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Indian Journal of Ancient Medicine and Yoga 19(1):p 7-12, Jan-March 2026. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijamy.2455.8621.19126.1
Original Article
Elements of Yoga in the Skandha Mahapurana: A Comparative and Textual Study
Sasmita Nayak, Radha Madhab Dash
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Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
Indian Journal of Ancient Medicine and Yoga 19(1):p 7-12, Jan-March 2026. | DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijamy.2455.8621.19126.1
How Cite This Article:
Nayak S, Dash RM. Elements of Yoga in the Skandha Mahapurana: A Comparative and Textual Study. Ind J Anct Med Yoga. 2026;19(1):07-12Timeline
Received : October 25, 2025
Accepted : December 13, 2025
Published : March 30, 2026
Abstract
The Skanda Mahapurana (SMP) is one of the most comprehensive expositions of yogic philosophy in the Puranic literature. The purpose of this review is to detail the text’s philosophy of devotion and practical application, using its two presentations of Astanga and Sadanga Yoga, their philosophical, devotional and pragmatic dimensions within the text. The research presents an account to unpack the notion of Yoga under the SMP and compares it with Patanjala Yoga Sutras (PYS), listing all the similarities and differences in structural and spiritual orientation. The findings are that the SMP Astanga Yoga is deeply related to the classical system, focusing on moral control, concentration and meditation on Lord Visnu. At the same time, Sadanga Yoga is an ascetic, devotional path of life and is closer to Hatha Yoga and the ascetic path of Lord Siva; thus, it was also closely related to the Hatha teachings. The fusion of the two systems demonstrates the Puranic vision of the unification of philosophical meditation with ethical behaviour and devotional practice in an integrated path towards moksa (liberation).
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Whether all authors contributed significantly to the work and approve its publication.
Ethics Declaration
This article does not involve any human or animal subjects, and therefore does not require ethics approval.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to the patients, their families, and all those who have contributed to this study.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.
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Cite this article
Nayak S, Dash RM. Elements of Yoga in the Skandha Mahapurana: A Comparative and Textual Study. Ind J Anct Med Yoga. 2026;19(1):07-12
Licence:
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
| Received | Accepted | Published |
|---|---|---|
| October 25, 2025 | December 13, 2025 | March 30, 2026 |
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21088/ijamy.2455.8621.19126.1
Keywords
Skanda MahapuranaAstanga YogaSadanga YogaBhaktiMoksaSearch for Similar Articles
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Timeline
| Received | October 25, 2025 |
| Accepted | December 13, 2025 |
| Published | March 30, 2026 |
licence
Attribution-Non-commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)
This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
