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The MSS. published in this volume are also written either in the old form of Sanskrit or an old form of Hindi, which is partly Rajasthani and partly Hindusthani.
It is difficult to ascertain the dates of these MSS. as in the colophons the original dates of composition are not given, but only the dates when the scribes have copied them. But the probable dates of the texts will be between the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries, the time when the leaders of the sect had finished preaching their cult and had passed into oblivion. It was only then that their disciples became eager to preserve their teachings in writing.
Of the already published books belonging to the Natha sect, 'Gorakhbodh' is written in an old form of Hindi and is reported to date from the fourteenth century1. Another book 'Hatha-yoga Pradipika' by Svatmarma Muni probably belongs to the fourteenth century but certainly not earlier2.
In 'Hatha Yoga Pradipika' we find Sree Gorakhnath mentioned as the author of 'Siddha-Siddhanta-Paddhati' so it must have been written earlier. A long list of yogis preceding the author of 'Hatha-yoga-Pradipika' is also given by him; there we find Matsyendra, Gorakh, Cauranad etc. mentioned.
The copies of the MSS. collected by me belong to a much later date however. The present edition of 'Siddha-Siddhanta- Paddhati is based on the collation of the following:-
I. (a) MS. from Jodhpore Library, Sardar Museum. Complete up to the sixth Upadesha, written in Devnagri, contains about 60 pages of MS. Author-Sree Gorakhnath.
Copies by Balauram Sadhu in V. S. 2002.
Reference of this is given by me as (यो)
(b) MS. from Tanjore. This MS is in fairly good condition, After the colophon are given four lines in praise of god Rama. Burnell's catalogue N0. 9895C,
(1) Tessitori, E. R. E., Vol. XII., P.-834
(2) Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol. XVI., 1940 Article on date of Hatha-yoga-Pradipika by P. K. Gode.
