Mysore Yoga Traditions Online Studies Program Presents
Yoga Sara Sangraha
ONLINE PHILOSOPHY COURSE WITH DR. H. V. NAGARAJ RAO
STARTING SUNDAY, June 22 2025
8:00AM CENTRAL USA TIME
14:00 WESTERN EUROPE
18:30 INDIA TIME
Yoga Sara Sangraha
Course Description: Yoga-Sāra-Saṅgraha with Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao
Following his illuminating course on Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras, Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao now leads students into the depths of classical yoga philosophy with the study of Yoga-Sāra-Saṅgraha. This important 16th-century Sanskrit text by the renowned scholar Vijnānabhikṣu is a distillation of the Yoga Sūtras and the Yoga-Vārttika, his detailed commentary on the original sūtras.
Vijnānabhikṣu, a master of Sāṅkhya, Yoga, and Vedānta, composed the Yoga-Sāra-Saṅgraha as a stand-alone work that captures the essence of yogic thought in an accessible and structured form. Drawing from śruti, smṛti, and purāṇic sources, he clarifies and expands upon the core concepts of yoga, offering insight into its metaphysical foundations, practical discipline, and liberating potential.
This course offers students a rare opportunity to explore this lesser-known but deeply significant text with one of India’s foremost Sanskrit scholars. It is ideal for serious students of yoga who have completed the Yoga Sūtras course and wish to deepen their understanding of the classical roots of yoga.
Duration: 10 weeks
Format: Weekly live sessions systematically exploring the Yoga Sara Sangraha in depth with Dr. Rao, who provides expert explanations based on his extensive knowledge of Sanskrit and classical Indian philosophy.
Overview of the Yoga-Sāra-Saṅgraha
by Vijnānabhikṣu – Course with Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao
The Yoga-Sāra-Saṅgraha is a profound and structured summary of classical Yoga philosophy composed by the great 16th-century scholar Vijnānabhikṣu. Building upon his authoritative commentary, the Yoga-Vārttika, this text presents the distilled essence of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras in a thematic and accessible format. Unlike traditional commentaries that follow the order of the sūtras, Vijnānabhikṣu arranges the teachings here by subject matter, offering a coherent and practical roadmap to understanding the philosophy and practice of Yoga.
The work is divided into four major sections:
1. The Form and Aim of Yoga:
This opening section introduces the fundamental principles of Yoga, including the nature of the mind (vṛtti), the process of mental restraint (nirodha), and the two main types of meditation: samprajñāta (with object) and asamprajñāta (without object). Vijnānabhikṣu discusses the four stages of meditative absorption—vitarka (reasoning), vicāra (reflection), ānanda (bliss), and asmitā (pure I-sense)—as well as the progression of the yogi through deeper internal stages. Concepts such as the role of God (Īśvara), karma, and the transformative effects of meditation are also addressed.
2. The Means of Yoga:
This section outlines the practical tools and disciplines needed for yogic advancement. It includes descriptions of both preliminary practices and the classical eight limbs of Yoga (aṣṭāṅga-yoga): yama, niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna, and samādhi. Vijnānabhikṣu provides insights into the relevance of Yoga for both renunciates and householders, emphasizing how internal purification and sustained discipline lead to liberation.
3. Occult Powers (Siddhis):
Here, the text explores the extraordinary capacities that may arise from advanced yogic practice, such as the eight classical perfections (aṇimā, mahimā, laghimā, prāpti, prakāmya, īśitva, vaśitva, and kāmāvasāyitva). These are presented not as the goal, but as byproducts of concentrated discipline (saṃyama). The section also discusses the transformation of the body and perception that can result from high-level sādhanā.
4. Isolation (Kaivalya):
The final section deals with the metaphysical culmination of yogic practice: kaivalya, or ultimate liberation. Vijnānabhikṣu discusses the nature of the liberated state and engages with alternate schools of thought such as Vedānta and Vaiśeṣika. He concludes with profound reflections on śabda (sound), sphoṭa (the inner essence of word), the nature of space (ākāśa), and the expansive capacities of the mind and time.
Throughout the Yoga-Sāra-Saṅgraha, Vijnānabhikṣu supports his teachings with citations from śruti, smṛti, and purāṇic literature, grounding his exposition in the broader Vedic tradition. Written in clear, approachable Sanskrit, the text blends prose with poetic quotations, making it both scholarly and accessible.
This course, taught by Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao, offers students a rare opportunity to engage deeply with this important work and gain a holistic understanding of classical Yoga—not only as a system of meditation, but as a path to knowledge, transformation, and liberation.
Dr. Rao will clarify the parallels between the Yoga Sutras, Samkhya philosophy, and Upanishadic teachings, offering a holistic understanding of the path to liberation.
Course Highlights:
Sanskrit Proficiency: Sutras will be read, chanted, and interpreted in Sanskrit.
Philosophical Insights: Cross-references to classical texts such as the Samkhya Karika, Upanishads, and Mahabharata.
Practical Application: Guidance on incorporating the teachings into daily life and meditation practices.
Interactive Discussions: Opportunities to engage with Dr. Rao and fellow participants in exploring the nuances of the text.
Interactive WhatsApp Group : Share ideas and interact with other members of the course.
This course offers a profound exploration of the Yoga Sara Sangraha, guided by Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao, whose unparalleled expertise in Sanskrit and classical Indian philosophy ensures a profound learning experience.
The course will proceed as follows
(Approximately) Ten lectures each Sunday / 10 hours of lecture with Dr. Rao.
(Each lecture will be a minimum of 1 hour, with time for questions and answers at the end. Sessions usually last about one hour and fifteen minutes)
*Depending on how many questions we have and how quickly we move through the material it may take more time to complete the course.
It will be helpful to purchase a copy of the Yoga Sara Sangraha to read between sessions so you understand the material more thoroughly.
These are available on Amazon.com
You can also find free digital copies online: CLICK HERE to see the full text you will be studying.
Tuition: $89.99 USD (Join before June 10th for the Earlybird Price)
Tuition will be $108 after June 10th
To join the course, please fill out the form below, submit, and then click “join the course” for payment.
*NOTE: If you don't fill out the form below, you will not receive your Zoom links!
If you cannot attend the live sessions, don’t worry! Lecture recordings will be provided to all participants. Recordings are yours to keep after the course is complete. These also include a written essay of the content covered in each lesson.
*We have a limited number of discount scholarships for sincere students who have difficulty to pay the full tuition. Contact Andrew for details (contact info is below). We are dedicated to sharing this knowledge and no one will be excluded because of money.
A brief Bio of Dr. H. V. Nagaraj Rao
Vidwan H.V. Nagaraja Rao is a great scholar of Sanskrit grammar who has been trained in both traditional and modern methods of education. His specialty is Sanskrit grammar and poetics. In his early years, he was a researcher at the Oriental Research Institute in Mysore and has published many original Sanskrit works with English and Kannada translations. Dr. Rao has also lectured in many countries around the world, including Thailand, Hong Kong, the United States, Israel, and England. He has taught Sanskrit at the University of Chicago as a visiting professor and was invited as a fellow to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Rao guided the World Sanskrit Conference in Edinburgh, England, in 2006, where he delivered a speech in chaste Sanskrit. Dr. Rao was awarded honors for his translations by the Sahitya Academy, the highest literary body in India, in 2006. Recently, he was chosen for honor by the President of India as a noted Sanskrit scholar. He is the honorary editor of Sudharma, the only Sanskrit daily newspaper in the world. With his razor-sharp wit, at the age of 80, Dr. Rao continues his lifelong passion for teaching and sharing ancient Indian knowledge systems with people from around the world.
Professor Rao has an uncanny ability to shed new light on texts such as theYoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads with his infectious passion for logic and philosophy and his excellent ability to communicate in English. Students leave his presentations with a feeling of liberation from the mundane and inspiration to strive for higher goals in life.