WHAT IS PRANAYAMA & METHOD OF NADISHODHANA IN HATHAYOGAPRADIPIKA
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a classical text describing Hatha Yoga. It is said to be the oldest surviving text on Hatha Yoga. Swami Swatmarama, a disciple of Swami Goraknath, wrote the text in the 15th century CE, drawing upon previous texts and his own experiences. While the text describes asanas (postures), purifying practices (shatkarma), mudras (finger and hand positions), bandhas (locks), and pranayama (breath exercises), it also explains that the purpose of Hatha Yoga is the awakening of kundalini (subtle energy), advancement to Raja Yoga, and the experience of deep meditative absorption known as samadhi.
Earlier we had seen Chapter 1 of Hathapradipika on Asanas. Chapter 2 deals with Shatkarma i. e. cleansing processes and Pranayama i.e regulation and expansion of vital force.
When can we practice pranayama?
When one succeeds in the practice of Asanas i.e. gets oneself established in a Posture (can maintain a posture for at least 2.5 hours) and one who eats salutary and moderate food, may practice pranayama, as instructed by his guru.
Why should we practice Pranayama?
Rate of breathing being disturbed, the mind becomes disturbed and when mind is restless,the breathing rate is disturbed. There is connection between our state of mind and the breathing rate. By regulation of breathing pattern, the Yogi gets steadiness of mind.
So long as prana stays in the body, one breathes and it is called life. Death consists in the passing out of the prana. It is, therefore, necessary to regulate Prana.
What is Nadishodhana?
Nadis are the subtle channels through which the prana flows. Owing to the impurities of the nadis, Prana does not pass through the middle channel (susumna). Hence the necessity of cleansing of the nadis i.e. the subtle channels of Prana.
When the whole system of the nadis which is full of impurities, is cleaned, then the Yogi becomes able to control the Prana.
Therefore, Nadishodhana should be performed daily with satwika buddhi (intellect free from raja and tama or activity and sloth), in order to drive out the impurities of the susumna.
METHODS OF PERFORMING NADISHODHANA
Sitting in the Padmasana posture the Yogi should fill in the air through the left nostril (closing the right one); and, keeping it confined according to one's ability, it should be expelled slowly through the surya (right nostril).
Then, drawing in the air through the surya (right nostril) slowly, the belly should be filled, and after performing Kumbhaka as before, it should be expelled slowly through the chandra (left nostril).
Inhaling through the one, through the chandra (left nostril) through which it was expelled, and having restrained it there, till possible, it should be exhaled through the other, the surya (right nostril) slowly and not forcibly.
If the air be inhaled through the left nostril, it should be expelled again through the other, and filling it through the right nostril, confining it there, it should be expelled through the left nostril. By practicing in this way, through the right and the left nostrils alternately, the whole of the collection of the nadis of the yogi (practisers) becomes clean, i.e., free from impurities, after 3 months and over.
This is supposed to be performed gradually four times during day and night (i.e., morning, noon, evening and midnight), till the number of rounds for one time is 80 and for day and night together it is 320.
In modern day practical, and hectic life, we can`t expect ourselves to devote this much time and also, practicing retention of breathing (Kumbhaka) without sufficient practice of regulation of breathing pattern and tribandhas is not recommended. An ordinary person with limited objective of good health may practice up to 25 rounds without Kumbhaka, starting initially with 3 rounds and gradually increasing the number of rounds.
Also, one should not hasten to control the breathing rate or try to imitate his guide from the beginning. Just as lions, elephants and tigers are controlled gradually by the ringmaster, so the breath should be controlled by slow degrees, otherwise (i.e., by being hasty or using too much force) it damages the health of the practitioner himself. When Pranayama, etc., are performed properly, they eradicate all diseases; but an improper practice generates diseases.Hiccough, asthma, cough, pain in the head, the ears, and the eyes; these and other various kinds of diseases are generated by the disturbance of the breath.The air should be expelled with proper tact and should be filled in skillfully; and when it has been kept confined properly it brings success.
N.B.--The above caution is necessary to warn the aspirants against omitting any instruction; and in their zeal to gain success or siddhis early, to begin the practice, either by using too much force in filling in, confining and expelling the air, or by omitting any instructions, it may cause unnecessary pressure on their ears, eyes, &c., and cause pain. Every word in the instructions is full of meaning and is necessarily used in the slokas, and should be followed very carefully and with due attention. Thus there will be nothing to fear whatsoever. We are inhaling and exhaling the air throughout our lives without any sort of danger, and Pranayama being only a regular form of it, there should be no cause to fear.
EFFECTS OF NADISHODHANA
When the nadis become free from impurities, and there appear the outward signs of success, such as lean body and glowing color, then one should feel certain of success. By removing the impurities, the air can be restrained, according to one's wish and the appetite is increased, the divine sound is awakened, and the body becomes healthy.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a classical text describing Hatha Yoga. It is said to be the oldest surviving text on Hatha Yoga. Swami Swatmarama, a disciple of Swami Goraknath, wrote the text in the 15th century CE, drawing upon previous texts and his own experiences. While the text describes asanas (postures), purifying practices (shatkarma), mudras (finger and hand positions), bandhas (locks), and pranayama (breath exercises), it also explains that the purpose of Hatha Yoga is the awakening of kundalini (subtle energy), advancement to Raja Yoga, and the experience of deep meditative absorption known as samadhi.
Earlier we had seen Chapter 1 of Hathapradipika on Asanas. Chapter 2 deals with Shatkarma i. e. cleansing processes and Pranayama i.e regulation and expansion of vital force.
When can we practice pranayama?
When one succeeds in the practice of Asanas i.e. gets oneself established in a Posture (can maintain a posture for at least 2.5 hours) and one who eats salutary and moderate food, may practice pranayama, as instructed by his guru.
Why should we practice Pranayama?
Rate of breathing being disturbed, the mind becomes disturbed and when mind is restless,the breathing rate is disturbed. There is connection between our state of mind and the breathing rate. By regulation of breathing pattern, the Yogi gets steadiness of mind.
So long as prana stays in the body, one breathes and it is called life. Death consists in the passing out of the prana. It is, therefore, necessary to regulate Prana.
What is Nadishodhana?
Nadis are the subtle channels through which the prana flows. Owing to the impurities of the nadis, Prana does not pass through the middle channel (susumna). Hence the necessity of cleansing of the nadis i.e. the subtle channels of Prana.
When the whole system of the nadis which is full of impurities, is cleaned, then the Yogi becomes able to control the Prana.
Therefore, Nadishodhana should be performed daily with satwika buddhi (intellect free from raja and tama or activity and sloth), in order to drive out the impurities of the susumna.
METHODS OF PERFORMING NADISHODHANA
Sitting in the Padmasana posture the Yogi should fill in the air through the left nostril (closing the right one); and, keeping it confined according to one's ability, it should be expelled slowly through the surya (right nostril).
Then, drawing in the air through the surya (right nostril) slowly, the belly should be filled, and after performing Kumbhaka as before, it should be expelled slowly through the chandra (left nostril).
Inhaling through the one, through the chandra (left nostril) through which it was expelled, and having restrained it there, till possible, it should be exhaled through the other, the surya (right nostril) slowly and not forcibly.
If the air be inhaled through the left nostril, it should be expelled again through the other, and filling it through the right nostril, confining it there, it should be expelled through the left nostril. By practicing in this way, through the right and the left nostrils alternately, the whole of the collection of the nadis of the yogi (practisers) becomes clean, i.e., free from impurities, after 3 months and over.
This is supposed to be performed gradually four times during day and night (i.e., morning, noon, evening and midnight), till the number of rounds for one time is 80 and for day and night together it is 320.
In modern day practical, and hectic life, we can`t expect ourselves to devote this much time and also, practicing retention of breathing (Kumbhaka) without sufficient practice of regulation of breathing pattern and tribandhas is not recommended. An ordinary person with limited objective of good health may practice up to 25 rounds without Kumbhaka, starting initially with 3 rounds and gradually increasing the number of rounds.
Also, one should not hasten to control the breathing rate or try to imitate his guide from the beginning. Just as lions, elephants and tigers are controlled gradually by the ringmaster, so the breath should be controlled by slow degrees, otherwise (i.e., by being hasty or using too much force) it damages the health of the practitioner himself. When Pranayama, etc., are performed properly, they eradicate all diseases; but an improper practice generates diseases.Hiccough, asthma, cough, pain in the head, the ears, and the eyes; these and other various kinds of diseases are generated by the disturbance of the breath.The air should be expelled with proper tact and should be filled in skillfully; and when it has been kept confined properly it brings success.
N.B.--The above caution is necessary to warn the aspirants against omitting any instruction; and in their zeal to gain success or siddhis early, to begin the practice, either by using too much force in filling in, confining and expelling the air, or by omitting any instructions, it may cause unnecessary pressure on their ears, eyes, &c., and cause pain. Every word in the instructions is full of meaning and is necessarily used in the slokas, and should be followed very carefully and with due attention. Thus there will be nothing to fear whatsoever. We are inhaling and exhaling the air throughout our lives without any sort of danger, and Pranayama being only a regular form of it, there should be no cause to fear.
EFFECTS OF NADISHODHANA
When the nadis become free from impurities, and there appear the outward signs of success, such as lean body and glowing color, then one should feel certain of success. By removing the impurities, the air can be restrained, according to one's wish and the appetite is increased, the divine sound is awakened, and the body becomes healthy.
