History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c94.236

v7.c94.236

²³⁴⁵ The six क्रियाs of हठयोग are: धौतिर्बस्तिस्तथा नेतिस्त्राटकं नौलिकं तथा। कपालभातिश्चैतानि षट् कर्माणि प्रचक्षते॥ ह यो प्र. II. 22. धौति is described in the Journal योगमीमांसा vol. II. pp 170-177, बस्ति (yogic enema) in vol I. pp. 101-104, नौलि in vol I pp 25-26 and vol IV. pp. 320-24 and कपालभाति in the Handbook on 'Prāṇāyāma' (by Shri Kuvalayānanda), part I. pp 79-100 There are various methods of Dhauti. The present author, who has been suffering from hyperacidity for over 60 years and from duodenal ulcer for at least 35 years, practised on the advice of an Indian doctor holding an English degree in medicine washing of the stomach by swallowing a large quantity of tepid water and then vomitting it. This was done for several years, generally once a week (or oftener). He can say from personal experience that it washed the stomach and reduced acute pain But he found or thought that it was no cure and gave up the practice after some years नेति is cleansing the nose and त्राटक is fixing the eyes without winking on a minute object till the tears fill the eyes (निरीक्षेन्निश्चलदृशा सूक्ष्मलक्ष्यं समाहितः। अश्रुसम्पातपर्यन्तमाचार्यैस्त्राटकं स्मृतम्॥ ह यो प्र II. 31). त्राटक is of various types such as नक्षत्रत्राटक, सूर्यत्राटक, आदर्शत्राटक, भ्रूमध्यत्रा०, नासाग्रदृष्टिन्ना०. One with weak eyes must not attempt it except under the guidance of an expert. It is a preliminary to ekāgratā (one pointedness of mind) and *dhyāna*. Those interested in the Hathayoga may read 'Hathayoga, the report of a personal experience', by Theos Barnard, Columbia University Press, New York, 2nd impression, 1945 This author travelled over the whole of India, settled down at a guru's retreat in the hill near Ranchi, and went to Tibet also at his guru's bidding The book contains 36 photographs, 28 of which represent various āsanas, VII, XXVI-VII of Mahāmudrā, Vajrolīmudrā and Paśinīmūdrā, XXXII and XXXIII represent the first and second stages of Uddīyāna-bandha and Nos XXXIV-VI represent Naulī-madhyamā, Naulī-vāmā and Naulī-dakṣiṇā. The H Y. P. (III. 6-7) names ten mudrās. Another recent work is 'The Yoga of Health, Youth and Joy' (a treatise on Hatha-yoga adapted to the West) by Sir Paul Dukes (Cassell, London 1960) This is a very useful book, contains about seventy excellent photographs and is written with great moderation after long personal practice The author was engaged for years in lecturing to the army on the usefulness of yoga practices