Talk:Nadiśuddhi
By Swami Harshananda
nadiśuddhi (‘purification of the naḍis’)
Nāḍīśuddhi means the purification of the nādīs, tube-like structures in the body. They have to be cleansed by certain processes before practising prāṇāyāma. (See PRĀNĀYĀMA.)
Works on Haṭhayoga describe nāḍi-śuddhi as of two types: samanu (with bījamantras) and nirmanu (without such mantras).
The latter is done by practising various dhautis (cleansing processes). (See DHAUTI for details.)
The former is the usual prāṇāyāma comprising the three stages, pṅraka (inhalation), kumbhaka (retention of breath) and recaka (exhalation) in the proportion of 16:64:32 seconds, using such bījamantras as yam, ram and lam (vide Gheranda Samhitā 5.33-45).
Of course, it goes without saying that these practices should be done under the direct supervision of a competent guru.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore