Hatha Yoga Pradipika – Mudra and Bandha -Ten Mudras destroy old age
Mahamudra mahabandho mahavedhascha khechari/
Uddiyanam mulabandhas cha bandho jalandharabhidhah//(Chapter -3, Verse 6).
Maha Mudra, Maha Bandha, Maha Vedha, Khechari, Uddiyana, Moola Bandha and Jalandhara Bandha. (Chapter -3, Verse 6).
Karani viparitakhya vajroli saktichalanam/
Idam hi mudradasakam jaramarananasanam//(Chapter -3, Verse 7).
Viparita Karani Mudra, Vajroli and Shakti Chalana, truly, these are the ten mudras which destroy old age and death. (Chapter -3, Verse 7).
(1). Maha Mudra (The Great Attitude)
Padamulena vamena yonim sampidya dakshinam/
Prasaritam padam krtva karabhyam dharayeddrdham//(Chapter -3, Verse 10).
Press the left heel into the perineum or vagina, straighten the right leg, and with the hands, strongly take hold of the outstretched foot. (Chapter -3, Verse 10).
Kanthe bandham samaropya dharayed vayum urdhvatah /
Yatha dandahatah sarpo dandakarah prajayate//(Chapter -3, Verse 11).
By locking the throat and holding the breath, the prana rises straight, just like a snake beaten with a stick becomes straight. (Chapter -3, Verse 11).
Rjvibhuta tatha saktih kundali sahasa bhavet/
Tada sa maranavastha jayate dviputasraya//(Chapter -3, Verse 12).
So the kundalini sakti becomes very straight at once. Then the ida and pingala nadi become lifeless as the sakti enters into the sushumna nadi. (Chapter -3, Verse 12).
Tatah sanaih sanaireva rechayennaiva veghatah/
Mahamudram cha tenaiva vadanti vibudhottamāh//(Chapter -3, Verse 13).
Then breathe out slowly and gradually, not quickly. Indeed this is explained as maha mudra by the great siddhas. (Chapter -3, Verse 13).
(2).Maha Bandha (Great Lock)
Parshnim vamasya padasya yonisthane niyojayet/
Vamorupari samsthapya dakshinam charanam tatha//
Press the heel of the left foot in the perineum or vagina and place the right foot on the left thigh. (Chapter -3, Verse 19).
Purayitva tato vayum hrdaye chubukam drdham/
Nishpidya yonimakunchya manomadhye niyojayet//
Thus breathing in, bring the chin to the chest strenum bone, Jalandhara Bandha, constrict the perineal or cervical region as moola bandha and focus on the eyebrow center known as shambhavi mudra). (Chapter -3, Verse 20).
Dharayitva yathasakti rechayedanilam sanaih /
Savyangghe tu samabhyasya dakshangghe punarabhyaset//
Having holding the breath as long as feeling comfortable, then breathe out slowly. Once completing the practice on the left side, practice again on the right side too.(Chapter -3, Verse 21).
Matamatra tu keshamchitkanthabandham vivarjayet/
Rajadantasthajihvaya bandhah sasto bhavediti//
Some of them think that the throat lock Jalandhara Bandha is unnecessary and it is sufficient to keep the tongue against the front teeth. (Chapter -3, Verse 22).
Kalapasamahabandhavimochanavichakshanah/
Trivenisangghamam dhatte kedaram prapayenmanah//
Maha bandha release one from the bonds of death, makes the three nadis join together in Ajna chakra and enables the mind to attain the sacred state of Shiva, Kedara. (Chapter -3, Verse 24).
(3). Maha Vedha Mudra (Great Piercing Attitude)
Atha mahavedhah Mahabandhasthito yogi krtva purakam ekadhih/
Vayunam ghatimavrtya nibhrtam kanthamudraya//
The Hatha Yogi, in the position of Maha Bandha, should breath in, make the mind steady and hold the movement of prana by doing the throat lock. (Chapter -3, Verse 26).
Samahastayugho bhumau sphichau sanadayechchanaih/
Putadvayam atikramya vayuh sphurati madhyaghah//
Placing the palms of the hands on the ground, he should slowly beat the bumps gently on the ground. The prana then leaves the two nadis ida and pingala and enters into the middle channel sushumna nadi. (Chapter -3, Verse 27).
Mahavedhoa yam abhyasan mahasiddhipradayakah/
Valipalitavepaghnah sevyate sadhakottamaih//
This is maha vedha, and by practicing its benefited great perfections. Wrinkles, grey hair and the trembling of old age are avoidable, thus the best of practitioners devote themselves to it. (Chapter -3, Verse 29).
Khecharya mudritam yena vivaram lambikordhvatah/
Na tasya ksharate binduh kaminyasleshitasya cha//
Even when there is movement of the bindu and it enters the genitals, it is catched by closing the perineum and is taken upward direction. (Chapter -3, Verse 43).
Sushiram jnanajanakam panchasrotah samanvitam/
Tishthate khechari mudra tasminsunye niranjane//
Five nadis unite in this cavity and it is the root source of knowledge. Khechari should be established in that void, untainted by ignorance. (Chapter -3, Verse 53).
(4). Uddiyana Bandha (Abdominal Retraction Lock)
Atha uddiyanabandhah
Baddho yena sushumnayam pranastuddiyate yatah/
Tasmad uddiyanakhyoa yam yoghibhih samudahrtah//
Uddiyana bandha is so-called by the yogis because through its practice the prana (is concentrated at one point and) rises through sushumna. (Chapter -3, Verse 55).
Uddinam kurute yasmadavisrantam mahakhaghah/
Uddiyanam tadeva syattatra bandho abhidhiyate//
The bandha explained is called the rising or flying bandha, because through its practice, the great bird Shakti flies upward with ease and comfortably. (Chapter -3, Verse 56).
Udare paschimam tanam nabherurdhvam cha karayet /
Uddiyano hyasau bandho mrtyumatangghakesari//
Sucking the abdomen back in and making the navel rise is called Uddiyana Bandha. It is the lion which conquers the elephant death. (Chapter -3, Verse 57).
(5). Moola Bandha(perineum/cervix retraction lock)
Atha mulabandhah
Parshnibhaghena sampidya yonim akunchayed ghudam/
Apanam urdhvam akrshya mulabandho abhidhiyate//
Pressing the perineum/vagina with the heel and contracting the rectum so that the apana vayu moves upward it’s called moola bandha. (Chapter -3, Verse 61).
Adhogatim apanam va urdhvagam kurute balat/
Akunchanena tam prahur mulabandham hi yoginah//
By contracting the perineum the downward moving apana vayu is forced to go upward. Hatha Yogis called it as Moola Bandha. (Chapter -3, Verse 62).
Gudam parshnya tu sampidya vayumakunchayed balat/
Varam varam yatha chordhvam samayati samiranah//
Press the heel strongly against the rectum and contract forcefully and repeatedly, so that the prana energy rises. (Chapter -3, Verse 63).
Pranapanau nadabindu mulabandhena chaikatam/
Gatva yogasya samsiddhim yachchato natra samsayah//
There is no doubt that by practicing moola bandha, prana/apana and nada/bindu are joined, and total perfection gained.64
(6). Jalandhara Bandha (throat lock)
Atha jalandharabandhah
Kanthamakunchya hrdaye sthapayechchibukam drdham/
Bandho jalandharakhyoayam jaramrtyuvinasakah//
Contracting the throat by bringing the chin to the chest sternum bone is the bandha called Jalandhara Bandha. It eradicates old age and death. (Chapter -3, Verse 70).
Badhnati hi sirajalamadhoghami nabhojalam/
Tato jalandharo bandhah kanthaduhkhaughanasanah//
That is jalandhara bandha which holds the flow of nectar in the throat. It eliminates all throat ailments. (Chapter -3, Verse 71).
Jalandhare krte bandhe kanthasamkochalakshane/
Na piyusham patatyaghnau na cha vayuh prakupyati//
Having performed Jalandhara Bandha by contracting the throat, the nectar does not fall into the gastric fire and the prana is not disturbed. (Chapter -3, Verse 72).
Kanthasamkochanenaiva dve nadyau stambhayed drdham/
Madhyachakramidam jneyam shodasadharabandhanam//
By firmly contracting the throat, the two nadis, ida and pingala are paralyzed and the sixteen adharas of the manipura chakra are locked. (Chapter -3, Verse 73).
(7).Vipareeta Karani Mudra (reversing attitude)
Urdhvanabheradhastalorurdhvam bhanuradhah sasi /
Karani viparitakha ghuruvakyena labhyate//
With the navel region above and the palate below, the sun is above and the moon is below. This is called Viparita Karani, the reversing process. When given by the Guru’s instructions it is fruitful practice. (Chapter -3, Verse 79).
Valitam palitam chaiva shanmasordhvam na drsyate /
Yamamatram tu yo nityamabhyasetsa tu kalajit//
The practice should be done daily, gradually increasing the duration. After six months of practice, grey hairs and wrinkles become vanished. One who practices it for yama three hours masters or conquers death.(Chapter -3, Verse 82).
(8). Sahajoli Mudra– Attitude of Spontaneous Arousing
Sahajolischamarolirvajrolya bheda ekatah/
Jale subhasma nikshipya daghdhaghomayasambhavam//
Sahajoli and Amaroli are different practice of Vajroli. The ashes of burnt cow manure should be mixed with water. (Chapter -3, Verse 92).
Vajrolimaithunadurdhvam stripumsoh svangghalepanam/
Asinayoh sukhenaiva muktavyaparayoh kshanat//
After performing Vajroli Mudra during copulation, being in a comfortable position, the man and woman should wipe the ashes on specific parts of their bodies during their leisure time. (Chapter -3, Verse 93).
Sahajoliriyam prokta sraddheya yoghibhih sada /
Ayam subhakaro yogho bhoghayuktoapi muktidah//
This is called Sahajoli and the yogis have complete faith in it. This is very beneficial and enables enlightenment through the combination of Yoga and Bhoga sensual involvement. (Chapter -3, Verse 94).
(9). Amaroli Mudra (Attitude Arousing Immortality)
Atha amaroli
Pittolbanatvat prathamambudharam Vihaya nihsaratayantyadharam/
Nishevyate sitalamadhyadhara Kapalike khandamate amaroli//
According to the Kapalika sect, Amaroli is practiced by drinking the cool midstream of urine. The first part of the urine is left as it contains bile, and the last part is left as it does not contain goodness. (Chapter -3, Verse 96).
Amarim yah pibennityam nasyam kurvandine dine/
Vajrolim abhyaset samyak samaroliti kathyate//
One who drinks Amari, takes it through the nose and practices Vajroli, is said to be practicing Amaroli. (Chapter -3, Verse 97).
(10). Shakti Chalana Mudra (attitude of moving the energy)
Avasthita chaiva phanavati sa Pratascha sayam praharardhamatram/
Prapurya suryatparidhanayuktya Praghrhya nityam parichalaniya//
Inhaling through the right nostril pingala the serpent shakti should be seized through Kumbhaka and rotated constantly for an hour and a half, morning and evening time. (Chapter -3, Verse 112).