The importance of Patanjali

Enlightened sages have always stressed the importance of Viveka - the ability to discriminate between the real and the Unreal, the truth and the illusory. They stressed that the world is an illusion and the self is the only reality and one can only experience bliss when they connect to the Self. However this understanding  was not within the grasp of the common man. Hence most of the wise talk was limited to the classes and did not reach the masses. This probably led to the class system with the wisest getting into the Brahman class. Out of compassion for the masses, Rishis also devised techniques or rituals that was once again performed by the Brahman class in a prescribed manner. The masses did not find any logic in believing that what they thought was the ultimate reality of life such as power, status, family and in fact their own body was unreal. They also could not grasp the unseen or abstract as real. So they got too much engaged in the world becoming restless and disturbed. 

It is said that Shiva the master of the spiritual sciences was concerned that most people are being denied the knowledge of the Self and thus the bliss of existence. So as usual he sought help of Vishnu. Vishnu then gave the knowledge of Yoga to Adi Shesha his serpent and asked him to spread it among the masses. AdiShesha reincarnated as Patanjali and presented the abstract spiritual knowledge as a logical subject. Art became a science. Thus he ensured that the knowledge of the Self reached the masses.

While the sages said your true nature is bliss, Patanjali took a different view and instead of focussing on the nature of the Self as bliss he said the the nature of the worldly life is suffering, the cause of suffering is the mind and these are the techniques to manage the mind. As most people understood suffering, they could easily relate to Patanjali's teaching. He describes suffering enumerating its causes and explains the impact of Karma and destiny. Adishesha is the symbol of awareness. Patanjali says mind and awareness do not co exist, mind is the absence of awareness. Mind is darkness and awareness is light, and once the light appears darkness naturally disappears. He prescribed various techniques that enhance awareness which are very popular as the eight limbs of Yoga. He revealed that once one is established in awareness, the veil of ignorance thins away, revealing the true glory of the Self. While the original definition of Yoga was the union of the body - mind - spirit , Patanjali called it the skill of managing the mind - Chitta vritti Nirodaha. He rarely spoke about God or Maya or bliss, but prescribed the Discipline of Yoga as a tool for the worldly man to remove suffering even before it has arisen - Heyam Dukham Anagathaha. 

Anyone who is educated, logical or new to the spiritual path will definitely understand Patanjali, but may struggle to understand a Ashtavakra or a Vasista.
Sri Sri’s commentary on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are a revelation and I strongly recommend everyone to listen again and again and contemplate on the nature of the world.