Lehrende: Dr. Philipp André Maas
Veranstaltungsart: Übung
Orga-Einheit: 03-Indologie und Zentralasienwissenschaften
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Semesterwochenstunden: 2
Unterrichtssprache: Englisch
Offizielle Kursbeschreibung: The Patañjalayogasastra (Patañjali’s authoritative exposition of Yoga) is the oldest preserved Sanskrit treatise coming from a Brahmanical milieu that deals with Yoga as a system of knowledge on spiritual liberation through meditation-derived proper knowledge (samyagjñana). Patañjali’s Yoga work consists of two frequently clearly distinguishable layers of text. The first layer consists of 195 brief nominal phrases, the so-called yogasutras, which serve as summaries or headings for the second layer of text. This layer is frequently depicted as a work in its own right, namely as a commentary on the famous Yogasutra called Yogabha?ya (“Yoga Explanation”), and attributed to the mythical figure Vyasa or Vedavyasa. In this seminar, we shall initially take a close look at the introductory passage of the Patañjalayogasastra, i.e., PYS 1.1-2, in the multiple versions that have been transmitted in manuscripts and printed editions. In a second step, we shall deal with the interpretations of this passage in the commentaries of Sa?kara (8th c.?), Vacaspatimisra (10th c.) and Bhoja (11th c.). We shall investigate the relationship of the commentaries to their reference text, the interpretations that the commentators offer, and the commentator’s degree of commitment to norms concerning the introduction of a sastra, such as providing a ma?gala stanza, naming the subject matter, its relation to the work under discussion and the aim of the treatise. By comparing different interpretations of Patañjali’s introductory passage and by relating them to the original text, we shall discover historical developments in the reception history of the foundational work of the Patañjala Yoga tradition that can be related to the religious history of medieval South Asia.
Organisatorisches: The course will be held online. Primary and secondary literature will be provided through the e-learning platform Moodle. The course has a workload of 5 ECTS, to be gained through regular prepared attendance of the course, and a short oral online-presentation (20 min.). Interested students are requested to contact Dr. Maas per email at philipp_andre.maas[at]uni-leipzig.de
