Gheranda Samhita, often hailed as the “Encyclopedia of Hatha Yoga,” carries the name of its putative author, sage Gheranda. Little biographical detail survives about him—he remains a somewhat mythical figure, tucked into India’s rich tapestry of yoga lore. Scholars generally place the composition in the late 17th century CE, a time when Hatha practices were flourishing in royal courts and temples alike.

This text arrived on the scene a generation or two after the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, carving out its own niche by laying out a systematic, seven-limb approach—shatkarmas (cleansing techniques), asana, mudra, pranayama, pratyahara, dhyana, and samadhi. In an era when handwritten manuscripts still traveled by foot or boat, Gheranda’s manual read like a comprehensive wellness blueprint, long before modern yoga studios and wellness apps turned these methods into a global lifestyle trend.

Dating it to the 1600s makes the Gheranda Samhita roughly contemporaneous with Baroque music in Europe and the early stirrings of classical ballet—both art forms, like yoga, evolving toward codified techniques and elaborate teaching methods. Today’s yogis chasing cutting-edge fitness trackers might be surprised to find that Gheranda was preaching internal alchemy and mind-body mastery centuries ago. It remains a go-to for anyone looking to tap into the down-to-earth roots of a practice now embraced from Bali retreats to New York rooftop classes.