Hatha yoga pradipika is the oldest and most genuine textual supply of hatha yoga teachings and philosophy. A Nath sect yogi Swami Swatmarama compiled it across the fifteenth century CE. Nonetheless, aside from his personal expertise, Swatmarama took reference from Vedas and the teachings of his nice Gurus to compile this ebook. He cleared this at first verse that “I’m solely a instrument of transmission for the information“.
Certainly, initially the textual content title was Hathapradipika. Later when it’s decoded by yogis, they added the time period ‘Yoga’ in it, and so forth, completely different commentary printed with the title of Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
Which means & Content material of Hatha Yoga Pradipika
The textual content title Hathapradipika or ‘Hatha Yoga Pradipika’ itself has an explanatory which means. Usually Pradipika is translated as ‘gentle’ or ‘which lights’. So the title actually interprets as ‘Gentle on Hatha Yoga’.
Generally Pradipika interprets as ‘self-illuminating’; one thing that has its personal illuminating energy to make clear darkness or ignorance. The best way a Hatha yogi acquires completely different powers and attain full yogic knowledge -everything on his will energy and by power (hatha). It reveals all of us have that self-illuminating energy for all bodily, psychological, and religious issues; we are able to get every thing we wish by efforts and powerful will energy (hatha). Therefore Hathapradipika can be translated into ‘self-illuminating by power’.
The content material
It’s very attention-grabbing to watch the sample and structure of chapters within the ebook. There are 4 chapters in Hatha Yoga Pradipika that cowl all practices, philosophy, and directions of hatha yoga in 389 verses (shlokas or sutras).
- Chapter 1 incorporates 67 verses together with 2 verses on Yama & Niyama (sixteenth & seventeenth) and the remaining 50 verses on Asanas.
- Chapter 2 incorporates 78 verses on Shatkarma & Pranayama.
- Chapter 3 incorporates 130 verses together with round 100 verses on Mudras & Bandhas and the remaining 30 verses on kundalini.
- Chapter 4 is all about Samadhi together with the idea of Nadis and Ishvara (God) incorporates 114 verses.
If you will note the main practices which are lined in 4 chapters of Hatha Yoga Pradipika are 6 in quantity; Asana, Shatkarma, Pranayama, Bandhas, Mudras, and Samadhi. These 6 practices are known as the 6 limbs of hatha yoga. In distinction to Patanjali’s 8 limbs of yoga, Hatha yoga is known as six-limbed yoga or Shadanga yoga.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika Chapters in Nutshell
Swami Swatmarama has organized all of the content material of hatha yoga in an order that’s straightforward to comply with whether or not you’re a newbie or a complicated follower.
Right here’s the chapter sensible abstract of Hatha yoga pradipika;
First Chapter – Asana
- The primary two verses are devoted to Lord Shiva and outline the true function of hatha yoga is simply to achieve Raja yoga.
- Within the third verse, Swatmarama defines the rationale for compiling hatha yoga science over Raja yoga.
- The subsequent 5 verses inform the title of nice Siddhas and masters of hatha yoga that got here earlier than Swatmarama; Matsyendranath, Goraknath, and so forth.
- In verses 9 to 16, for hatha yoga seeker tips are outlined to apply yoga; what causes failure and success in yoga, and ethics one has to comply with (Yama & Niyama).
- Verse 17 to 54 are devoted to 15 asanas of hatha yoga;
- Verse 17 & 18 is on the introduction of asana
- Verse 19 to 32 particulars the primary 11 postures
- Verse 33 and 34 talked about that Shiva taught 84 asanas out of which 4 are most vital.
- In verse 35 to 54, 4 most vital asanas of hatha yoga are outlined i.e. Siddhasana, padmasana, simhasana and bhadrasana
- In verses 55 to 65, the subsequent practices that come after asanas are talked about together with what sort of meals a yogi ought to eat and his behavioral qualities.
- The chapter first ends with verse 67 explaining “hatha yoga ought to hold working towards till success in Raja yoga is attained”.
Second Chapter – Shatkarma & Pranayama
- Chapter 2 begins with an introduction and significance of Nadi cleaning and pranayama within the first 6 verses
- In verses 7 to twenty, strategies to carry out pranayama are talked about with what illness it eradicates.
- After pranayama, verses 21 to 41 are on the 6 cleaning strategies referred to as Shatkarma.
- First Shatkarma Dhauti is on the cleaning of the meals pipe, outlined in verse 24 & 25
- The second is basti outlined in verses 26 to twenty-eight. It contains the strategy of cleaning the massive gut.
- The third is Neti, cleaning of nasal passages outlined in verse 29 & 30
- Fourth is Trataka outlined in verse 31 & 32
- Fifth is Nauli kriya outlined in verse 33 & 34
- Verse 35 to 41 comprise the tactic of Kapalbhati and Gaja Karani
- Verse 42 to 77 are on kumbhakas that we apply in the present day as completely different sorts of pranayama. Nonetheless, in hatha yoga pradipika, 8 particular pranayamas are outlined.
- Chapter 2 ends with verse 78 defining the indicators of getting success in hatha yoga apply.
Third Chapter – Mudra & Bandha
- Chapter 3 begins with the idea of tantra & kundalini and mudras significance to awaken goddess kundalini within the first 5 verse
- Verse 6 to 9 title the completely different mudras of hatha yoga together with 8 divine energy (ashta siddhi) a seeker can get by the apply of mudras & bandhas. Nonetheless, in all, there are 10 mudras and bandhas are outlined in hatha yoga pradipika.
- Subsequent consecutive verses elaborate particular mudra intimately;
- Verse 19 to 25 outline Maha Bandha and Triveni (conjunction of Ida, Pingala, and sushumna Nadi)
- Verse 26 to 31 outline Maha Vedha mudra to make prana into the central Nadi.
- Verse 32 to 54 covers every thing about khechari mudra and the way it helps in kundalini awakening
- Verses 55 to 77 covers 3 bandhas particularly Uddiyana Bandha, Mula bandha, and Jalandhar bandha
- Verses 78 to 112 elaborates on vital mudras for kundalini arousal that are; Viparita Karani, Vajroli, sahajoli, amaroli, and shakti chalana.
- Verse 112 to 130 clarify particulars of Kundalini and varied methods to awaken it by combining the apply of pranayama, asanas, and mudras.
Fourth Chapter – Samadhi
- Chapter 4 first verse begins with introducing Nada, Bindu, & Kala because the supreme state of bliss and so within the subsequent verse Swatmarama introduce Samadhi.
- Verse 3 to 4 offers synonyms of the upper state of bliss i.e. Raja yoga, samadhi, unmani, Manonmani, Amaratwa, Laya, Tatwa, Sunya, Asunya, Parama, Pada, Amanasska, and so forth.
- In verses 5 to 7, Samadhi is outlined utilizing varied analogies.
- Verse 8 & 9 describe the significance of a guru achieve Samadhi.
- Verse 10 to 17 are on the assorted refined indicators by way of Prana movement are outlined when a yogi is about to achieve Samadhi.
- Verse 18 to 21 clarify how the situation of manomani (samadhi) is attained when Prana begins flowing by central Nadi Sushumna.
- Verse 22 to 25 gentle on the relation between breath & thoughts and the way by controlling breath yogi results in moksha (liberation).
- verse 26 to twenty-eight talks about how preservation of Bindu takes place when yogi management their breath.
- Verse 29 to 33 are one the laya and nada.
- In verses 34 to 68, varied mudras are defined on Bindu preservation which stops it from flowing downward.
- In verse 69 to 76 4 levels of any yoga apply outlined the place 4th verges on samadhi. These 4 levels are arambha – the start stage, ghata – vessel stage, parichaya – identified stage; nishpatti – consummation stage.
- Verse 76 to 102 are on the Nada yoga.
- Verse 102 to 114 listing varied phenomena of a yogi within the state of samadhi.
The Predominant Teachings of Hatha Yoga
When you perceive the central message of Hatha Yoga Pradipika, you’ll be able to higher emulate its strategies and philosophy in your life.
The best way completely different ideas have appeared within the textual content portrays the next message;
- Swami Swatmarama introduces the teachings of hatha yoga pradipika as a prefatory sadhana to succeed in the best purpose of Raja yoga i.e. to realize a state of liberation and procure Moksha.
- To achieve moksha, HYP elaborate it’s a step-by-step course of of seven practices known as ‘Sapta Sadhanama‘. The 7 processes are; purification (by shatkarma), power (by asana), steadiness (by mudra), calmness (by pratyahara), lightness (by pranayama), proper notion (by dhyana), and isolation (by samadhi).
- Hatha yoga’s foremost goal is to deliver the other power into stability. It balances prana movement in Ida and Pingala which ends up in the opening of Sushumna Nadi. Such, the awakening of Sushumna Nadi makes the passage for kundalini to journey upward into increased chakras.
- The physique is alleged merely a bodily instrument on this course of that’s strengthened by hatha yoga asanas. In distinction to Patanjali yoga the place asanas are supposed to settle down Rajas guna, in hatha yoga, asanas are dynamic in nature which have the primary function to take away Tamas (inertia).
- HYP explains some best situations which a seeker should have comply with with the intention to obtain success in hatha yoga. Together with it, the textual content incorporates six causes that destroy the seeker’s yoga apply.
Conclusion
In Hatha Yoga Pradipika significance is given to stability the other flowing energies by forceful bodily postures. When the prana doesn’t movement in Sushumna, when the Bindu is just not conserved, when the thoughts is affected by exterior forces whereas meditation, then the individual can’t be known as a Hatha yogi. A householder or a married individual can turn into a Hatha yogi if he learns to self-discipline himself by hatha yoga practices.