A Study of Abhiniveśa with Special Reference to the Sanskrit Commentaries of the Pātañjala Yoga Sūtra

Author(s)	Dr. RAGHAVENDRA BHAT
Country	India
Abstract	Abstract Abhiniveśa, the fifth of the kleśas enumerated in Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra (PYS 2.3), has been a subject of sustained interpretive debate among traditional Sanskrit commentators and modern scholars. Generally translated as “fear of death,” the term in fact encompasses a wide spectrum of existential, psychological, and metaphysical nuances. This research article examines Abhiniveśa through a comprehensive study of twenty-two Sanskrit commentaries on the Yoga Sūtra, supplemented by contemporary interpretations. It evaluates lexical definitions, grammatical derivations, philosophical implications, and psychological dimensions. The study identifies four dominant interpretative strands—clinging to life, self-benediction, fear of annihilation, and subliminal impressions—and synthesizes them into a cohesive conceptual framework. This draft contributes to Yogic Psychology by clarifying the nature, origin, and function of Abhiniveśa, emphasizing its universal presence and its persistence even among the learned.
Keywords	Keywords: Abhiniveśa, Kleśa, Patañjali, Yoga Sūtra, Vyāsa Bhāṣya, Yogic Psychology, Fear of Death, Samskāra, Vāsanā
Field	Sociology > Philosophy / Psychology / Religion
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 6, November-December 2025
Published On	2025-11-17
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i06.60811

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