Question map
Patanjali was
Explanation
Patanjali was a renowned ancient Indian sage and grammarian, best known for composing the 'Mahabhashya', which is an authoritative commentary on Panini’s 'Ashtadhyayi', the foundational text of Sanskrit grammar [1]. While he is also traditionally credited with the 'Yoga Sutras', the primary text of the Yoga school of philosophy, and sometimes associated with Ayurvedic treatises, his identity as a grammarian is historically significant [1]. He is not associated with the Buddhist schools of 'Yogachara' or 'Madhyamika', which were founded by figures like Maitreyanatha, Asanga, and Nagarjuna. The 'Mahabhashya' is celebrated for its dialogue-based method and its role in refining Indian linguistic science. Although some traditions attribute medical works to him, modern scholarship often suggests these texts may have been written by different individuals across different eras.
Sources
- [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 7: The Guptas > Sanskrit Grammar > p. 99