HATHA YOGA (YOGA OF PERSISTENCY)

Ha (Sun) means Pingla Nadi (Right gangliated chord) and Tha (Moon) means Ida Nadi (Left gangliated chord).

By union of both chords the Sushumna Nadi (Fire; Spinal chord) fills with the vital air and it compels awakening the Kundalini Shakti (Serpentine Force). Thus to pierce the Shatchkras (Six Divine Plexuses) like Mooladhara Chakra (Pelvic or Perennial plexus) etc., this act of persistency is called Hatha yoga.

It is made clear in Siddhant Paddhati (a yogic book)-"The Sun means Pingla Nadi (Right gangliated chord) is called Hakaar (vital air flows up) and The Moon means Ida Nadi (Left gangliated chord) is called Thakaar (vital air flows down). The meeting of both, the Sun's and the Moon's flows is called Hatha yoga."

Hatha yoga is the base of Rajyoga and Hatha yoga is well-discussed in Tantrashastra. It is said in Siva Samhita-"Rajyoga without Hatha yoga and Hatha yoga without Rajyoga does not prove. So Hathayoga is strictly ought to be practiced under the supervision of a True Guru, expert in Yoga."

Because this Sadhna (Devotion) demands too much precaution.

When Kundalini (Serpentine Force) goes up one by one to different Chakras (Plexuses), Yogi attains many Siddhis (Divine Powers or Perfections).

It is told in Goraksha Paddhati that after attaining the command on Hatha yoga many divine changes begin to appear in the body of Yogi and he gets a divine yogic-body cooked in the fire of yoga- "After attaining the command on Hatha yoga these symptoms appear in the body of Yogi-slenderness in the body, cheerfulness on the face, manifestation of Anahata Nada (Unstruck Sound), cleanliness of eyes, soundness of body, hail of semen, strong digestion power and purification of nerves."

There are seven parts of Hatha yoga- Aasana, Mudra, Pratyahara, Pranayama, dharna, Dhyan and Samadhi-

1. Aasana: For the yoga-practice it is very important to have a proper seat. Spiritual training should be done by sitting on an Asana (seat), facing towards the East or the North direction. By sitting on which the Sadhana (Spiritual training) can be performed comfortably, is called 'Asana '. It can be of a cloth, Kusha or Durva grass, blanket or animal-skin.

In common Hindi language it is called Bichhona (hard cloth) and in Sanskrit Barhishad (mat of grass). The yogis of Himalaya regard the Baghambar (lion skin) or Mrigchhala of a krishansaar mrig (deer-skin of a blackbuck) and the pirs (Muslim Sufi saints) regard Suf (wool) as the best seat.

This is the opinion of Maharishi Patanjali- "The postures of meditation should embody steadiness and ease."

According to a Shaloka (Verse) of Aprokshanubhuti-"Position in which a continuous Brahm-contemplation could be done comfortably that should be known as an Asana; another destroyer of happiness Asana is not a seat."

Lord Krishna suggested in Bhagwad Gita- "Having set his seat in a spot which is free from dirt and other impurities with the sacred Kusa grass, a deer-skin and a cloth spread thereon, one upon the other, (Kusa below, deer-skin in the middle and cloth uppermost), neither very high nor very low."

"Holding the trunk, head and neck straight and steady, remaining firm and fixing the gaze on the tip of his nose, without looking in other directions."

"And occupying that seat concentrating the mind and controlling the functions of the mind and senses, he should practice Yoga for self-purification."

2. Mudra: A Hathayogic technique practiced to hold the Prana (Vital air) within the body, forcing the Kundalini to flow into the Sushumna Nadi (Spinal chord). Mudras can occur spontaneously after receiving Shaktipata (Spiritual Initiation).

In 'Gorakshpaddhati' and 'Shiva-samhita' almost similarly there are ten Mudras (seals) discussed for yogis:

1. Mahamudra,

2. Mahabandha,

3. Khechari,

4. Uddiyanabandha

5. Jalandhara.

6. Moolabandha,

7. Mahavedha,

8. Vipritkarini,

9. Vajroli,

10. Shaktichalini.

For example- Uddiyanabandha

3. Pratyahara: Withdrawal or an act of draining out all thoughts from the mind. It’s a practice of keeping one’s mind empty and quite free.

4. Pranayama: A discipline or technique for keeping vital air (Pranavayu or Breathing) in control. The Prana-yama is divided in 3 parts-Rechaka-exhaling, Pooraka-inhaling, Kumbhaka-restraining.

5. Dharana: Conception or always bearing image of God, faith in God and stability of opinion in one’s mind.

6. Dhyana: Meditation or fixing mind at one.

7. Samadhi: Trance, quietude or intense-concentration. This is the goal of Ashtanga yoga. In samadhi a yogi realizes the self and becomes one with God because he merges into the super soul as a river merges into the ocean losing its identity.

Recite the Holy Name and have a nice day!