Comparison Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita
Differences and similarities between the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
To the West, is usually exclusively associated with the “yoga philosophy”, Raja Yoga, etc. since Swami Vivekananda introduced it to the United States and England in the 19th century. But in India, for centuries, the philosophy of yoga has encompassed many more texts, with the Bhagavad Gita being the sacred text of reference, since it contains the essence of Vedanta.
Both the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali's Aphorisms on Yoga are Moksha Sastra and Yoga Sastra, a path of liberation (Moksha) and Self-Knowledge, both of which are part, in a broad sense, the philosophy of Yoga. There are many similarities but also many differences that the seeker should be aware of.
Index - Comparison Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita
- Introduction to the Bhagavad Gita
- What is Yoga according to the Bhagavad Gita?: Yoga, means union. Union with your true self, and through it, with Brahman (God)
- Vedanta: the Bhagavad Gita is its essence
- Introduction to the
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
- Samadhi Pada
- Sadhana Pada
- Vibhuti Pada
- Kaivalya Pada
- Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by . At the end of the 19th century, Vivekananda made them known to the West. Since then they have been part of the philosophy of yoga, as understood to the West
- Introduction to Kapila's Sankhya Philosophy: Both the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras are based on Sankhya. Although Shankaracharya considered Sankhya to be totally opposite to Vedanta
- Yoga Sastra: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Bhagavad Gita. Both are authoritative texts on yoga
- Bhagavad Gita (revealed writing, Shruti), Yoga Sutras (Smriti). The Bhagavad Gita (Shruti) is considered the highest authority on Sanatana Dharma scriptures
- Philosophy of Yoga (Sutras of Patanjali), Vedanta (Bhagavad Gita). The Yoga Sutras mark a single scientific path controlling the mind by Dhyana. The Bhagavad Gita suggests four Yogas, and delves into Brahma-Jnana.
- Science and Philosophy of Yoga (according to the Bhagavad Gita)
- Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras: Spiritual Science (Para-vidya)
- Aphorisms (Sutras), verses (Shlokas, Bhagavad Gita). The Yoga Sutras are focused on the mind, the Bhagavad Gita on both the mind and the heart
- Style: Yoga Sutras (formal), Bhagavad Gita (poetry)
- Format: Bhagavad Gita (dialogue), Yoga Sutras (scientific text)
- Technique of repetition of the Bhagavad Gita, Non-repetition of the Yoga Sutras
- Length of the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras Patanjali: 700 Shlokas / 196 Aphorisms
- Raja Yoga
There are two fundamental differences between the two:
- The Aphorisms on Yoga, as a scientific treatise, are mind-oriented while the Bhagavad Gita, as an emotional dialogue in verse between Sri Krishna (the supreme incarnation of Knowledge) and Arjuna, make both the mind and the heart vibrate
- Furthermore, the Yoga Sutras mark a rigid path (as a scientific treatise): that of meditation (Dhyana) to achieve Samadhi
Patanjali's Yoga system is based on achieving liberation through advanced stages of meditation (Dhyana)
The Bhagavad Gita, as essence of Vedanta, define four Paths or yogas to achieve Moksha:
We have prepared this Online Guide so that both yoga teachers, students and seekers can know the differences and similarities between the Bhagavad Gita and the Yoga Sutras.
Anyone who wants to begin studying or training in the philosophy of Yoga will find in this guide several comparisons that will help you better make your decision about whether it is better to study the Bhagavad Gita or yoga Sutras of Patanjali. And we anticipate that the answer is that it is necessary to study both.
Thank you very much, Om Namaste, Pedro Nonell (Director of the Bhagavad Gita Institute)
Comparación Yoga Sutras of Patanjali y Bhagavad Gita.
More information on the Bhagavad Gita:
- Spirituality, religion and the Bhagavad Gita
- Do you need to believe in anything to benefit from the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita?
- Do we have to accept any dogma in the Bhagavad Gita?
- Chain of knowledge transmission of the Bhagavad Gita
- How to study the Bhagavad Gita
- Which version of the Bhagavad Gita to choose?
Listen to the video of Pedro Nonell with English subtitles
Listen to the Gita in Spanish recited by Pedro Nonell
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Swami Vivekananda
Example of the subject: The Sankhya Philosophy by Swami Vivekananda
Example: Chapter 6 verse 29 of the Bhagavad Gita (Swami Vidya Prakashananda)
Chapter 2, verse 16 (Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda)
(c) Gita Institute & Pedro Nonell
