City E central Nepal adjoining Kathmandu

Indian author of the Yoga-sutras, which propound the philosophy of yoga. According to Patanjali, yoga consists of eight steps: yama (self-restraint); niyama (spiritual discipline); asana (sitting posture); pranayama (breath control); pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses); dharana (contemplation); dhyana (meditation); and samadhi (total absorption in God).