AUTHOR(S): Ankit Ranga and Poonam Ahuja

ABSTRACT:
Pranayama occupies a pivotal position in the Indian yogic tradition, functioning both as a preparatory discipline for higher states of consciousness and as an independent sadhana with profound transformative potential. This paper undertakes a comprehensive comparative and philosophical analysis of pranayama as expounded in the Patanjali Yoga Sutra (PYS) and the Hatharatnavali (HRV). While Patanjali presents pranayama within a classical, Samkhya-informed metaphysical framework that emphasizes citta-shuddhi and the attenuation of kleshas, the Hatharatnavali articulates a Hatha Yoga paradigm grounded in prana-shakti, nadi-shuddhi, and kundalini-jagarana. Using a qualitative textual-comparative methodology supported by hermeneutic analysis and tabular synthesis, this study highlights both convergences and divergences in ontology, epistemology, soteriology, and yogic praxis. The findings demonstrate that pranayama functions as a vital bridge between metaphysical realization and embodied discipline, revealing complementary philosophical visions rather than contradictory systems.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/yogic.2025.v10.i2i.1852

Pages: 666-671  |  74 Views  29 Downloads