Hatha Yoga Pradipika gives the following variant titles, gleaned from different manuscript colophons: "Haṭhayogapradīpikā", "Haṭhapradīpikā", "Haṭhapradī", "Hath-Pradipika". The "Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā" was composed by Svātmārāma in the 15th century CE. as a compilation of the earlier hatha yoga texts. Svātmārāma incorporates older Sanskrit concepts into his popular synthesis. In the "Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā," Svātmārāma introduces his system as preparatory stage for physical purification that the body practices for higher meditation or yoga. It is based on asanas (postures) and pranayama (breathing techniques). "Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā" lists thirty-five earlier Haṭha Yoga masters (Skt. siddha), including Ādi Nātha, Matsyendranātha and Gorakṣanātha. The work consists of
Hinduism karma, cows and caste"; and Bhakti or devotional Hinduism, where intense emotions are elaborately incorporated in the pursuit of the spiritual. Michaels distinguishes three Hindu religions and four forms of Hindu religiosity. The three Hindu religions are "Brahmanic-Sanskritic Hinduism", "folk religions and tribal religions", and "founded religions. The four forms of Hindu religiosity are the classical "karma-marga", jnana-marga, bhakti-marga, and "heroism", which is rooted in militaristic traditions, such as Ramaism and parts of political Hinduism. This is also called virya-marga. According to Michaels, one out of nine Hindu belongs by birth to one or both of the Brahmanic-Sanskritic Hinduism and