Talk:Gheranda Samhitā
By Swami Harshananda
Gheranda Samhitā
Haṭhayoga is an important aspect of yogic discipline. If Rājayoga deals with disciplining the mind, Haṭhayoga concentrates on purifying and disciplining the body through āsanas, mudrās and prāṇāyāmas.
The Gheranda Samhitā is one of the two important texts of Haṭhayoga, the other being Hathayogapradīpikā.
This work comprises 350 ślokas or verses spread over seven chapters. It is
in the form of a dialogue between Caṇḍakāpāli and his preceptor, the sage Gheraṇḍa. The first chapter with 49 ślokas deals with ṣaṭkarmas or the six purificatory exercises like dhauti, basti and so on. These purificatory processes are explained in detail.
The second chapter with 45 ślokas delineates the various yogāsanas, 32 in all, like padmāsana, dhanurāsana, śala-bhāsana, bhujaṅgāsana and others.
The third, with 100 ślokas, is the biggest chapter. It explains several mudrās like mahāmudrā, nabhomudrā, āmbhasī-mudrā and others, totaling 30 in all.
The fourth chapter, the shortest, has only seven verses and deals with pratyā-hārayoga, the art of withdrawing the mind from all factors that disturb yoga or concentration and meditation.
The fifth chapter, also a long one, has 96 verses. It deals with prāṇāyāma or the control of the prāṇic energy through breath-control. A variety of exercises like kumbhaka and bhastrikā are described. In this section stress is also laid upon the quality of food that a yogi can take and its regulation.
The sixth chapter, with only 22 verses, is concerned with dhyānayoga or the yoga of meditation. It gives a few varieties of dhyāna with some practical instructions.
The last chapter—the seventh—with 23 verses, describes a few types of samādhi like dhyānayogasamādhi and nādayoga-samādhi.
Once samādhi is attained, the yogi has no rebirth. He attains emancipation.
The various exercises described in
this work must be practised only under
the direct guidance and supervision of an expert in the field.
References[edit]
* The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore