Recollecting what is prANAyAma –
prANAyAma – controlling the breathe
Breathe is linked entirely with thoughts. Thoughts are entirely linked with the time. Thus, breathe is entirely linked with the time. The one who actively controls his breathe, controls his time. There is no other way to handle the time as efficient as the prANAyAma.
prANAyAma lakshaNam
pUrakam, kumbhakam & rEcakam are the three steps one is supposed to maintain in any form of prANAyAma. Without any of these, that won’t be considered as prANAyAma.
It is advised to use the praNava – Om’kAra while practicing prANAyAmam. Om kAra shabdam is the para-braHma swarUpam and thus, there is no bIja that is greater than Om-kAra when it comes to nirvikalpa samAdhi.
First one has to fill the air gently through his right nostril by closing the left nostril tightly in such a way, not even a thin line of air escapes. Then, he has to hold it by closing the right nostril as well. Then, he is supposed to slowly release the air via his left nostril gently & steadily in a single stream with no breaks. Then, without a time-lag, he has to now fill the air gently via his left nostril by closing his right nostril tightly. Then, hold the air by closing the left nostril as well. Then, release the air via right nostril gently & steadily in a single stream with no breaks. Again, without a time-lag, inhale the air via both the nostrils, close both the nostrils, hold the air and then release the air gently & steadily via both the nostrils. This is one prANAyAma. Like this, one has to begin with three prANAyAmAs in single sitting.
Always time matters, no!! So, there is a time limit prescribed to inhale the air, hold the air and to release the air.
Initially to begin with – the ratio has to be 1:1:1.. Say, if you hold the air by chanting one praNava deeply, then you have to hold that air by chanting one deep praNava and has to release the air by chanting one deep praNava.
Once you feel comfortable here, you shall increase the ratio to 1:2:1 and then, finally to 1:4:2.. Apart from praNava, one shall use the gAyatri mantram as well.. This will help one reach the heights of intuition.
To begin with, do not force the air to remain elsewhere in the sharIra by listening to youtube videos or as mentioned in the texts.
“You gently inhale the air, hold the air without the pressure and steadily release the air.”
This itself will give one all the benefits of prANAyAma.
The practitioners will say – one has to do pUrakam in such a way – his stomach has to touch his spine. This is all for the advanced practitioners who is devoid of samsAra. So, you least bother these and adhere to what will help you to cross this samsAra safely by shining in laukIka & also in AtmIka with physical and mental strength / will-power.
This prANAyAma has to be practiced ONLY in the empty stomach with a small glass of water. So, make sure, you clean your bowels before you sit for this. Also, get rid of these yOgA mats and buy a red-kambal Asana, sit on it and practice. You sit on cloth or any other material similar to normal cloth, dAridraiya will get hold of you.
There are ways to attain siddhi in prANAyAma as well. This is the foremost aNga for hanumat upAsana and a mandatory for any spiritual sAdhana.
Men shall skip this prANAyAma when you are sick and women shall skip this when you are sick or in periods.
However one may read a thousands of texts, memorize it and give a lecture, the gnAna obtained out of practice can’t be matched with these surface level habits. So, spend a lot of time in practice than reading books or watching videos. It is always the practice that brings the results.
Out of 9 AsanAs that are prescribed in the ashtANGa yOga; svastikAsanam and padmAsanam are most recommended for us to practice prANAyAma. This is the basic prANAyAma and once one gets used to this, swAmy through some other source will help one the next level of prANAyAma. And, this basic prANAyAma itself is enough for one even for the Atma darshana.
To learn about the yama of ashtANGa yOga, you shall please click here.
To learn about the niyama of ashtANGa yOga, you shall please click here.
To learn about the Asana of ashtANGa yOga, you shall please click here.
To learn about the prANAyAma – part 1 of ashtANGa yOga that deals with nADi shuddhi, you shall please click here
சரணம் காளிகே❤️❤️
