Gudrun Bühnemann, "Scholar, Serpent, Yogin, and Devotee: The Many Faces of Patañjali in Indian Traditions" (Brill, 2025)
About this episode
This episode explores the multifaceted figure of Patañjali in Indian traditions, examining his literary works, legendary accounts, and iconography.
Scholar, Serpent, Yogin, and Devotee: The Many Faces of Patañjali in Indian Traditions (Brill, 2025) illuminates the many faces of Patañjali in Indian traditions. Often regarded as an incarnation of the cosmic serpent Ādiśeṣa or Anantanāga, Patañjali is celebrated, in both story and art, as a grammarian, scholar and practitioner of yoga, physician-alchemist, medical authority, teacher, ascetic, and devotee of the Dancing Śiva (Naṭarāja). The first three chapters examine the literary works attributed to Patañjali, explore legendary accounts and beliefs associated with this multifaceted figure, and survey temples and shrines dedicated to the sage. The following five chapters trace the development of Patañjali’s iconography from its earliest forms in Tamilnadu, South India, to contemporary examples. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions
People in this episode
Host: Marshall Poe
Guest: Gudrun Bühnemann
Topics covered
- Patañjali
- Indian traditions
- yoga
- iconography
- literary works
- temples and shrines
Keywords
- Patañjali
- Ādiśeṣa
- Naṭarāja
- yoga
- iconography
- Tamilnadu
- Indian traditions
- literary works
- temples
- shrines
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Brill
Places: Tamilnadu, South India
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