Hatha
Yoga Pradipika is one of the most authentic text books on Hatha
Yoga, written in 1200 AD by Swami Swatmarama, a great Yoga Guru
who formulated the principles of Hatha Yoga and systematically
explained various techniques, its effects on body, mind and
states of consciousness. This is a comprehensive text on Asanas,
Pranayama, Cleansing techniques, Mudras (Mental attitude or
gestures), Bandhas (Energy locks), Nada (Sound) Meditation and
many more guidelines for following the path of Yoga.
Swami
Swatmarama was the follower of Natha Tradition, (followers of
Adi Nath or Lord Shiva), taught by great Gurus like Gorakshanath
and then Matsyendranath. This is the tradition of sages who
live in caves or Himalayas and renounce material life adopting
sanyasa.
Let
us see the meaning of word Hatha, it is made up of Ha + Tha.
"Ha" means Pingala Nadi (sun principle) or right nostril
and "tha" means Ida nadi, (moon principle) or left
nostril. Nadi means psychic passage of energy which can be compared
with nerves in physical body. Hatha means balance of Ida and
Pingala Nadis, or balancing of mental energy of Ida and Vital
/ physical energy of Pingala Nadi. Ida Nadi can be compared
with Parasympathetic Nervous system and Pingala nadi can be
compared with Sympathetic Nervous System. So Hatha Yoga practices
results in balancing the entire nervous system resulting in
balance of Body and Mind, physical energy and mental energy.
The basic purpose of Hatha Yoga is to purify the Ida and Pingala
Nadis and then uniting these 2 forces with the third Psychic
Nadi Sushumna, which carries Kundalini at Ajna Chakra (eyebrow
center).
Hatha
Yoga Pradipika starts with the Shatkarmas
or cleansing processes, these processes
are to remove the blockages in Nadis (psychic / pranic energy
channels). A particular disorder or disease is due to blockage
in pranic channel supplying vital / bio energy to the particular
organ related to disorder. Cleansing techniques removes this
energy blocks and the pranic energy starts flowing without hurdles,
thus balancing the entire body and mind. The purification is
the first in Hatha Yoga, once the body is free of disease, the
next step is recommended and that is asanas.
Hatha
Yoga Pradipika outlines the purpose of asanas,
which says that "One can achieve Sound Health, Stability,
Lightness of Body and Mind with Asana". Asana result in
disciplining the Body and Mind.
After
the asanas comes Pranayama, it is
made up of Prana + Ayama, which means the control and extension
of the Prana or vital energy or bio energy. Pranayama, if practiced
correctly can cure all types of physical and mental disorders,
also increase in pranic energy can increase functioning of brain
and may result in Siddhis or perfections or extra sensory perceptions,
Pranayama is used to control the mental energy and mind. But
if pranayama is not done properly, it invites all the diseases.
So it must be done under the guidance of Guru.
Pranayama
is considered as a fast way to awaken the kundalini. But if
one is not prepared to take on this high level energy awakening
then this may have negative effects on mind and body. So Pranayama
is always practiced under the guidance of Guru.
Bandhas
are necessary for practice of Pranayama, Bandha means energy
lock. There are main 3 types of locks, first is Jalandhar Bandha
or Chin lock, second is Moolabandha or anus lock and third is
Uddiyan Bandha or abdominal lock. These locks are essential
while doing the Kumbhaka that is retaining the air inside or
outside of the lungs. If Kumbhaka or retention is done without
Bandhas, it may have a very negative effect.on digestive system,
excreatory system, nervous system, brain etc ..
Hatha
Yoga also describes Mudras or gestures or Mental attitude, which
induce the state of Pratyahar (Sense withdrawal) and results
in spontaneous state of meditation. Several mudras are mentioned
in the Hatha Yoga which include, Vajroli Mudra, Sahajoli Mudra,
Khechari Mudra, Shambhavi Mudra, Viprit Karani etc.
Hari
Om
Yogacharya Vishwas Mandlik
