Īśvara Pranidhānam - The Fifth and Final Niyama of the Eight Limbs of Yog
Īśvara Pranidhānam
II.45 Samādhi-siddhih īśvara-pranidhānāt
The fifth and final niyama (personal observances) is īśvara pranidhānam, 2.45 Samādhi-siddhih īśvara-pranidhānāt of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras. When translated, īśvara pranidhānam means “Through surrendering to a higher power, the siddhi (accomplishment) of samādhi.”
Like with tapas and svādhyaya, īśvara pranidhānam is also mentioned in the first sutra of chapter two; however, its meaning is different in the niyamas. When īśvara pranidhānam is referenced in the beginning of chapter two, as part of Kriya Yoga (Yoga in Action), it means, “have an attitude of acceptance,” “let your focus be on the action, not on the result,” and “let there be some trust, faith, or belief that things will unfold as they are meant to be, granted you are taking the correct action”. Īśvara pranidhānam in that context is part of a set of attitudes that apply to all activities. Here, in Ashtanga Yoga, when discussed as part of the niyamas, īśvara pranidhānam is part of a set of practices that help us discern our Knowing on a consistent basis. It’s important not to confuse this word’s meaning in its different contexts, or else the entire goal will be misunderstood or lost.
In practical terms, īśvara pranidhānam as a niyama means belief in a higher power is very helpful in one’s practice of Yoga, one’s well-being, and one’s life.
Patañjai also mentions īśvara pranidhānam in Book I of the Yoga Sūtras (it has a similar meaning in the niyamas). He explains that, if we believe in a higher power, it is helpful for us, for our minds, and for our state. If we have faith that there is something more to this world than materiality, it’s easier for us to deal with, and operate within, materiality.
Patañjali tells us to choose some belief, some faith in a higher power, to help us along on our journey.
The word “īśvara” literally means “Lord” and “pranidhāna” means “to surrender” or “devotion to.” Samādhi means “liberation” or “enlightenment,” and is the eighth limb of Ashtanga Yoga. Samādhi is a siddhi — this is very important to understand! The word siddhi means "exceptional accomplishment” or “extraordinary power”. Since samādhi is a siddhi, this means that samādhi is not something that you can generate through force or will. It is something in which the context is laid, the environment is set out, and — as a result — something happens (i.e. flowers bloom in the right season and with the right watering, nutrition, and soil, etc.).
Īśvara pranidhānam is what generates the siddhi of samādhi. As a result of īśvara pranidhānam, the accomplishment (extraordinary power) is/of samādhi.
Why is this important? Because the continual cultivation of samādhi, as a result of our mediation practice, is what allows us to more accurately and frequently connect with and operate from our Knowing (intuition, gut, soul, etc.); the foundational piece of generating samādhi is belief in a higher power.
What is belief in a higher power exactly? It means that we believe, trust, and feel the experiences of “things being orchestrated.” If we believe something (the universe, God, etc.) is orchestrating things around us, or that things happen for a purpose (even though it may not turn out the way we had wanted or expected), things have a way of turning out alright. Another way of saying this is that we are open to, and trust in, the Universe.
If we have this confidence and belief, then no matter what happens we can remain unruffled. Yes, we can be sad or angry (we’re human!), but if we stay relaxed, balanced, and present, then we will know how to proceed. This knowing of how to proceed means we are tuned in, we are listening, and we can follow with faith — our Knowing.
Through belief in or surrender to a higher power, samādhi manifests — this is íśvara pranidhānam.
A note for context: My perspective is based in the Viniyoga/Desikachar lineage. Viniyoga is a traditional Indian lineage of Yoga taught by TKV Desikachar, who was the son of Krishnamacharya. My teacher, Chase Bossart, was a 20+ year private student of Mr. Desikachar. I have studied this text with Chase, word for Sanskrit word, for the past four years.
Stay tuned to learn more about the rest of the Eight Limbs in my upcoming blog articles.
Namaste,
Kelly