Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1092

c8.1092

There are various kinds of prāṇāyāma (control of breaths). Prāṇāyāma practised with the prāṇa contained in the centre of the body is called Candra grahaṇa; that which supersedes physical principles is called Sūryagrahaṇa. To fill the stomach with as much of vāyu as is desired is Pūrakaprāṇāyāma. To remain like a full pot, all breathing stopped, (Pot completely filled) having closed all the openings—'doors'—of the body is Kumbhaka. The yogī practising Kumbhaka should direct the vāyu upwards in one breath, and that practice is called Recaka. He who does it should be conversant with the yoga of inhalation. Erudite people call it Japa, because when it is practised Śiva resident in one's own body awakes within. Śiva, the King of yogins, chants the mantra (japa) 21,6000 times within the course of one day and one night. The soul chants the mantra—Gāyatri—of which Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva are the presiding deities, and that is called Ajapa. He who chants Ajapa will have no future births. Prāṇāyāma should be followed by Kuṇḍalinīyoga, Kuṇḍalinī meaning primordial force. The force is a compound of Sun, fire and Moon and its seat is the heart, where it exists in the form of a sprout. Since creation is dependent upon this force power for creation should be invoked on it. The yogin should picture in his mind that nectar flows out of Kuṇḍalinī. He should also realise that the soul within the body possesses form while pure soul is formless. He should address this soul as 'Haṃsa Haṃsa'. Haṃsa means Śiva. Śiva exists and functions inside and outside the body just as oil is in the gingelly seed and fragrance in flower. Soul possessing form is of five kinds. Accordingly Brahmā's seat is the heart, Viṣṇu's the neck, Rudra's, the centre of the throat; Maheśvara's the forehead; and Śiva's, the tip of the prāṇa. Soul without form is just contrary to the above. Its place is where the prāṇa ends. By prāṇāyāma the formless soul may be experienced. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 214).