Classical Period
Submitted by divine_sysop on June 2, 2009 - 08:43
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Classical or Patanjali Period (500BC - 800 AD):
Patanjali lived sometime between the years 500 BC to 800 AD.
He applied a system to the principles of yoga. His main contribution was the treatise Yoga Sutra.
This book contains a total of 196 Sutras (aphorisms) that deal exclusively with various aspects of yoga.
Epics:
The two major Indian epics are Ramayana and Mahabharata. Detailed explanations regarding different schools of yoga like Karma Yoga, Bhakthi Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga and Sankhya Yoga are found in these epics.
The Puranas:
The Kurmapurana tells about Abhava Yoga, while in the Lingapurana we find references relating to Mantra Yoga and Sparsa Yoga. The Garuda Purana gives details about the methods for achieving Moksha or emancipation.
