Patanjali

Patanjali, an ancient Indian scholar, is primarily known for two major Sanskrit works: the *Yoga Sutras* and the *Mahābhāṣya*. The *Yoga Sutras* is a foundational text for yoga philosophy and practice, with estimates of its author's life ranging from the 2nd century BCE to the 5th century CE. The *Mahābhāṣya*, a significant work on Sanskrit grammar, is firmly dated to the 2nd century BCE. There is ongoing scholarly debate regarding whether these works were authored by the same individual or by different individuals named Patanjali. Early traditions, particularly from the 11th century onwards, suggested a single Patanjali responsible for yoga, grammar, and medical texts, a notion memorialized in a verse by Bhoja. However, Indologists like Louis Renou have highlighted significant linguistic and stylistic differences between the *Mahābhāṣya* and the *Yoga Sutras*, leading many Western scholars to conclude they were likely authored by distinct individuals. Patanjali is also credited with authorship of medical texts, such as the *Patanjalatantra*, though these works are largely lost. In some traditions, Patanjali is revered as an avatar of Adi Sesha. The Tamil Saiva Siddhanta tradition links Patanjali to learning yoga from Guru Nandhi Deva. While the *Yoga Sutras* gained prominence as a cornerstone of classical yoga, its influence on modern postural yoga is questioned by some scholars, who note the text's minimal focus on physical postures and breathing exercises.