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MULBANDHA
Introduction
:
This
bandh relates mainly to the muscles of the anus, penis and the muscles
located nearby. The muladhar chakra is supposed to be located near
penis. Hence this bandh relates to muladhar chakra and is termed
as mulbandh. Also it relates to the base of the spine, this may
be the other reason for naming it as such because 'mul' means root
or base.
Preposition
:
If
the bandh is to be performed ideally it should be performed in Siddhasan.
Otherwise it may also be performed in Padmasan. But Siddhasan is
supposed to be the ideal preposition.
Action
of the bandh :
After
sitting in Siddhasan, the left heel is properly placed under the
penis. The weight of the body creates pressure on that part. After
achieving a firm pose, the anal muscles and the other surrounding
muscles should be contracted and moved upwards. This is the pose
of the mulbandh.
The
anus has two muscles. One inside and the other outside. Both these
muscles are round. It is expected in this bandh to contract these
muscles and to lift them upwards. However, these muscles alone are
not to be contracted and lifted but the other surrounding muscles
should also be similarly contracted and lifted. The muscles of the
penis are also to be lifted in this bandh. Achieving pose in this
bandh is easier, however it is important to be in the same pose
for a while. This is difficult and requires quite a bit of practice.
Physical
Effects :
The
muscles which are not generally used, are contracted in this bandh.
This results in more blood supply to these muscles thereby improving
their efficiency. This is the obvious benefit of this bandh. Also,
the muscles surrounding Muladhar Chakra are contracted and the pressure
of such contraction is definitely felt on the Muladhar Chakra. Kundalini
power, which is supposed to be residing at the chakra, is awakened
due to the practice of this bandh. However, it cannot be definitely
stated as to the duration for which the bandh is to be practised
for such awakening of the Kundalini power. The beneficial effect
of this bandh is also felt on the nerves attached to the muscles
involved in the bandh. It is stated that the bandh is to be practised
while doing Pranayam. While performing pranayam, the blood is accumulated
around the waist. Practice of this bandh results in circulation
of this accumulated blood.
Duration
:
The
real study and practice of this bandh is to retain it for maximum
period. A duration of 5 to 120 seconds may not generate beneficial
effects of this bandh. The bandh has to be retained for at least
3 to 4 minutes. With further practice, the duration can be increased
to 5 minutes.
Precaution
:
If
the bandh is not performed properly, it can affect the digestive
system in a bad way. This results in indigestion or similar other
ailments of the digestive system. Hence, the bandh should be practised
under expert guidance.
Persons
suffering from hernia, piles etc should not as far as possible perform
this bandh. If such a person wants to perform this bandh, onset
of any symptoms described above should be immediately reported to
experts and the bandh performed under their guidance.
References
in the ancient texts :
The
bandh has been described thoroughly in the third chapter of Hathapradeepika.
Parshnibhagen
sampeedya yonimakunchayet gudam |
Apanmurdhwamakrushya mulbandhobhidhiyate || 3-61
Meaning
:
The
heel should press the penis, the muscles of the anus should be contracted
and the gas ( apan vayu ) should be lifted upwards. This results
in mulbandh pose. Further it is described as :
Adhogatimapan
va urdhwargam kurushalat |
Aakunchanen tam prahurmulbandham hi yoginah || 3-62
Parnapanou
nadbindu mulbandhen chaikatam |
Gatva yogasya samsiddhidam gachshato natra samshayah || 3-63
Meaning
:
Apan
vayu is generally in the downward direction. With deliberate contraction
of the anal muscles, the apan vayu is lifted upwards. This is known
as mulbandh. The bandh is to be performed till the time the gas
is forced upwards. Hathapradeepika in further shlokas describe this
bandh as, when the pran and apan and the sound and the point (nad
and bindu) will merge with each other due to this bandh, then one
can be said to succeed in yoga.
The
effects of this bandh are described as under :
Apanpranayoraikyam
kshayo mutrapurishayoh |
Yuva bhavati vrudhopi satatam mulbandhanat || 3-65
Meaning
:
The
regular study of the mulbandh results in merging apan and prana.
The excretions are minimised and an old person is transformed into
a young one.
Though,
as a matter of practice, an old person may not be transformed into
a youth, the general meaning can be guessed as disappearance of
the signs of old age with return of the enthusiasm associated with
youth.
The
next four shlokas in Hathapradeepika describe how the bandh is related
to awakening of Kundalini power. Hathapradeepika says that when
the apan vayu is forced upwards, it enters the vanhimandal. The
pressure of this vayu results in increasing the fire. Apan vayu
and this fire heats the prana. This results in precipitating the
fire in the stomach. The kundalini power, which is supposed to be
asleep, awakens like a snake hit by a stick It then enters the sushumna
nadi ( brahma nadi ) as if snake entering its hole. Hence, every
sadhaka must study this mulbandh daily.
The
thirteenth shloka in the third chapter of Gherandsamhita describes
this bandh. The description is as given above as in Hathapradeepika.
However, the effects of this bandh are described as under:
Mulbandhah
paro bandho jaramarannashanah |
Prasadadasya bandhasya sadhayetsarvavanchitam || 3-18
Meaning :
This is a superior type of bandh, which results in destruction of
old age and the death. The study of this bandh results in satisfying
any desire.
This
description too is a bit exaggerated. However, the real meaning
behind it is to be guessed and the bandh must be studied.
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