The Five Vṛttis According to the Yoga Philosophy: A Philosophical Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63300/zm3cjx13Keywords:
Yoga Philosophy, Citta-vṛtti, Mental Modifications, Kliṣṭa and Akliṣṭa, Samādhi, Self-realizationAbstract
This paper offers a systematic philosophical analysis of the five mental modifications (vṛttis) described in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, namely: pramāṇa (valid cognition), viparyaya (misconception), vikalpa (verbal imagination), nidrā (sleep), and smṛti (memory). Grounded in classical Yogic literature and cross referenced with the Upaniṣads, the Bhagavad Gītā, and traditional commentaries, the study investigates the dual nature of each vṛtti as either kliṣṭa (afflictive) or akliṣṭa (non-afflictive). The paper emphasizes that vṛttis are not intrinsically binding or liberating, but attain their quality based on their alignment with ignorance or discrimination (viveka). By demonstrating how each vṛtti, including even seemingly inert states like sleep and memory, influences the spiritual path, the work reinforces the centrality of citta-vṛtti-nirodha (the cessation of mental modifications) as the core of Yoga. Further, it analyzes the transformative role of sustained practice (abhyāsa) and dispassion (vairāgya) in restraining vṛttis, ultimately leading to samādhi and Self-realization (svarūpa-avasthāna). In doing so, the paper contributes not only to the doctrinal understanding of Yoga philosophy but also to its practical relevance in inner transformation. The classification of vṛttis, as presented here, becomes a vital map for navigating the internal landscape of consciousness toward kaivalya (liberation).
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