Tattva-viveka
"Yoga Sutra" of Patandjali... and "Kama Sutra"
Yamuna Dasi - March 5, 2009 9:38 pm
Are there Vaisnava commentaries and/or translations on "Yoga Sutra" of Patandjali?
Rathi Krishna Dasa - March 6, 2009 12:02 pm
Are there Vaisnava commentaries and/or translations on "Yoga Sutra" of Patandjali?
Actually, my Guru Maharaja, Dhanurdhara Swami, has just started giving classes on the Yoga Sutras every Wednesday evening. He is using a soon to be published translation by Edwin Bryant, professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University. Publication is expected later this spring by Farrar Straus & Giroux, a division of Macmillan. Professor Bryant is also known as Advaita dasa. He is a disciple of Haridasa Sastri. Based only on one class and not seeing the actual manuscript or book, I can't really say much more than that.
Here is a link to Maharaja's first class.
http://sanga.bhagavatmedia.com/2009/03/04/...of-patanjali-a/
Bhrigu - March 6, 2009 12:32 pm
Sripad Hridayananda Das Goswami has also given a series of lectures on the YS.
There is also a kind of translation or perhaps rather paraphrase of the text by Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who was a Sri Vaishnava. I am not sure how much of Sri Vaishnavism there is in that book, however.
I have also heard that Graham Schweig (Garuda Dasa) is doing a translation.
I am also myself working on a translation and commentary of the YS, to be published next year. In Finnish.
Yamuna Dasi - March 6, 2009 2:37 pm
Yes!!! Translation and commentary on Patandjali's "Yoga Sutra"!
I am asking about this because I am a yoga teacher and would like to be teaching and exlaining my students the best possible way yoga as an ancient teaching and practice as opposed to all the modern versions and I dare to say even distortions which are presented misusing the name and "label" of yoga.
Since Patandjali's work had not been yet prublished in Bulgarian I started thinking maybe of doing it... I don't know yet... That's why I was searching for some Vaisnava translation of it into English because an impersonal translation could change some ideas. Since more and more people approach yoga and start practicing, maybe it woud be a good way of preaching to do so. And maybe to publish as a small book also a work of mine named "The Philosophy of Kama Sutra" which shows that what people generally think of what "Kama Sutra" is about is very far from the reality of it as a Scripture and as a message and siddhanta... and in this way use the fame of "Kama Sutra" to show that actually it preaches Vaisnava ideas in disguize.
Health and sexuality are some of the top themes of the modern society and people need a good presentation based on ancient scriptures for both topics.
Bhrigu - March 6, 2009 4:07 pm
Since Patandjali's work had not been yet prublished in Bulgarian I started thinking maybe of doing it... I don't know yet... That's why I was searching for some Vaisnava translation of it into English because an impersonal translation could change some ideas. Since more and more people approach yoga and start practicing, maybe it woud be a good way of preaching to do so.
I agree that this sounds like a good idea, but I would suggest that instead of doing a translation and commentary, you would make a small book summarising the main ideas from a Vaishnava point of view. I think this might be more useful, and also easier for you since you don't know Sanskrit. I think this could be easily done by reading the abovementioned versions and hearing the classes mentioned.
There is a Bulgarian translation of the first three sutras here: http://hrih.hypermart.net/patanjali/bulgarian.htm
And maybe to publish as a small book also a work of mine named "The Philosophy of Kama Sutra" which shows that what people generally think of what "Kama Sutra" is about is very far from the reality of it as a Scripture and as a message and siddhanta... and in this way use the fame of "Kama Sutra" to show that actually it preaches Vaisnava ideas in disguize.
! That would be a first, no doubt! But seriously, it may not be the best idea. Those looking for juicy erotica would most likely be quite disappointed by your book, while Vaishnavas and others looking for serious philosophy would shy away from it. The Kama Sutra is an interesting text in many ways, but it really has very little to add to Vaishnavism. I might be wrong, but I don't think there is even a mangala sloka to Vishnu in it.
Prema-bhakti - March 6, 2009 4:50 pm
Actually, my Guru Maharaja, Dhanurdhara Swami, has just started giving classes on the Yoga Sutras every Wednesday evening. He is using a soon to be published translation by Edwin Bryant, professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University. Publication is expected later this spring by Farrar Straus & Giroux, a division of Macmillan. Professor Bryant is also known as Advaita dasa. He is a disciple of Haridasa Sastri. Based only on one class and not seeing the actual manuscript or book, I can't really say much more than that.
Here is a link to Maharaja's first class.
http://sanga.bhagavatmedia.com/2009/03/04/...of-patanjali-a/
I listened to Maharaja's first class and I think for any vaisnava wanting to approach Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and stay on track with bhakti would get a good deal out of it. It will be interesting to see where Maharaja takes it in his weekly class.
Yamuna Dasi - March 6, 2009 7:52 pm
! That would be a first, no doubt! But seriously, it may not be the best idea. Those looking for juicy erotica would most likely be quite disappointed by your book, while Vaishnavas and others looking for serious philosophy would shy away from it. The Kama Sutra is an interesting text in many ways, but it really has very little to add to Vaishnavism. I might be wrong, but I don't think there is even a mangala sloka to Vishnu in it.
Well, you don't have a drop of trust in me and what I had written about "The Philosophy of Kama Sutra"...
Actually B.K.Tirtha Maharaj also started lauging when I told him about my idea, but after that had published the article and presented it on the front cover of the Vaisnava magazine he's publishing in Hungary... Surprise! 
And believe me, not even a drop of "juicy erotica" in my article, only juicy sounding title. By the way I have it in English if you want to check it and tell me if you would shy away from me for writing it.
Just few siddhanta verses from Kama Sutra:
Kama Sutra 2:8:
“One must behave according to the instructions of those who know the Scriptures”.
Kama Sutra 2:14:
“The relative importance and value of things must be taken into consideration. Money is more important than love, social success more important than success in love, and virtue is more important than success and fortune.”
Kama Sutra 2:7:
“Actions such as abstaining from meat, because forbidden by the texts, are a matter of morality or dharma.”
Kama Sutra 2:16:
“The rules of virtue, which are connected with the spiritual life, can only be known through the authoritative texts.”
Kama Sutra 2:32:
“One cannot give oneself over to pleasure without restrictions. One’s activities must be coordinated taking due account of the importance of virtue and material goods.”
KS 2:33-34:
“The lewd man is vain. He undergoes humiliations, does not inspire trust, and attracts people’s scorn.
It can be observed that those who give themselves over to an exaggerated sexual life destroy themselves as well as their relations. “
KS 7.2.53:
“Reasonable people, aware of the importance of virtue, money, and pleasure, as well as the social convention, will not let themselves be led astray by passion.”
KS 7.2.54:
“These strange practices for stimulating eroticism have been described in accordance with the requirements of the subject dealt with, after which each must strive to make a choice.”
KS 7.2.56:
“Vatsyayana composed Kama Sutra according to the rules of holy scripture and in commodity with tradition, inspired by the work of the Babhravyas.”
KS 7.2.57:
“From the beginning to the end, from youthful chastity to final abnegation, one must succeed in life’s pilgrimage and not live to satisfy one’s passions.”
KS 7.2.58:
“He who wishes to preserve virtue, wealth, and love in this world and the next must have a thorough knowledge of this treatise and, at the same time, master his senses.”
And the last verse of "Kama Sutra" where it's siddhanta is given again in a nutshell:
KS 7.2.59:
“A shrewd man, expert in one thing or another, considering both ethics and his own material interests, must not be a sensualist thirsty for sex, but establish a stable marriage.”
This is the FINAL conclusion of Kama Sutra.
Do you still think that this cannot be used for preaching by using the fame of Kama Sutra? Maybe you can change your publishing schedule and publish "The Philosophy of Kama Sutra" first and Patanjali's "Yoga Sutra" after with the money from the sales of the first... :Batting Eyelashes:
Yamuna Dasi - March 9, 2009 10:13 pm
In hatha yoga usually one of the goals mentioned is the awakening and raising of Kundalini shakti. What is the Vaisnava opinion about this process and does bhakti yoga have any connection with Kundaini?