188 SKETCH OF THE 



the subjects of their sculptures, and the decorations of Siva and his 

 attendants, belong to the same sect ;* whilst the philosophical tenets of 

 Patanjali are as ancient perhaps as most of the other philosophical 

 systems, and are prior to the Purdnas, by which they are inculcated in a 

 popular form. The practices of the Yoga are also frequently alluded to, 

 and enforced in the Mahabharat.\ There is little reason to question 

 therefore the existence and popularity of the Yoga in the early centuries 

 of the Christian era, but whether it was known and cultivated earlier must 

 be matter of vague conjecture alone. As represented in the Sankaravijaya, 

 (Section 41) the Yogis vindicate their doctrine by texts from the Vedas, 

 but the applicability of the texts is there denied, and is certainly far from 

 conclusive or satisfactory. 



The principal mode in which the Yoga takes a popular shape in 

 Upper India, is probably of comparatively recent origin. This is the sect 

 of Kanphata Jogis, who acknowledge as their founder, a teacher named 

 Gorakhnath, traces of whom are found in a Gorakhkshetra at Peshawer, 

 mentioned by Abuxfazl, and in the district and town of Gorakhpur, where 



painted white, and the names may be contrived accordingly; but we are still at a loss to understand 

 why the god himself should have a European complexion. 



* In the temples of Salsette, Elephanta, and Ellora, the principal figure is mostly Siva, deco- 

 rated with ear-rings, such as are still worn by the Kanphata Jogis ; the walls are covered with 

 ascetics in the various Asanas, or positions in which the Yogi is to sit ; a favourite subject of sculp- 

 ture at Elephanta and Ellora is the sacrifice of Daksha disconcerted, and the guests, though 

 saints and gods, put to rout, bruised and mutilated, by Virabhadra, and the Ganas of Siva, in 

 revenge for that deity's not having been invited, a story told in most of the Purdnas which incul- 

 cate the Yoga tenets. The cells attached to some of the temples are also indicative of Jogi 

 residence, and one of the caves of Salsette is named that of Jogiswara, or Siva, as lord of the Jogis. 

 Transactions of the Literary Society of Bombay. Vols. 1 and 2. 



f These allusions occur in the Vana Parva chiefly ; whilst in the Udyoga Parva, the ob- 

 servances of the Yoga are detailed at considerable length, and strenuously enjoined. 



