Page 245 - Adhiyoga Purana

Patanjali Code: A Story of Re-examining Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras
In the evolving world of Yoga scholarship, a significant milestone emerged with the publication of Dr. Adhiyogi’s new book—a re-examination and rearrangement of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The journey toward this work was years in the making, grounded in deep study, relentless teaching experience, and a passion for making the timeless wisdom of Yoga more accessible to modern seekers.
Dr. Hemachandra Dayarnav Kopardekar, himself a scholar of philosophy, recalls years of discussion with Adhiyogi about the need for a more logical and systematic arrangement of the Sutras. Many had attempted similar reworkings of ancient texts like the Bhagavad Gita, yet few dared to touch Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Adhiyogi’s open mind, deep study, and teaching experience became the perfect foundation for the task. The result, Kopardekar believed, would serve both dedicated students and seasoned scholars, offering a chapter scheme that progressed logically from Sankhya Dnyan to Kaivalya.
The seeds for this work were planted over a decade earlier when Adhiyogi had published Yoga Sutras of Patanjali – Proper Translation and Chanting, prefaced by the respected Sanskrit scholar Dr. Deviprasad Kharwandikar. At the time, Dr. Kharwandikar expressed a wish for a full commentary, but Adhiyogi chose instead to share his insights directly in the classroom.
Years of teaching to diverse audiences—from yoga enthusiasts to PhD candidates—revealed consistent difficulties students faced in understanding the Sutras. Sometimes the teaching process was joyous; at other times, it was a test of patience. Adhiyogi saw that the Sutras could be slippery and thorny—full of interpretive ambiguities, missing context, and logical gaps that commentators over centuries had tried to reconcile with mixed success.
It became clear to him that the traditional arrangement of the Sutras might have originated in oral teachings adapted to specific audiences, later compiled into written form. The referencing between Sutras was not always systematic, and certain foundational concepts were assumed rather than explained.
Thus began the painstaking work of re-examining and rearranging the Sutras into Prakaranas (sections), preserving Patanjali’s original essence while introducing clarifying modifications. New Sutras were added where needed, others amended or removed. The great Sanskritist Dr. Ganesh Umakant Thite skillfully Sanskritized these additions, allowing them to blend seamlessly into Patanjali’s classical composition.
In this volume, Adhiyogi presents only the critical comments necessary to explain his editorial decisions, reserving his full commentary for a future edition. An appendix includes his earlier Proper Translation & Chanting work, allowing readers to compare both versions.
Adhiyogi expects that the book will invite both appreciation and criticism. Some will see it as a bold re-examination of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras; others will view it as a refinement of his earlier work. Either way, the aim is the same—to make the Sutras clearer, more approachable, and more effective for study and practice.
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