Yoga in Dahab
Patanjali
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The system of Asthanga Yoga was described by the Indian scholar Patañjali who codified his thoughts and knowledge of yoga coming from ancient Sanskrit texts. He describes eight limps along the path to self-realization.
We know little about the life of Patañjali. Mostly it's said that Patanjali lived and wrote his book on Yoga (Yoga Sutras) somewhere between 300 B.C. and 200 A.D.
Legend tells that the people were suffering and so they prayed to Vishnu to help them. They did this with the Anjali Mudra, which is formed by the hands making a bowl and raise them to the sky.
Vishnu was resting on his bed, which is formed by Adisesha (= the first Sesha, king of snakes). Shesha is said to hold all the planets of the Universe on his hoods and to constantly sing the glories of Vishnu from all his mouths. The king of all snakes (naga) is generally depicted with a massive form that floats coiled in space, or on the universal ocean, to form the bed for Vishnu. When Vishnu heard the praying of the people on earth and told Adisesha to reincarnate in human form and bring the people knowledge that could end their suffering. So Adisesha took the form of Patañjali and fell out from heaven into the praying hands. Patañjali means “pata” to fall and “jali” referring to this mudra. Patañjali is therefore considered an emanation or incarnation of Shesha and is iconographically depicted in naga form with naga canopy.
Following the path of Asthanga Yoga is considered a tool to reduce and/or end suffering.
Usually Patañjalis statue is white as a symbol for purity. Sometimes he holds a cone and a sword. The cone stands for knowledge (makes a sound) and the sword for the power to remove obstacles. A snake with 1000 heads forms a hood over his head. The snake stands for the ability to adapt to any climate, area and circumstances. The 1000 heads symbolise 1000 solutions for 1000 problems.
The lower part of the body is often in snake form referring to the incarnation of Shesha, the king of snakes.
It’s believed that Patanjali wrote also a book about grammar for communication and a book about Ayurveda, but modern science thinks that these books have been written by another sage with the same name.