Quote Originally Posted by Sudarshan
What is B.K.S Iyengar's basic philosophy? The name is suggestive of being a Srivaishnavite, and I am wondering what the final goal of his Yoga is. Patanjali's Yoga is dualistic per se, while those of Shakta and Shaiva systems are advaitic. The six limbed Yoga followed by Srivaishnavites of the past, was Vishishtadvaitic and Vaishnavaite in scope.
I have read most of Mr Iyengar's books. I don't think he markets himself as a spiritual teacher or a representative of hinduism. He is just a teacher of asana and pranayama and the way he deals with them is like we deal with physical exercises. Sure in introductions he try to be phlosophical at times but I haven't seen any pretence in his writing. He is a sri vaishnava, but that is his personal matter ~ he is not a teacher of any philosophy. Maybe if he used the word yoga less in what he taught it would have been better.

He did write a treatise on patanjali sutras at a later stage ~ but that is hardly the work he is known for.