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Hatha Yoga

• Hathayoga Pradipike
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HathaYoga Pradipike> Chapter 1 :

Sutra 1

Yogi Swatmaraama starts his book with solutation to God Adinatha. Adinatha is the another name of God Shiva. Every Tantra book in India start with the scene where God Shiva preaches Goddess Parvati. Shiva is the lord of Yogis and Tantriks. He is the Guru for all the Sadhakas (aspirants). It is a speciality of all Indian ancient texts which deals with Yoga and Tantra starts with Shiva teaching Parvati. It is a unique feature of ancient Indian scriptures.

Sri Adinatha taught Hatayoga Vidya to Parvati which is a step to the attainement of Rajayoga. What is Hatayoga Vidya? How it can be a step towards the attainment of highest Rajayoga? One meaning of Hata is to force. Hatayoga means Yoga by force. Another meaning is , the word Hata is composed of two syllables, Ha and Ta. In Yogic terminology Ha means Sun and Ta means Moon i.e., Prana and Apana. Yogi says there are five types of Pranas. The word Prana is roughly translated as breath by some translators. But in actuality Prana is the force behind breath and all the activities of the body and mind. Prana maintains all the activities of body such as breathing, digestion, assimilation, excretion and all the mental activities. Pranayama is considered as control of breath. But in the process of Pranayama we take breath inside, hold it there and exhale according to the type of Pranayama one is doing. What happens when we take breath? we take air into our system. Air is only a gross element. Really we intake the Prana in the breath to our body. Prana is a subtle energy which is in every thing. What happens when we take food? Food is a gross element. Really we are eating the Prana in the food.! This Prana does all the activities in the body. Prana is divided into five types in Yoga and Vedanta. They are Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, and Samana. Here we will discuss only Prana and Apana and other types will be discussed later.

What is Prana and Apana? What are their activities in our body? How to control them? Why their union lead to Hatayoga? What happens when they unite? How their union leads to the attainement of Rajayoga? All these questions might have come to the mind of Parvati. Sri Adinatha answers to all these questions step by step.

In the second part of the verse it is told Hatayoga Vidya is a stair case to the attainment of highest Rajayoga.

Rajayoga is the highest culmination of all Yogic practices. Yoga is defined as
Yogah chittavritti nirodah,
by great Patanjali in his Patanjala Yoga Darshana. Yoga is the cessasion of all mental activities. How to reach this state? How Hatayoga vidya helps to reach this highest state? These questions will be answered in the next verses.

Sutra 2

Author of this book solutes his Guru. The concept of Guru is a very important aspect of Hindu religion. Guru holds the highest position as of God. One important verse in Sanskrit is

In the second part of this verse Swatmarama says that he preaches Hatayoga Vidya solely for the attainment of Rajayoga. Why Hatayoga is solely for the attainment of Rajayoga?

There is a warning to the aspirants of Hatayoga in this verse. Swatmarama knows the fact that in the course of Hatayoga many psychic powers will come to the aspirants. This powers or siddhis are obstacles in the path of Yoga as they deviate the aspirant from the main goal. Indiscriminate use of these powers will result in the down fall of Yoga sadhaka. Their attraction is so high that the Sadhakas will leave the path of Yoga. He clearly emphasizes the importance of Guru's guidence and indifference to the attraction of siddhis. So the aspirants should bear in mind that Hatayoga is a means to enhance their worldly enjoyments, but as a step to attain ultimate Samadhi or enlightenment. Great Yogis and enlightened persons has warned about the pitfalls that siddhis will bring. Swatmarama also shows a way to success in Rajayoga, absolute trust and devotion to Guru and single minded devotion towards his goal will lead to the attainment of Rajayoga quickly.