In Indian philosophical tradition, who is regarded as the chief expounder and compiler of the classical Yoga philosophy through the Yoga Sutras?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to the systems of Indian philosophy, specifically the classical Yoga school. Indian philosophy is often grouped into various darshanas, such as Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa and Vedanta. Each system has a key teacher or compiler associated with its main texts. The question asks for the expounder of Yoga philosophy, which is an important part of both spiritual practice and philosophical thought in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question is about Yoga philosophy, one of the orthodox systems of Indian thought.
- It asks who expounded or compiled this philosophy into a classical form.
- The options include several well known philosophers and teachers: Patanjali, Gautama, Jaimini, Shankaracharya and Kapila.
- We assume the question refers to the Yoga Sutras, the foundational text of the Yoga school.

Concept / Approach:
The Yoga school is closely linked with the figure of Patanjali, who is traditionally credited with compiling and systematising its teachings in the form of the Yoga Sutras. These aphorisms outline the eightfold path of Yoga and its ethical, mental and meditative practices. In contrast, Gautama is associated with the Nyaya system, Jaimini with the Mimamsa system, Shankaracharya with Advaita Vedanta and Kapila with Sankhya. The approach is to match each philosopher with the correct school and identify which one belongs to Yoga.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the six orthodox schools of Indian philosophy and their key exponents. Step 2: Note that Patanjali is traditionally credited with composing the Yoga Sutras, a foundational text on Yoga. Step 3: Remember that Gautama is linked to Nyaya, a school of logic, not to Yoga. Step 4: Recognise that Jaimini founded the Mimamsa school of ritualistic interpretation and that Shankaracharya is associated with Advaita Vedanta. Step 5: Identify Patanjali as the correct expounder of Yoga philosophy and select his name from the options.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative check is to recall popular associations: when people refer to classical Yoga philosophy in a textual sense, they usually mention Patanjali. Many modern Yoga schools around the world refer directly to Patanjalis Yoga Sutras as a foundational work. Academic texts also place Patanjali firmly in the Yoga tradition, while clearly associating Gautama with Nyaya, Jaimini with Mimamsa and Kapila with Sankhya. This division confirms that Patanjali is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Gautama: Founder of the Nyaya school, which deals with logic and epistemology, not Yoga practice as a separate system.
Jaimini: Founder of the Purva Mimamsa system, focusing on Vedic ritual interpretation.
Shankaracharya: Leading exponent of Advaita Vedanta, which is a non dualistic philosophy of Brahman and Atman, not the Yoga system itself.
Kapila: Traditionally associated with the Sankhya school, which is closely related to Yoga in metaphysics but is not identical to Patanjalis Yoga system.

Common Pitfalls:
Because the philosophical systems are interrelated, students sometimes mix up their exponents, especially Kapila and Patanjali, since Sankhya and Yoga share similar metaphysical ideas. Another mistake is to choose Shankaracharya due to his fame, even though he belongs to Vedanta. Remembering a simple pairing list such as Patanjali Yoga, Kapila Sankhya, Gautama Nyaya and Jaimini Mimamsa can greatly reduce confusion.

Final Answer:
The chief expounder and compiler of classical Yoga philosophy was Patanjali.