Date of the Hathayogapradipika of Svatmarama Muni

Summary

This article investigates the date of the Hathayogapradipika (HP), one of the foundational texts on Hatha Yoga. The author reviews previous scholars’ views, including Farquhar’s suggestion that the HP was composed between the 14th and 18th centuries, and notes that some have dated it as early as 1350 or as late as 1800 CE. He surveys references to the HP in other texts, such as Srinivasa’s Hatharatnavali and Siva’s Sivatatvaratnakara, and notes that manuscripts at the Bhandarkar Institute date from the 17th century. The article emphasises that the HP appears to be the earliest extant text systematically describing Hatha Yoga postures, breath control and mudras, and that its author Svatmarama synthesised earlier traditions. The author analyses the list of Siddhas (yogic adepts) in the HP and argues that the list’s reverent tone suggests a time when these figures were already legendary. He points out that the HP quotes from earlier Tantric and Yogic texts but also contains vernacular elements indicating a late medieval context. By comparing the HP with related works, the article proposes that it was likely composed between 1350 and 1650 CE, possibly around the 15th century, at the court of a regional patron. The author also discusses the spread of Hatha Yoga from Bengal to South India and suggests that the HP played a role in shaping later manuals.