The Gheranda Samhita A Treatise On Hatha Yoga

Author : Swami Vishnuswaroop
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781521757475
Total Pages : 87 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (574 download)

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Download or read book Gheranda Samhita written by Swami Vishnuswaroop and published by . This book was released on 2017-07-04 with total page 87 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is a classical yogic text. Its author is Sage Gheraṇḍa. The form of yoga he taught in Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is called Ghaṭastha Yoga. Initially, it deals with the body, prāna and the mind through various yogic practices step by step and finally, leads to ātmaj�āna (knowledge of the Self). It is said that Gheraṇḍa Samhitā was composed in the Seventeenth Century. But not so much is known about Sage Gheraṇḍa regarding his place of birth. His system of yoga is called 'Saptāṅga Yoga' i.e. the yoga of seven limbs or parts. We know 'Aṣṭāṅga Yoga' (i.e. the eight limbs of yoga) by Sage Pata�jali and 'Ṣaḍāṅga Yoga' (i.e. the six limbs of yoga) by Guru Gorakhanāth. All these systems of yoga with their specific limbs/parts are equally respected and followed in the yogic tradition.The first aspect of yogic practice described in Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is ṣaṭkarma, the six yogic cleansing practices. Their practice is important to get rid of diseases from the body and purify it properly. The second aspect of yogic practice discussed is the āsana. The importance of āsana practice is that they help create firmness and stability in the body. The third aspect of practice described is the mudrā which is used to control the flow of prāṇa and retain and circulate it within the body. The fourth aspect of practice he talked is pratyāhāra. According to Sage Gheraṇḍa, when body is purified through ṣaṭkarma, it is made firm and stable by āsana and prāṇa is controlled and retained by mudrā, then one can naturally do the practice of pratyāhāra. The fifth aspect of practice he taught is prānāyāma. In most of the prānāyāma practices he included mantras with them. Practice of prānāyāma with specific mantras creates direct impact on energy field within the body and mind through the vibrations of the mantras which eventually contribute for the expansion of awareness. The sixth aspect of discourse in Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is dhyāna. The state of dhyāna arises naturally when the body is pure, firm and stable, prāṇa is controlled and the mind is withdrawn within itself. It describes three types of dhyāna for developing awareness and one-pointedness of the mind. The seventh and final aspect described in Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is samādhi. Its achievement is the final goal of yoga.It is very interesting to know that in the second verse of first chapter of Gheraṇḍa Samhitā Caṇḍakapāli expresses his desire to learn Ghaṭastha Yoga which is the cause of tattvaj�āna (knowledge of the truth). What is this Ghaṭastha Yoga? It simply means ghaṭa (body), stha (based) yoga (yoga) i.e. body based yoga.The two common meanings of the word ghaṭa is 'a body', 'a large vessel or water pot'. It also means the mind, the heart and the soul. A ghaṭa (large vessel or water pot) is composed of five elements, so is the body. In this body as ghaṭa abide prāna (the vital energy), mind (with its four components) and five senses, heart (feeling, emotion, attachment) and an independent ātmā (the Self which is regarded as the source and support of all beings).Therefore, according to Sage Gheraṇḍa Ghaṭastha Yoga begins with the body, creates balance and harmony on the prānic, mental and emotional levels for higher level of awakening and finally, leads to samādhi, the Self-realization which is the ultimate goal of human life.