Hatha Yoga
(Its History, Meaning and Development)
History
The Human body is like a vehicle or
temple which houses the mind and spirit. The ancient Seers and Rishis of Yoga realised through their expanded awareness,
inner vision and intuition which was developed through the awakening of the
Kundalini that the human
body contained many interesting mysteries.
Some yogis who were undergoing an
inner awakening “ either in their Central Nervous System or the Pranic system, or both” unconsciously developed bodily
movements known as Kriyas and assumed classical Yoga
postures. Also some even began breathing in peculiar and not previously known ways. Yogic
Adepts like Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati and others believe that these Kriyas that are a phenomena are initiated as a result of natural evolution
“biological, Psychic, Spiritual” and heralds the last evolutionary step as a homosapien human being.
Ancient Yogis also had a close
affinity with nature and the environment around them, including the earth,
space, stars and the sun to name just a few. They also started to study animals
with great depth, and the subsequent naming of many asanas
after animals is a fitting tribute to the ancient Yogis great affinity with
nature. This was probably the starting point which was later expanded on
through SELF experimentation over centuries and millennia to encompass all of
the Classical asanas and pranayamas
that we know today.
Meaning and Development
The traditional meaning of the words, Hatha
Yoga are a combination of Bija
mantras meaning:
Ha (or Ham
is the sound of Pingala Nadi,
prana, chi, vital life force)
Tha (or Tham, Ksham is
the sound of Ida Nadi, mind, mental force)
Yoga (
Therefore the meaning of Hatha Yoga may be
interpreted as Yoga through the union of prana and mind.
Mind and prana in yogic terminology can be understood
as Ida and Pingala Nadis.
Their purification and balance results in an awakening which when sustained
perfectly for long periods of time leads to an awakening of Ajna
Chakra, which triggers an awakening of Mooladhara
Chakra. At this time if all conditions are auspicious Sushumna
Nadi opens and Kundalini makes her ascent through all
the major Chakras illumining them fully, as she passes along inside the Brahma Nadi of Sushumna (the spinal
cord). This Shakti force conquers the mind at Ajna
Chakra.
Dhyana (Meditation) rapidly ensues as Shiva
(higher consciousness) descends to meet Shakti (Individual consciousness).
Their meeting removes the duality and once more they unite in samadhi at Sahasrara and realize
the ecstasy of divinity that we are truly meant to experience (the real purpose
of evolution). This, to put it briefly is the theory and philosophy of Hatha
Yoga and Tantra in general. But to get to this lofty realization first it is
said by the masters of Kundalini Yoga that we must take to Hatha Yoga and
utilize the six classical Hatha yoga shatkarmas.
Classically shatkarmas
are practiced whilst one is mastering Asanas, or after reaching some degree of perfection in Asanas, but before Pranayama
(always) , Mudra, Bandha
and Kriya Yoga. Asanas being but one stage in a progression of Techniques ending in Yoga
(
Real Yogi’s of old like Goraknath,
Matsyendranath etc. must be rolling around in Satyaloka (The dimension of Truth), in laughter. They would
be seeing this period of the Kaliyuga (the
twenty-first century A.D) how their sublime philosophies and systems of yoga
have been diluted and doctored to accommodate our so-called modern society.
Hatha yoga deals with conquering and
transcending the limitations of the mind, and experiencing meditation through
prana. Instead of going through the front door and trying to control or tackle
the mind directly, these yogis who systematized Hatha Yoga knew that the key to
transcendence lied in Prana and Kundalini. Their route was the backdoor via the
elevator of Sushumna. The undeniable goal of Samadhi
that Rishi Patanjali
expounds in the Yoga Sutras can be reached by Kundalini Shakti awakening
directly.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which is one of the most respected authentic texts on Hatha Yoga, is
divided into four chapters leading to the goal of life- Samadhi. A brief
summary of this famous Yogic Text follows.
(Chapter 1) Deals with perfecting various asanas and explains the signs and symptoms of perfection in
asana.
(Chapter 2) Shatkatma and Pranayama. The six shatkarmas are
essential before attempting advanced Pranayama
techniques. They are neti, basti,
dhauti, kapalbhati, trataka and nauli. These six shatkarmas are a complete yoga in themselves and are
indispensable for any sadhaka (sincere yoga aspirant)
contemplating the awakening of Kundalini. Kundalini is a purifying force in
itself but the body, pranas and mind must be purified
and harmonized first to have the ability to sustain the force of awakening.
After shatkarmas have been performed the body is fit
for Pranayama. Prana Nigraha
(The various breathing techniques of Yoga) first of all deals with the techniques
of manipulating and strengthening the breath and prana. Until one arrives at
the stage of Kevala Kumbhaka
real Pranayama and expansion of prana has not yet
been achieved. When Kevala kumbhaka
arrives the Kundalini can ascend.
(Chapter 3) Mudra and Bandha describes the practices needed to raise the
Kundalini and open all the Chakras, but the most important sutras describe
seeking instruction from a guru or master who is an adept or expert in
Kundalini Yoga. Not just in theory but they must have the ability to perceive
and guide the aspirant through the unchartered waters of mind and
consciousness. Mudras and Bandhas
are the keys given to a deserving disciple by their guru and it is said in v128
and v129 that "the ten Mudras told by Adinath Shiva brings perfection, and one who instructs Mudra in the tradition of guru is like Ishwara.
(Chapter 4) How the culmination is reached through
concentration of nada (sound vibrations of consciousness). After Sushumna Nadi (the nucleus
of our being) awakens, and the Kundalini has arisen within the Sushumna, the concentration becomes intense and awareness
spontaneous focuses on the many inner sounds that begin to manifest. Many
visions and experiences confront the sadhaka in this
region, and nada (inner sound) carries the aspirant through the experience of Laya (absorption) to Nirvikalpa
Samadhi. This is said to be the culmination of human experience and the true
purpose of our existence. Yogis that have reached this far like Paramahamsa
Satyananda say that this level of Samadhi is the doorway into another realm of
total experience. This system and philosophy of Hatha Yoga have their origin in
the ancient teachings of Tantra the "Tantra Shastras",
which are the ancient teachings of yoga. The original guru of this lineage was Shiva.
Shiva first imparted the techniques of yoga to Parvati
his wife and disciple. There is reference of these techniques of Hatha yoga in
these ancient texts.
Click here for
another Classical Hatha Yoga article by the Author
Some Verses
of Wisdom
From
Paramahamsa
Satyananda Saraswati
What happens when both ida and pingala
flow together? This is known as the awakening of sushumna,
when both sides of the brain function simultaneously. Hatha yoga is not only asanas and pranayama, the Hatha
Yoga system is :
firstly the purification of the body, secondly asanas,
and thirdly pranayama. Beyond that, there is nothing
that you have to do - everything just happens.
Through pranayama
you can go as deep as you want, pranayama
with jalandhara, uddiyana
and moola bandhas and some
of the kriyas. Pranayama is
the gateway to Dhyana. The moment of sushumna
awakening is the moment of transcendence. This is the Hatha Yoga system
Reference
Munger,
Some Verses
of Wisdom
From the
Hatha Yoga Pradipika: Circa 6th Century AD
Click above
for a good translation of the classical Text
C1Ver43: There is no asana like Siddhasana, no Kumbhaka like Kevala, no Mudra like Kechari and no Laya or
dissolution of the mind like Nada, the inner sound
C2Ver75: There is no doubt; the state of Raja
Yoga is also attained through Kevala Kumbhaka. By retention Kundalini is aroused, Sushumna becomes unobstructed and perfection of Hatha Yoga
takes place
C2Ver76: There can be no perfection if Hatha Yoga
is without Raja Yoga or Raja Yoga without Hatha Yoga. Therefore, through
practice of both, perfection is obtained
C4Ver114: While the prana does not flow in the
middle passage (Sushumna), while the Bindu is not steadied by restraining the Prana, while the
mind does not reflect spontaneous Meditation, then those who speak of Spiritual
knowledge are only indulging in boastful and false tales
Click here
for another Hatha Yoga article by Paramahamsa Satyananda Saraswati
Translation of the classic Yogic/Tantric Text
Sat Cakra Narupana
Written by Swami Purnananda
circa 1500AD
Click above
hyperlink
Bibliography
Saraswati, Swami Muktibhodananda and Swami Satyananda (1985)
"Hatha Yoga Pradipika"
Copyright © - Satyam Yoga Centre -
August 2000
Swami Mounamurti Saraswati
mailto:satyamyoga.com@bigpond.com
http://satyamyoga.com/mouart.htm
Click above link for more Yoga Articles/ Satsangs
The author grants the right to use this file
only in its entirety and authorship must be acknowledged
Updated