[Advaita-l] Query on Ishvara in the Yoga darshana

[Naresh Cuntoor]

Per Patanjali's yogasutras, Ishvara is considered a special PuruSha.
To quote the relevant sutras:

"klesha-karma-vipAkAshaiH aparAmRuShTaH puruSha-visheShaH IshvaraH".

Ishvara is that special PuruSha who is untouched by the five
afflications, deeds and results accruing (according to deeds and
vAsanAs).

... "tasya vAchakaH praNavaH"
Om is his designator.

Ishvara is also said to be the Guru of the ancients (sa pUrveShAmapi
guruH ...). He, like other puruShas, is the knower of the intelllect.
("buddheH pratisaMvedI puruShaH" - Vyasa).

So, there is no reference to vedantic/paurANic themes of sRuShTi-kartA, etc.

Some say, however, that these references to Ishvara are a latter
addition to the yogasutras.


-Naresh

On Fri, Jan 16, 2009 at 4:17 AM, Ramesh Krishnamurthy
<rkmurthy at gmail.com> wrote:
> 2009/1/16 Shrinivas Gadkari <sgadkari2001 at yahoo.com>:
>>
>> This is assuming one wants to use yoga sutras in an integrated and
>> constructive manner with gitA, vedanta - take what you feel is
>> useful and leave out complicated themes like kaivalya  (if it
>> is taken to mean a final goal in itself).
>>
>
> No, I am not talking about integration with gItA or vedAnta but
> specifically the position of the classical yoga darshana on Ishvara.
> By classical yoga darshana, I mean the system represented collectively
> by the yogasUtra-s, the vyAsabhAShya and perhaps the tattvavaishAradI
> of vAchaspati mishra.
>
> According to the above system, which of the following are true for Ishvara:
> 1) sAkShI
> 2) karmaphaladAtA
> 3) sRShTi kartA
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