Re: [INDOLOGY] Yama/niyama in PÄ Å›upata and Yoga

[Rafal Kleczek]

Thank you very much for your observations. I have not been aware of the
variations on the concept of yama/niyama in Puranas and later Yogic texts,
it is most interesting.
The subject of difference in "niyama" regulations for ascetics at different
stages in Kauṇḍinya's theory is quite interesting. Kauṇḍinya himself
considers it a peculiar trait of the system, or scripture ("tantra"). At
the same time, a similar differentiation of niyama rules seems to be
accepted by some early Naiyāyikas, who otherwise seem to follow quite
closely the theory of Patañjali (with regard to the practice of Yoga).
Even though it seems true, that Nyāya came under influence of Pāśupata
authors at some point, this idea of differentiation of niyamas is hinted at
even in Vātsyāyana's Bhāṣya--which was written too early to speak about
Pāśupata influence, I think. Hence the search for other possible sources of
this peculiar variation.
With best wishes,
Rafal

On 26 April 2016 at 20:52, Seth Powell <sethpowell at g.harvard.edu> wrote:

> Dear Rafal,
>
> Later medieval tantric and Haṭhayoga treatises sometimes include both 10
> yamas and 10 niyamas. For example, Chapter 25 of the *Śāradā*
> *tilakatantra*, the *Śivayogadīpikā*, *Yogayajñāvalkya*, and many
> others — and here, I imagine, particularly for the Śaiva texts, they might
> be drawing from the earlier Pāśupata yoga traditions.
>
> As always, across these yoga texts and traditions, there is fluidity and
> malleability, but they seem to all draw from a shared yama-niyama palette,
> if you will. The īśvāra-praṇidhāna of the PYŚ, for example, often takes on
> a more sectarian flavor in the later texts, such as śaṅkara-pūjanaṃ
> in the *Śivayogadīpikā*.
>
> Yet, often the medieval yoga texts appear to explicitly omit them, such as
> Svātmārāma’s *Haṭhapradīpikā* (although a later 10-chapter version of
> this text does include yamas and niyamas), and thus we are left to
> speculate on their optionality. Perhaps they were left to be filled in by a
> guru, or elsewhere from a sectarian tradition, or were in fact left out of
> yogic praxis entirely (although I doubt this). But I think it’s safe to say
> if they are included in a prescriptive yoga text, they were not considered
> optional for that author, but rather par for the course. This is most clear
> in the PYŚ and its commentaries, as Prof. Bryant astutely notes, but I
> think also holds for the later medieval texts as well.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Seth
>
> ---
>
> *Seth D. Powell*
> *Doctoral Student*
> Committee on the Study of Religion
> Harvard University
>
> *ATG Student Consultant*
> Academic Technology Group (ATG)
> Harvard University Information Technology
>
> *p* 707 494 4721
> *e* sethpowell at g.harvard.edu
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 26, 2016, at 8:02 AM, edbryant at rci.rutgers.edu wrote:
>
>
> 1. Are there other traditions which consider yama regulations to be
> permanent, and niyamas to be subject to change, depending on time, place,
> etc.? Is it a common understanding of the division between yama and niyama
> among philosophers of Yoga, or in other branches of Åšaivism?
>
>
> I don't recall reading this in any YS commentary. It probably comes from
> the idea that it is after the yama verse that Patanjali stresses (with
> uncharacteristic emphasis, one might add, both in terms of his own overall
> tone, and in terms of the sutra penchant for non-repetition or
> redundancy), that they are inviolable (i.e. he chose not to state this
> after the niyama verse which follows the yama verse). However, 3 of the
> niyamas are listed under kriya yoga in the opening verse of chapter 2, so,
> given they are repeated again in the astanga section there is no sense in
> the YS tradition that they are optional.
>
> 2. Are there other traditions accepting ten yama regulations?
>
>
> The Bhagavata Purana has 10 yamas.  If the Pasupata texts have 10, I would
> probably search the Siva, Skandha or Linga puranas for precedents.
>
> With best wishes,  Edwin Bryant.
>
>
>
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