Patanjali's Yoga Sutra app for iPhone and iPad
Yoga Sutra of Patanjali by TKV Desikachar
This App presents a lucid translation of the Yoga Sutra and an accompanying commentary by world renowned yoga master, TKV Desikachar and Chanting by Mekhala Desikachar
Each Sutra is presented in the original Sanskrit script along with the English transliteration following the Roman Transliteration system. An unique value add of this App is the clear audio presentation of each sutra, following the system of chant notations developed and popularized by TKV Desikachar, rendered by his daughter and student, Mekhala Desikachar.
Each sutra is chanted in the classical and simplified modes. The classical mode presents the sutra exactly as it is in the text. The simplified mode breaks up the words that comprise a sutra in a manner that makes it easy for the beginner to listen and learn to chant the sutra-s. Also available is the option of listening to both the classical and simple renditions of the sutra-s in the repeat mode to enable listening and repetition by the user.
Those who wish to only listen to the chanting of the sutra-s may do so in any of the following four modes by going directly to the audio center.
Classical
Classical (repeat mode) - Helpful to learn to chant
Simplified
Simplified (repeat mode) - Helpful to learn to chant
There is also the option of using the text-and-audio mode in which it is possible to navigate easily from sutra to sutra across chapters while also listening to the audio rendition of each sutra in classical and simplified modes.
The Yoga Sutra is considered one of the most authoritative classical texts on yoga, authored by the Sage Patanjali. Although popularly known as a philosophical text, Patanjalis work is fundamentally a very practical guide to the purpose, meaning and objective of our lives as human beings.
Patanjali presents the mind as both the source of and the solution to all our difficulties and shows us the means by which we can rise above our baser instincts and progressively refine the mind so that it achieves and sustains its highest possible potential.
This App brings together the written and audio mediums in a synergistic manner thus making it convenient for all those who are interested in understanding the nuances of the Yoga Sutra, to simultaneously have access to the original text, its transliteration, translation into English and commentary by an acclaimed expert on yoga, along with classical and simplified audio renditions.
Pros and cons of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra app for iPhone and iPad
Patanjali's Yoga Sutra app good for
Its very good. I enjoy it very much. Would have love to have more details of translation though. Thank you.
Would love to have a repeat mode option for individual sutras. Similar to how a song repeats. Excellent pronunciation. Clear. Easy to navigate. Repeat mode for each chapter is nice for learning. Would be helpful to be able to repeat broken down even further. Or sell as an album not an app. So each sutra (song) can be repeated.
Enjoy the app but could be more complete with more description for each sutras. Very clear and easy to follow
Simple translation, commentary but full of depth. Easy interface. The sound works better than I had expected. I love to have this text handy.
This contents is very helpful for those who learn yoga so the sounds and meanings are correct and easy to understand.
I listen to this almost every day.
Some bad moments
Very choppy. Playbacks skips and has lag time...very distracting. I tried reloading but now it is just worse.
Excellent chanting by Mekhala Desikachar. Good to have both classical and simplified. A few changes would make it a more effective tool. Currently you cannot pause and go back part way to hear a certain section - important if there is one section of a sutra thats tough for you and needs repetition. Also the longer I use the app the more pauses and skips there are-this can throw you off if youre just learning. Overall accuracy check of the app needed by developers- for example, Ive found when you try to replay 1.26 simplified the app plays beginning chap 2.
This is a great app for those of us who are teaching and taking yoga classes away from home. I especially like being able to hear the sutras chanted correctly.
Absolutely must have for yoga practitioners. The translation is one Ive studied for years. Each time I reread a sutra, so much more is revealed.
My only feedback (without these I still give it a 4.99 hoping a future update will include these features):
-Wish they had a way to mark your favorite sutras
-No way to mark where you left off. Have to remember or start from beginning.
-wish there was audio of the translation as well so I could listen to all of it!
This is a truly lovely app idea. So good to have the content and chanting based on an authentic tradition. The app could be even better with; the ability to Copy sections you may wish to save into your notes, email or text apps, also a word by word translation is a must at this price to be competitive with one of the other sutra apps that does this. As others have said, the ability to bookmark and have the app remember where you left off in study would be very helpful. Otherwise this is a very good basis for a recently released app I will gladly give five stars with the above features/updates added.
So portable and accessible. I am confident that over time they will make this even better than it is!!! (Missing some if the yoga sutras), would be even better if we could bookmark favorites. Thank you for the efforts!!!
