Pradipika

Pradipika, from Sanskrit pradīpika, means a lamp or light. In Hindu religious and literary contexts, the term is used for works that are intended to illuminate a subject or guide readers through a topic. It is a common title convention in Sanskrit for concise or introductory treatises.

The best-known use is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, a foundational yoga treatise traditionally attributed to Swami Swatmarama. Although exact dates vary by manuscript, it is generally dated to the 15th century. The text presents a practical system of Hatha yoga, detailing asanas (postures), pranayama (breath control), mudras (gestures), and bandhas (locks), along with cleansing rites (kriyas). It also underpins its practices with philosophical discussion and cautions about proper initiation and progression. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika has influenced subsequent yoga manuals and modern interpretations, often serving as an accessible entry point to yogic technique.

Beyond this work, the title Pradipika is used for other Sanskrit treatises across disciplines, including philosophy, ritual practice, and astrology. In these contexts, the name signals an aim to illuminate or clarify a topic for practitioners or students. Because Pradipika is a general naming convention rather than a single canonical corpus, individual texts vary in content, period, and school, though they share the guiding “light” metaphor.

In scholarly and devotional contexts, references to Pradipika are usually accompanied by the author, dating, and manuscript tradition. Modern reception often centers on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika as part of the classical yoga lineage, while other Pradipikas are studied within their respective traditions.