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Yogashikha Upanishad (critical study)

by Sujatarani Giri | 2015 | 72,044 words

This page relates ‘Practice of Pranayama (breath control) and last stages of Hathayoga� of the English study on the Yogashikha Upanishad—a key text from the Krishna Yajurveda, focusing on the pinnacle of Yogic meditation. This essay presents Yoga as a crucial component of ancient Indian philosophy and spirituality and underscores its historical roots in Vedic literature—particularly the Upanishads and Vedant. The chapters of this study are devoted to the faculties of the mind and internal body mechanisms such as Chakras as well as the awakening of Kundalini.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Part 1.4 - Practice of ʰṇ峾 (breath control) and last stages of ᲹṻDz

ʰṇ峾 is very important limb of ᲹṻDz. ʰṇ峾 means the method of gaining victory over ṇa. It is the main part of ᲹṻDz.

The pre-requisites of ṇ峾:

Four things are essential for one who wants to practise ṇ峾; proper place, suitable time for practice, moderate food and purification of the ḍi (vessels of the body).

Kinds of ʰṇ峾:

Yoga ṃh and ҳṇḍ ṃh recognize eight kinds of ṇ峾. They are:

  1. Sahita,
  2. ūⲹī,
  3. ī,
  4. Śٲī,
  5. 󲹲ٰ,
  6. ,
  7. ū and
  8. 𱹲ī.

(1) Sahita kumbhaka (retention of ṇa inside) is of two kinds:�

(a) Sagarbha Kumbhaka

The kumbhaka (retention) performed with the repetition of the Bija mantra (O�) is sagarbha. Sitting in ܰԲ posture, facing east or north, let one contemplate on full of of a blood-red colour. Let him inhale by the left nostril, repeating a sixteen times. At the end of inhalation and before beginning to retain breath contemplating on Hari of a black colour and sattva quality. Then let him exhale the breath through the right nostril by repeating ‘Om� thirty-two times, contemplating Ś of a white colour and of tamas quality. Then alternate the nostrils and do the same thing in a corresponding way, repeating and alternating the process. The nostrils are to be closed during the kumbhaka stage.

(b) Nirgarbha kumbhaka:

The nirgarbha ṇ峾 is performed without the repetition of the bija mantra and the period of inspiration, retention and expiration may be extended from one to hundred ٰ. The best is twenty ٰ; ū첹 20 seconds, kumbhaka 80 seconds and recaka 10 seconds. The sixteen ٰ is middling (16, 64, 32).

The twelve ٰ is the lowest, (12, 46, 24).

(2) ūⲹī kumbhaka:

Inhale with all our strength the external air through the right nostril, retain this air with the greatest care, performing the jalandhara ܻ. Let the kumbhaka be kept so long as perspiration does not burst cut from the tips of the nails and roots of the hair.[1]

(3) Ujjāī ṇ峾:

Close the mouth, draw in the external air by both the nostrils and pull up the internal air from the lungs and the throat, retain them in the mouth. Then having expelled the air through the mouth, perform jalandhara bandha.[2]

(4) Śٲī kumbhaka:

Draw in the air through the mouth with the life contracted and the tongue thrown out and fill the mouth slowly. Retain it there for a short time. Then exhale it through both the nostrils.[3]

(5) 󲹲ٰ ṇ峾:

As the bellows of the ironsmith constantly dilate and contract, similarly draw in slowly the air by both nostrils and expound the stomach, then throw it quickly,the wind making sound like bellows. Having thus inhaled and exhaled twenty times perform kumbhaka and then expel the air as before.[4]

(6) Bhrāmarī kumbhaka:

At past midnight in a place where there is no sound of any animal etc. to be heard, let the Dzī practice ū첹 and kumbhaka, closing the earns by the hands. He will hear when various internal sounds in his right ear. The first sound will be like that of crickets, then that of a lute, then that of a thunder, then that of a drum, than that of a bettle, then that of a bell, then those of gongs of bell-metan, trumpets, kettle drums, ṛdṅg, military drums, dundubhi etc. Thus various sounds are heard by the daily practice of his kumbhaka. Last of all is heard the 󲹳ٲ sound arising from the heart. Of this sound there is a resonance, there is a light. In that light the mind should be immersed. When the mind is absorbed, then it reaches the highest seat of վṣṇ (ʲ岹).[5]

(7) ū kumbhaka:

Having performed kumbhaka with comfort, one withdraw the mind from all objects and fix it in the space between the eyebrows. This causes fainting of the mind and gives happiness. For, by thus joining the Բ with the Āٳ, the bliss of yoga is obtained.[6]

(8) 𱹲ī kumbhaka:

By decreasing the natural length of the expired current (9 inches) to less and less, there takes place increase in life; and by increasing the current there is decrease in life. So long as breath remains in the body there is no death. When the full length of the mind is all confined to the body, nothing being, allowed to go out, it is kevalī kumbhaka. Having withdrawn the mind from the senses and their objects let one fix it in the middle of the eyebrows and then retain ṇa and Բ both. It is kevalī ṇ峾.[7]

Dhyāna, Nādānusandhāna and :

This is the last stages of ᲹṻDz. Different Yogas prescribed different object for concentration. The Ჹṻ yogis prescribe jyoti or flame of light. When the mind is concentrated on a flame of light within, it is called dzپԲ. The places where this Բ is to be done are naval, heart and the centre between the eyebrows. A prolonged concentration on the flame of light leads to the vision of the self.

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

ҳṇḍ ṃh-V-58 & 59.

[2]:

‌I--69-72.

[3]:

‌I--73-74.�

[4]:

Ibid-V-75-77.

[5]:

‌I--78-82.�

[6]:

Ibid-V-83.

[7]:

‌I--84-96.�

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