Discuss the concept of ‘samadhi’ in Yoga Philosophy.

In Yoga philosophy, 'samadhi' is the highest state of mental absorption and spiritual realization, marking the culmination of the yogic path. It is the eighth and final limb in Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga, described as a profound state of meditation and union with the divine.

Samadhi involves a complete merging of the individual consciousness (Atman) with the universal consciousness (Brahman). It transcends the dualities of subject and object, self and other, and leads to a state of blissful awareness beyond the fluctuations of the mind.

There are different types of samadhi, with the most significant being 'Samprajnata Samadhi,' characterized by conscious awareness, and 'Asamprajnata Samadhi,' a state of pure transcendental consciousness devoid of any mental activity. Through sustained practice of meditation, ethical living, and yogic disciplines, practitioners aim to attain samadhi, experiencing a profound sense of oneness and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Samadhi represents the ultimate goal of Yoga, embodying the union of the individual soul with the divine cosmic consciousness.