Die Yogis im Dattātreyayogaśāstra

The Teachings in the Dattātreyayogaśāstra

Although Dattātreya proclaims the teachings, the various branches of Yoga are attributed to different teachers:

Layayoga is taught by Śiva in the form of Bhairava. The attribution of Layayoga to Śiva aligns with other Śaiva texts and is therefore not surprising.

Haṭha Yoga appears in two versions:

One is attributed to Yājñavalkya.
The second version is attributed to Kapila.

The association of Kapila with Haṭha Yoga techniques for controlling life energy is unusual, as such techniques are typically linked to Śiva or teachers from his tradition.

Part of the tradition is connected to Vedic teachings, which is why the classical Aṣṭāṅga system is attributed to Yājñavalkya. However, another part of the tradition diverges from this lineage. New and unconventional Haṭha Yoga practices are integrated into the traditional teachings. Dattātreya and Kapila reflect this tension, as will become clear below.

Dattātreya – The Divine Teacher

The sage Dattātreya, to whom the text is attributed, is mentioned for the first time in the Mahābhārata (ca. 4th century BCE to 4th century CE), where he is listed among a group of sages (ṛṣis).

In the Jābāla Upaniṣad (ca. 3rd century CE), he is described as one of the spiritual masters (paramahaṁsa) who roams naked and behaves in unconventional ways.

Later, he is often regarded as both a ṛṣi and an incarnation of the god Viṣṇu. This connection to Viṣṇu is mentioned in several ancient scriptures, where he is frequently described as the son of the renowned sage Atri and his virtuous wife Anasūyā.

The most extensive portrayal of Dattātreya can be found in the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa (ca. 4th to 6th century CE), where he is depicted as both a sage and a yogin, as well as an incarnation of Viṣṇu. In several chapters of this text, Dattātreya teaches Yoga.

Yājñavalkya – The Vedic Ṛṣi

Yājñavalkya has an ancient pedigree as a Vedic Ṛṣi and is associated in the Dattātreyayogaśāstra with the practice of eightfold (Aṣṭāṅga) Yoga.

In the Mahābhārata (ca. 4th century BCE to 4th century CE), Yājñavalkya teaches a system of Yoga that is said to be derived from the Vedas, containing elements later linked to him in the Dattātreyayogaśāstra.

Yājñavalkya also features prominently in texts like the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (ca. 8th century BCE) and the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (ca. 8th century BCE), where he presents philosophical teachings that are central to Vedānta thought.

Two works are attributed to Yājñavalkya:

The earlier work is Yogayājñavalkya (600–850 CE), composed in the late first millennium. It describes an eightfold Yoga system in which the names of the eight Aṅgas reappear in the Dattātreyayogaśāstra, though the specifics differ.
A later work, also called Yoga-Yājñavalkya (14th century CE), was likely written in the 14th century. This text outlines a different system of eightfold Yoga, which also does not correspond to the system in the Dattātreyayogaśāstra.

Kapila – The Multifaceted Teacher

The energetic-physical techniques of Haṭha Yoga described in the Dattātreyayogaśāstra are attributed to a teacher named Kapila.

Kapila appears in various roles within Indian religious history:

Kapila as an ascetic is known for his opposition to Vedic orthodoxy, often challenging dominant Brahmanical beliefs.
He is also seen as a major figure in a non-Vedic ascetic tradition rooted in the Magadha region.
Kapila is most widely known as the founder of the Sāṅkhya tradition, which maintains a close relationship with Yoga.
Furthermore, he is associated with the teaching of certain virtues that are essential for attaining liberation.
Finally, in some traditions, Kapila is viewed as an incarnation of Viṣṇu, underscoring his multifaceted and influential role in Indian religious history.

The Dattātreyayogaśāstra is the first known text to link Kapila with the physical techniques of Haṭha Yoga. This connection is rare in later texts and was likely influenced by this initial reference.

In the Haṭhapradīpikā, Kapila and Dattātreya are portrayed as sages who practiced Haṭha Yoga. Other texts mention that Kapila and other Siddhas mastered semen control through vajrolī and attained perfection using mahāmudrā.

Sāṃkṛti – The Student with Multiple Teachers

The sage Sāṃkṛti is the student of Dattātreya in the Dattātreyayogaśāstra and appears in other texts as a seeker of knowledge:

In the Akṣi Upaniṣad (10th–13th century CE), Sāṃkṛti is taught by Āditya, highlighting his role as a student of multiple teachers.
Later texts, composed after the Dattātreyayogaśāstra, also depict Sāṃkṛti as a student of Dattātreya in the context of Yoga teachings.

Nr̥siṁha – The Man-Lion

In the Dattātreyayogaśāstra, Nr̥siṁha, the “Man-Lion,” symbolizes divine power and balance. As the fourth incarnation (avatāra) of Viṣṇu, he is especially revered for his role as a protector.

In the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (8th–10th century CE), Nr̥siṁha appears to defeat the tyrant Hiraṇyakaśipu, who had gained supernatural powers through ascetic practices and believed himself invincible.
The hybrid form of Nr̥siṁha – half-man, half-lion – fulfills the conditions under which Hiraṇyakaśipu could be defeated, illustrating divine power's ability to surpass human ambition.

Nr̥siṁha is a prominent figure in many Indian traditions and frequently appears in tantric texts and Yoga lineages as a guiding figure. The warrior caste, in particular, venerates him as the “Great Protector” whose strength transcends physical might, embodying ideals of protection and the pursuit of higher values.

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