Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā

The Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā, or “Light on Hatha Yoga,” is the most influential classical text on Hatha Yoga practice, written by Svātmārāma in the 15th century.

Overview

This text serves as a bridge between the earlier haṭha yoga tradition and modern physical yoga practices. It emphasizes bodily purification and postural practice as foundations for higher spiritual attainments.

Content

The work is organized into four chapters totaling approximately 389 verses, covering āsanas (postures), prāṇāyāma (breath control), mudrās (gestures), and samādhi (absorption). It describes 15 primary postures and various purification techniques (kriyās) designed to awaken the kuṇḍalinī energy. Svātmārāma traces the lineage of the teachings to Matsyendranātha of the Nātha tradition.

Significance

The Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā is one of the three classical texts of Hatha Yoga alongside the Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā and Śiva Saṃhitā. It directly influenced the development of modern postural yoga.

Verification notes

Authorship by Svātmārāma is well established. The dating to the 15th century is based on internal evidence and manuscript tradition.

• Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).