching of Yoga Sutras. Recall the definition of Sutra: alpAkSharam asandigdham sAravat vishvato mukham | astobham anavadyam cha sUtram sUtravido vidu: || (Source: vaayu puraaNa) Meaning: “A sutra should have few words (alpa-akshara), an unambiguous meaning, be full of essence (sara-yukta), said only after considering all arguments for and against it, infallible and without blemish.” Despite being concise, Maharishi Patanjali mentions Ishwara Pranidhana (devotion to the divine) in numerous Sutras, clearly indicating the value and importance of devotion in Yoga. Let us look at these Sutras. Patanjali lists several ways to reach that state of Yoga. He mentions Ishwara Pranidhana as one of the ways. One more method to attain Yoga is by special devotion to Ishwara. Pranidhana is a special, high state of devotion where the will of the practitioner is aligned with the will of Ishwara. Who is Ishwara? Patanjali explains in the next sutra. Ishwara Pranidhana: Devotion to the Divine Page 2 of 6 The special purusha (indwelling principle) who is unaffected by (i.e., transcends) klesha, karma, vipaka and ashaya. Klesha’s are veils of misery, and Patanjali lists 5: The five klesha’s are – avidya (ignorance), asmita (egoism), raga (cravings, attachments), dvesha (aversion), abhinivesha (fear of death). Ishwara is untouched by the above 5 kleshas. Karma is action, vipaka is fruits of action, ashaya is residue or imprints. This exalted Ishwara is present in seed form in all of creation. Transcending time, Ishwara is the teacher of ancient teachers too. Ishwara Pranidhana: Devotion to the Divine Page 3 of 6 Ishwara is represented by the Pranava (OM). By the practice of Japa (repeated chanting) on OM, the meaning of Ishwara becomes our experiential reality. Then, witness consciousness blossoms in our awareness (i.e., free of cravings and aversions) and all the obstacles to attain Yoga fade away. [Patanjali describes 9 obstacles and 5 indications that we are stuck in an obstacle, from Sutra I.30. This is a subject for another session.] Kriya Yoga is the combination of three practices: Tapas (self- discipline, austerity), Swadhyaya (self-study) and Ishwara Pranidhana (special devotion to Ishwara). Ishwara Pranidhana: Devotion to the Divine Page 4 of 6 Ishwara Pranidhana is also one of the 5 components of Niyama. (Niyama is the 2nd limb of the 8 limed Ashtanga Yoga). The other 4 limbs are: Purity, Contentment, austerity and self- study. Perfection in Samadhi (evenness of consciousness) results from Ishwara Pranidhana. Ishwara Pranidhana: Devotion to the Divine Page 5 of 6 Let us conclude with a Prayer on Maharishi Patanjali: Meaning: “I offer reverence to the eminent sage Patañjali, who removed the impurities of the mind through yoga, of speech through grammar, and of the body through medicine.” “The upper body of human shape, holding a conch (divine sound), discuss (wheel of time) and sword (discrimination), I bow down to the white (pure) thousand-headed (elevated awareness), I respectfully bow to Patanjali.” Ishwara Pranidhana: Devotion to the Divine Page 6 of 6.