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.
They have been explained by Adi Natha (Siva) and give eight kinds of divine wealth. They are loved by all the Siddhas and are hard to attain even by the Marutas. 8.
Note.—The eight Aiswaryas are: Anima (becoming small, like an atom), Mahima (becoming great, like akas, by drawing in atoms of Prakriti), Garima (light things, like cotton becoming very heavy like mountains.)
Prapti (coming within easy reach of everything ; as touching the moon with the little finger, while standing on the earth.)
Prakamya (non-resistance to the desires, as entering the earth like water.)
Isata (mastery over matter and objects made of it.)
Vasitwa (controlling the animate and inanimate objects.)
These Mudras should be kept secret by every means, as one keeps one’s box of jewellery, and should, on no account be told to any one, just as husband and wife keep their dealings secret. 9.
The maha mudra.
Pressing the Yoni (perineum) with the heel of the left foot, and stretching forth the right foot, its toe should be grasped by the thumb and first finger. 10.
By stopping the throat (by Jalandhara Bandha) the air is drawn in from the outside and carried down. Just as a snake struck with a stick becomes straight like a stick, in the same way, sakti (susumna) becomes straight at once. Then the Kundalini, becoming as it were dead, and, leaving both the Ida and the Pingala, enters the susumna (the middle passage). 11-12.
It should be expelled then, slowly only and not violently. For this very reason, the best of the wise men call it the Maha Mudra. This Maha Mudra has been propounded by great masters. 13.
Great evils and pains, like death, are destroyed by it, and for this reason wise men call it the Maha Mudra. 14.
Having practised with the left nostril, it should be practised with the right one ; and, when the number on both sides becomes equal, then the mudra should be discontinued. 15.
There is nothing wholesome or injurious; for the practice of this mudra destroys the injurious effects of all the rasas (chemicals). Even the deadliest of poisons, if taken, acts like nectar. 16.
Consumption, leprosy, prolapsus anii, colic, and the diseases due to indigestion,—all these irregularities are removed by the practice of this Maha Mudra. 17.
This Maha Mudra has been described as the giver of great success (Siddhi) to men. It should be kept secret by every effort, and not revealed to any and everyone. 18.
The Maha Bandha.
Press the left heel to the perineum and place the right foot on the
left thigh. 19.
Fill in the air, keeping the chin firm against the chest, and, having pressed the air, the mind should be fixed on the middle of the eyebrows or in the susumna (the spine). 20.
Having kept it confined so long as possible, it should be expelled slowly. Having practised on the left side, it should be practised on the right side. 21.
Some are of opinion that the closing of throat is not necessary here, for keeping the tongue pressed against the roots of the upper teeth makes a good bandha (stop). 22,
This stops the upward motion of all the Nadis. Verily this Maha
Bandha is the giver of great Siddhis. 23.
This Maha Bandha is the most skilful means for cutting away the snares of death. It brings about the conjunction of the Triveni (Ida, Pingala and Susumna) and carries the mind to Kedar (the space between the eyebrows, which is the seat of Siva). 24.
As beauty and loveliness, do not avail a woman without husband,
so the Maha Mudra and the Maha-Bandha are useless without the Maha
Vedha. 25.
The Maha Vedha.
Sitting with Maha Bandha, the Yogi should fill in the air and keep his mind collected. The movements of the Vayus (Prana and Apana) should be stopped by closing the throat.) 26.
Resting both the hands equally on the ground, he should raise himself a little and strike his buttocks against the ground gently. The air, leaving both the passages (Ida and Pingala), starts into the middle one. 27.
The union of the Ida and the Pingala is effected, in order to bring about immortality. When the air becomes as it were dead (by leaving its course through the Ida and the Pingala) (i.e., when it has been kept confined), then it should be expelled. 28.
The practice of this Maha Vedha, the giver of great Siddhis, destroys old age, grey hair, and shaking of the body, and therefore it is practised by the best masters. 29.
These THREE are the great secrets. They are the destroyers of old age and death, increase the appetite, confer the accomplishments of Anima, etc. 30.
They should be practised in 8 ways, daily and hourly. They increase collection of good actions and lessen the evil ones. People, instructed well, should begin their practice, little by little, first. 31.
The Khechari.
The Khechari Mudra is accomplished by thrusting the tongue into the gullet, by turning it over itself, and keeping the eyesight in the middle of the eyebrows. 32.
To accomplish this, the tongue is lengthened by cutting the fraenum linguae, moving, and pulling it. When it can touch the space between the eyebrows, then Khechari can be accomplished. 33.
Taking a sharp, smooth, and clean instrument, of the shape of a cactus leaf, the fraenum of the tongue should be cut a little (as much as a hair’s thickness), at a time. 34.