Often called "the father of yoga", Patanjali was the sage who codified his thoughts and knowledge of yoga in The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.  In this work, Patanjali compiled 195 sutras or concise aphorisms that are essentially an ethical blueprint for living a moral life and incorporating the science of yoga into your life. Although no one is sure of the exact time when Patanjali lived and wrote down his sutras, it is estimated this humble physician who became one of the world's greatest sages roamed India somewhere between 200 B.C. and 200 A.D.

Pantanjali's life story is somewhat unknown, leaving many details unexplained and disputed.  Pantanjali was born to Atri and Anusuya; both masters of Ashtanga yoga.  The details surrounding his birth have assumed mythical  dimensions.  It is said that in order to teach yoga, Pantanjali fell from the heavens in the form of a little snake, and fell into his virginal mother's open palms. Patanjali is regarded as an incarnation of the thousand-headed serpent-king named Remainder (Shesha) or Endless (Ananta), whose coils are said to support the god Vishnu.  His most known accomplishment is the compilation of the Yoga Sutras, a major work which contains aphorisms on the philosophical aspects of mind and consciousness, and is the assumed writer of work on the ancient Indian medicine system.   Recently Yoga Sutra has become popular worldwide for the precepts of Raja Yoga, and also the philosophical basis of the Yoga movement, which aids in the health of harmonizing of the body mind.

Pantanjali is worshiped by the dancers of India as their patron saint.  However, Pantanjali's reputation as a great dancer is doubted by scholars who know him as the author of the famous Yoga Sutras.