Patanjali (Sanskrit: पतञ्जलि, IAST: Patañjali, Sanskrit pronunciation: also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra, was a Hindu author, mystic and philosopher. Estimates based on analysis of his works suggests that he may have lived between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE.[1] Patanjali is regarded as an avatar of Adi Sesha.[2]
He is believed to be an author and compiler of a number of Sanskrit works.[1] The greatest of these are the Yoga Sutras, a classical yoga text. There is speculation as to whether the sage Patañjali is the author of all the works attributed to him, as there are a number of known historical authors of the same name. A great deal of scholarship has been devoted over the 20th century to the issue of the historicity or identity of this author or these authors.[3]
