Many yoga students see Patanjali as the father of yoga; However, Patanjali was a sage who compiled the Yoga Sutras and took from various ideas about yoga that had existed before, such as Ashtanga or the eight-limbed path. It is more useful to consider Patanjali and his teachings as a gateway to older and older teachings.
Ancient texts tell us that the original founder of Yoga Dharshana (yoga vision or philosophy) was Hiranyagarbha, which means the golden embryo in Sanskrit. This is most importantly stated in the Bhagavad Geeta, which is the most important text in the Mahabharata.
According to certain lineages, the main disciple of Hiranyagarbha is the sage Vasishta, responsible for Yoga Vasishta, which is said to be one of the greatest written scriptures on the philosophy of yoga.
Vasishta Yoga takes ideas from Yoga philosophy, Samkhya philosophy, Jain Philosophy, Buddhism and Vedanta. The text is a discourse between Vasishta and Rama and is said to have been written before the Ramayana. It is also said to be one of the most important scriptures related to Yoga.
There is a specific belief that simply by reciting the verses of Yoga Vasishta one can achieve spiritual enlightenment.
The dialogue in the book is Rama as a spiritual seeker on his way to enlightenment speaking with the great enlightened sage Vasishta. By reading the conversation, one is also reading the direct path to the truth.
A very important concept – Vairagya in Sanskrit – or detachment is used as a starting point for the explanation of philosophy.
The Yoga Vasishta describes seven stages for enlightenment. The first is Subheccha or longing for the truth. The second is Vicarana or correct inquiry. The third is Tanumanasa or slowing down of mental activities. The fourth is Sattvapatti or the attainment of truth. The fifth is Asamsakti, where the yogi performs his duties or dharmas without any feeling of attachment to them or expectation of them. The sixth is Padartha Abhavana, where the yogi sees Brahman and unity everywhere. Finally, the yogi reaches permanent Turiya or Samadhi or enlightenment.
Going back to the founder of yoga now, some say that the ancient texts, the Vedas, the Upanishads, etc. refer to Hiranyagarbha as God Himself.
In the Rigveda, Hiranyagarbha is described as the God of the gods and mentions that no one accepts him. Ancient scriptures also name it as Brahman or the soul of the universe.
