The Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā — trans. Pancham Sinh (1915)
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The translator’s English as printed (Pancham Sinh). The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
Therefore, Pranayama should be performed daily with satwika buddhi (intellect free from raja and tama or activity and sloth), in order to drive out the impurities of the susumna. 6.
Method of performing Pranayama.
Sitting in the Padmasana posture the Yogi should fill in the air through the left nostril (closing the right one); and, keeping it confined according to one’s ability, it should be expelled slowly through the surya (right nostril). Then, drawing in the air through the surya (right nostril) slowly, the belly should be filled, and after performing Kumbhaka as before, it should be expelled slowly through the chandra (left nostril). 7 and 8.
Inhaling thus through the one, through which it was expelled, and having restrained it there, till possible, it should be exhaled through the other, slowly and not forcibly. 9.
If the air be inhaled through the left nostril, it should be expelled again through the other, and filling it through the right nostril, confining it there, it should be expelled through the left nostril. By practising in this way, through the right and the left nostrils alternately, the whole of the collection of the nadis of the yamis (practisers) becomes clean, i.e., free from impurities, after 3 months and over. 10.
Kumbhakas should be performed gradually 4 times. during day and night, i.e., (morning, noon, evening and midnight), till the number of Kumbhakas for one time is 80 and for day and night together it is 320. 11.
In the beginning there is perspiration, in the middle stage there is quivering, and in the last or the 3rd stage one obtains steadiness ; and then the breath should be made steady or motionless. 12.
The perspiration exuding from exertion of practice should be rubbed into the body (and not wiped), as by so doing the body becomes strong. 13.
During the first stage of practice the food consisting of milk and ghee is wholesome. When the practice becomes established, no such restriction is necessary. 14.
Just as lions, elephants and tigers are controlled by and by, so the breath is controlled by slow degrees, otherwise (i.e., by being hasty or using too much force) it kills the practiser himself. 15.
When Pranayama, etc., are performed properly, they eradicate all diseases ; but an improper practice generates diseases. 16.
Hiccough, asthma, cough, pain in the head, the ears, and the eyes ; these and other various kinds of diseases are generated by the disturbance of the breath. 17.
The air should be expelled with proper tact and should be filled in skilfully ; and when it has been kept confined properly it brings success. 18.
N.B.—The above caution is necessary to warn the aspirants against omitting any instruction ; and, in their zeal to gain success or siddhis early, to begin the practice, either by using too much force in filling in, confining and expelling the air, or by omitting any instructions, it may cause unnecessary pressure on their ears, eyos, &c., and cause pain. Every word in the instructions is full of meaning and is necessarily used in the slokas, and should be followed very carefully and with due attention. Thus there will be nothing to fear whatsoever. We are inhaling and exhaling the air throughout our lives without any sort of danger, and Pranayama being only a regular form of it, there should be no cause to fear.
When the nidis become free from impurities, and there appear the outward signs of success, such as lean body and glowing colour, then one should feel certain of success. 19.
By removing the impurities, the air can be restrained, according to one’s wish and the appetite is increased, the divine sound is awakened, and the body becomes healthy. 20.
If there be excess of fat or phlegm in the body, the six kinds of kriyas (duties) should be performed first. But others, not suffering from the excess of these, should not perform them. 21.
The six kinds of duties are: Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Trataka, Nauti and Kapala Bhati. These are called the six actions षट्कर्म 22.
These six kinds of actions which cleanse the body should be kept secret. They produce extraordinary attributes and are performed with earnestness by the best of Yogis. 23.
The Dhauti (धौति) A strip of cloth, about 3 inches wide and 15 cubits long, is pushed in (swallowed), when moist with warm water, through the passage shown by the guru, and is taken out again. This is called Dhauti Karma. 24.
N.B.—The strip should. be moistened with a little warm water, and the end should be held with the teeth. It is swallowed slowly, little by little; thus, first day 1 cubit, 2nd day 2 cubits, 3rd day 3 cubits, and so on. After swallowing it the stomach should be given a good, round motion from left to right, and then it should be taken out slowly and gently.
There is no doubt, that cough, asthma, enlargement of the spleen, leprosy, and 20 kinds of diseases born of phlegm, disappear by the practice of Dhauti Karma. 25.
The Basti (बस्तिकर्म).
Squatting in navel-deep water, and introducing a six inches long,
smooth piece of ½ an inch diameter pipe, open at both ends, half inside
the anus; it (anus) should be drawn up (contracted) and then expelled.
This washing is called the Basti Karma. 26.