In this unit you will be able to know why Nadi Shodhan Kriya is necessary before doing Pranayama. What are its method, precautions and benefits? What is its importance in Hatha Yoga.
Nadi Shodhan
Nadi Shuddhi is considered necessary before Pranayama. The practice of Nadi Shodhan Kriya is the process of running Prana within the body, it is the process of awakening Prana. But awakening of Prana and free flow of Prana is possible only when all the Nadis within us become free from obstruction
Because-
Due to the mistakes that are made in the lifestyle of a human being due to ignorance or negligence, the impurities in his body keep on increasing. This increase in waste does not occur only in the intestines and rectum which digest food, but the polluted gases from the waste get mixed in the blood stream and make the entire nervous system of the body dirty and obstructed. There are 72 thousand nerves in our body. Diseases arise due to some kind of obstruction in these nerves. When the nerves are purified, the blood starts flowing freely in the entire body. And its consciousness, vitality, power increases a lot compared to before. For this, Nadi Shodhan Pranayam proves to be especially effective.
Types of nerves
There are many nerves in our body. Just like flowers are woven into a garland, in the same way these nerves are woven together, entangled and their entanglement obstructs the flow of life force. Therefore, until these nerves are purified, a person cannot practice Pranayam.
72 thousand nerves are mentioned in the Buddhist texts, but only 14 of them are accepted, out of which three are major, they are-
1. Sushumna
2. Ida
3. Pingla
4. Gandhari
5. Hastajiva
6. Kuhu
7. Saraswati
8. Pusha
9. Shankhini
10. Yashaswini
11. Varuni
12. Alambusa
13. Vishwadhara
14. Payaswini
The subtle central nervous system of the body is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. The medulla oblongata is the connecting organ of both. This system is directly related to the automatic process of breathing. Both the brain and the spinal cord have cerebrum spinal fluid floating in them. The Brahma nerve reaches from the Mooladhara to the Sahasrar through the yellow part of the spinal cord. The subtle life circulation of especially important and conscious elements takes place through this yellow part.
It is mentioned in Yoga texts that spiritual progress is not possible due to the impurity of the nerves.
In Shiva Sanhita it is said that when the nerves are pure then the doshas will be purified and in that condition only it is possible to start yoga.
It is said in Hatha Yoga Pradipika that when the nadis are purified, the signs of that time are- a definite increase in the leanness and radiance of the body.
TYPES OF NADHI SHODHAN
There are two types of Nadi Shodhan according to the difference of Samnu and Nirmanu-
1. Samanu- This process of Nadi Shodhan done with Beej Mantra is mental. In the beginning, the sadhak takes care of his breathing mentally and moves his consciousness up and down with the breath. After this, to go deeper, one practices mantra with breath and in the meanwhile, one also practices Dharana with the mantra.
2. Nirmanu - The process of Nadi Shodhan done by Dhautikarma is physical. The lungs become defect-free by Dhauti Kriya, the internal organs become disorder-free, then the awakening of Prana starts happening automatically and at that time an attempt is made to send Prana only to the Nadi area.
Nadi Shodhan method
कुशासेन मृगाजिने व्याघ्राजिने च कम्बले।
स्थूलासने समासीन: प्राडगमुखो वाप्युदाड्.मुखः।
नाड़ीशुद्धिं समासाद्य प्राणायमं संभ्यासेत् ।।
घेरण्ड संहिता ५.३३
That is, one should practice Nadi Shuddhi Pranayama while facing east or north on a thick Kush seat, deerskin or lion skin or any other type of blanket.
1. Keep the right nostril closed. Inhale through the left and slowly take it to the navel chakra. Meditate that there is a cool yellow light in the navel area like the full moon. The inhaled breath is touching it.
2. Hold the breath inside for the same amount of time it was inhaled and keep meditating that the light of the full moon situated in the navel chakra is touching the breath and making it cool and luminous.
3. Exhale through the first nostril and meditate that the luminous and cool air returning after touching the moon of the navel chakra is returning making the pores of the Ida Nadi cool and luminous. The speed of exhalation is very slow. Hold the breath out for some time, without breathing.
According to Acharya Shriram Sharma Ji, inhaling and exhaling through the left nostril three times, meditating on the cool moon in the navel chakra, inhaling and exhaling through the right nostril three times, meditating on the warm sunlight, inhaling through both nostrils once and exhaling through the mouth, all these together form a complete Nadi Shodhan Pranayam. In the beginning, one should do three Pranayamas, gradually its number can be increased to twenty.
Benefits of Nadi Shodhak
1. By practicing this pranayama regularly, within a short time all the nerves become impurity-free and pure.
2. The seeker starts experiencing lightness in his body as well as increase in power.
Precautions
3. Pranayama should be practiced only during Brahmamuhurt, not during the day. That is, between 4 and 6 in the morning.
4. When the air is mild and cool, neither too cold nor too hot, then Pranayam is practiced in that cool air.
5. Pranayama is not practiced in a closed room, it is practiced with the windows and doors open so that fresh air can always enter. But the place should not be so airy that there is a gust of air inside the room.
6. If the air is slightly cold, one should cover oneself with a sheet or wear a vest. The body should not be allowed to come in direct contact with the air.
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