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DarśanaHistorical tradition

Pātañjala Yoga (Classical Yoga)

Pātañjala Yoga Darśana

Pātañjala Yoga is the classical darśana codified in the Yoga Sūtras (c. 2nd–4th c. CE), defining yoga as the stilling of the movements of the mind (citta-vṛtti-nirodha) and mapping the eight limbs (aṣṭāṅga): yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi. The date and identity of Patañjali are debated by scholars.

Origin: c. 2nd–4th c. CE
Geographical roots: India (textual)
📜 Historical traditionA pre-modern tradition. Content reflects scholarly consensus; uncertain points are marked accordingly.Historically Documented

Historical development

Pātañjala Yoga is the classical darśana codified in the Yoga Sūtras (c. 2nd–4th c. CE), defining yoga as the stilling of the movements of the mind (citta-vṛtti-nirodha) and mapping the eight limbs (aṣṭāṅga): yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna and samādhi. The date and identity of Patañjali are debated by scholars.

Principal Gurus & Ācāryas

Guru–disciple links are shown only where historically supported; traditional attributions are marked as such and never asserted as fact.

Key scriptures (Śāstra)

Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali

Core practices

DhāraṇāDhyānaSamādhiPratyāhāra

Modern transmission

It remains the single most-cited philosophical reference across modern yoga teacher training.

NOSTOPS teachers in this tradition

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Affiliations are shown with their verification state. A teacher's self-declared affiliation is never presented as a verified lineage.