Lord Patanjali - The Father of Yoga

Lord Patanjali is often called the Father of Yoga.  He has been credited with codifying yoga into the yoga sutras for others to benefit from.  As Father's Day was yesterday in many countries I thought it would be fitting to give thanks to Patanjali for his great gift of yoga.

In India, according to the Hindu tradition, Father's Day is celebrated on the new moon day during late August or early September.  So, although not technically Father's Day in India I would still like to say Happy Father's Day to Mr. Iyengar.  Although I have never met him personally, I feel he has been a father like figure to many in his dedication to passing down the teachings of Patanjali.  Like a good father, he tries to teach not by just giving all the answers, but by having the student gain the intelligence to find and discover the answers themselves.

I have written quite a few blogs about Patanjali and the sutras.  Here is the invocation again or you can re-read the January 17th, 2011 blog which gives a bit more information about Patanjali.

INVOCATION TO PATANJALI

yogena cittasya padena vacam malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena yopakarottam pravaram muninam patanjalim pranjalir anato'smi abahu purusakaram sankha cakrasi dharinam sahasra sirasam svetam pranamami patanjalim  English Translation: Let us bow before the noblest of sages, Patanjali, who gave yoga for serenity and sanctity of mind, grammar for clarity and purity of speech, and medicine for perfection of health. Let us prostrate before Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa, whose upper body has a human form, whose arms hold a conch and a disc, and who is crowned by a thousand-headed cobra.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
http://www.plnyoga.vpweb.com/