Hatha Yoga Pradipika

This 14th Century text, written by the sage Svatmarama, is the oldest significant surviving manuscript devoted specifically to the exposition of Hatha Yoga. Earlier texts all describe material that predates the foundation of Hatha Yoga, which was not established as a separate form until sometime around 700 - 1000 B.C.E. One earlier text, written by Gorakhnath himself, and called simply Hatha Yoga , was available in Svatmarama's day, and parts of it are reproduced in his Pradipika ; unfortunately, the earlier text is now lost. For more information, see History of Yoga.