 Title page of 1920 edition | |
| Author | Swami Vivekananda |
|---|---|
| Language | Hindi |
| Subject | Philosophy |
Publication date | 1896 |
| Text | Raja Yoga atWikisource |
Raja Yoga is a book bySwami Vivekananda about "Raja Yoga", his interpretation of Patanjali'sYoga Sutras adapted for a Western audience.[1] The book was published in July 1896.[2] It became an instant success and was highly influential in the Western understanding ofyoga.[3]
Raja Yoga contains transcripts of lectures byVivekananda on "Raja Yoga",[4] his interpretation of Patanjali'sYoga Sutras,[1] and a "rather free translation" of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras plus Vivekananda's commentaries, which also was a series of talks.[5] It presents Vivekananda's understanding and interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, "and a selection ofhathayoga teachings on the basis of the beliefs that he shared with his students."[6] These included elements from traditional Hinduism, but also ideas from western science,Idealism, and "the Neo-Vedantic esotericism of the Brahmo Samaj and Western occultism,"[7] includingmesmerism and "American Harmonial religion."[8]
Vivekananda adapted traditionalHindu ideas and religiosity to suit the needs and understandings of Western audiences, who were especially attracted by and familiar with Western esoteric traditions and movements liketranscendentalism andNew Thought.[9] An important element in his adaptation of Hindu religiosity was the introduction of his four yogas model, which includesRaja yoga, his interpretation of theYoga Sutras.[1] This offers a practical means to realize the divine force within, central to modern Western esotericism.[9] The other three yogas are the classicalKarma Yoga (Karma Yoga),Bhakti Yoga, andJnana Yoga (Jnana Yoga).
Vivekananda's interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras is mostly based on the part onastanga yoga, the eight limbs of yoga described in theSadhana Pada or practice part.[8] According to De Michelis, Vivekananda's ideas onRaja Yoga mainly consists of two different models,[8] with sometimes a third "mode of thought":
An appendix contains a translation of theYoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Raja Yoga became an instant success and was highly influential in Western understanding of yoga; Elizabeth De Michelis has suggested it marks the start ofmodern yoga, though that later took very different forms.[3][12] It presents exotic teachings to a cultic milieu that sought "ideologically familiar forms of practical spirituality."[6]
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