Traditionally credited to the sage Patanjali, the Yoga Sutras are believed to have taken shape somewhere between the 2nd century BCE and the 4th century CE. That window owes its hazy outline to the way ancient Indian works often evolved—handed down orally, then compiled and refined over generations. Patanjali’s name first appears as the compiler of this concise 195-verse manual, which neatly stitches together the philosophical threads of Yoga into what’s now known as the “eight-limb path.”

Scholars still debate the exact date. Some point to linguistic clues placing it around 200 CE; others lean toward an earlier timeframe, perhaps closer to 100 BCE. Either way, this text has stood the test of time, offering a blueprint for techniques—from breath control (pranayama) to ethical precepts (yamas and niyamas)—that resonate just as strongly in 2025’s mindfulness apps as they did on ancient Indian riverbanks.

It’s fascinating to see how these succinct aphorisms continue to ripple across the globe. International Yoga Day celebrations last month in New York and New Delhi echoed themes straight out of the Sutras: unity, self-study and inner calm. Meanwhile, neuroscientists at leading universities are linking meditation practices outlined by Patanjali to measurable changes in brain plasticity.

A living testament, the Yoga Sutras manage to feel both timeless and timely—proof that a few carefully chosen words can spark profound transformation, millennium after millennium.