Chapter 1. On Asanas
*
"Hatha Yoga Pradipika", tr. by Pancham Sinh, [1914],
p. 1
The Haha Yoga Pradipika.
--
--
Chapter 1.
\"On sanas".
-- ् ्
्् --्
् ्--
्
--
--
--
Salutation to dintha (iva) who expounded the knowledge of Haha Yoga, which like a staircase leads the aspirant to the high pinnacled Rja Yoga. 1.
् - ्
- -््
-
- -
Yogin Swtmrma, after saluting first his Gur Srintha explains Haha Yoga for the attainment of Raja Yoga. 2.
्् -् -
- ् ्
- -
-
Owing to the darkness arising from the multiplicity of opinions people are unable to know the Rja Yoga. Compassionate Swtmrma composes the Haha Yoga Pradipik like a torch to dispel it. 3.
-् ््््-्््
् -
- -
-
Matsyendra, Goraka, etc., knew Haha Vidy, and by their favour Yog Swtmrma also learnt it from them. 4.
The following Siddhas (masters) are said to have existed in former times:--
--््््-्-
्--््-््-
Sri dintha (iva), Matsyendra, Ntha, Sbar, Anand, Bhairava, Chaurangi, Mna ntha, Gorakantha, Virupka, Bileaya. 5.
् ्््् ्
् ्् ्
Manthna, Bhairava, Siddhi Buddha, Kanthadi, Karantaka, Surnanda, Siddhipda, Charapati. 6.
p. 2
्् ्- ्
्् ्््
-
Kner, Pjyapda, Nityantha, Nirajana, Kapli, Vinduntha, Kka Chandwara. 7.
् ्
् ् ्
Allma, Prabhudeva, Ghod, Chol, Tintii, Bhnuk Nrdeva, Khanda Kplika, etc. 8.
् ् --
्् -् ्् ्
--
-
These Mahsiddhas (great masters), breaking the sceptre of death, are roaming in the universe. 9.
्--् ्-
्--्-
-- -
Like a house protecting one from the heat of the sun, Haha Yoga protects its practiser from the burning heat of the three Tpas; and, similarly, it is the supporting tortoise, as it were, for those who are constantly devoted to the practice of Yoga. 10.
-् ् ््
्् ् ््
-
A Yog desirous of success should keep the knowledge of Haha Yoga secret; for it becomes potent by concealing, and impotent by exposing. 11.
् ् ्् ्
-्् ्--्
् -् ् -
- --
- -
The Yog should practise Haha Yoga in a small room, situated in a solitary place, being 4 cubits square, and free from stones, fire, water, disturbances of all kinds, and in a country where justice is properly administered, where good people live, and food can be obtained easily and plentifully. 12.
p. 3
्-््-्- ््-
्--््-् -््
् ्
-््
् -् ्् ्््
-
-
-
-
The room should have a small door, be free from holes, hollows, neither too high nor too low, well plastered with cow-dung and free from dirt, filth and insects. On its outside there should be bowers, raised platform (chabootr), a well, and a compound. These characteristics of a room for Haha Yogs have been described by adepts in the practice of Haha. 13.
् ्-्-्
््-् ्
--
-
Having seated in such a room and free from all anxieties, he should practise Yoga, as instructed by his "guru". 14.
् ् ् ्
-्् ् ्् ्
-
Yoga is destroyed by the following six causes:--Over-eating, exertion, talkativeness, adhering to rules, "i.e.", cold bath in the morning, eating at night, or eating fruits only, company of men, and unsteadiness. 15.
्््््््-् ्
-्-््््् ््
-
--
The following six bring speedy success:--Courage, daring, perseverance, discriminative knowledge, faith, aloofness. from company. 16.
-
्् ्् ्
्
-
The ten rules of conduct are: ahis (non-injuring), truth, non-stealing, continence, forgiveness, endurance, compassion, meekness, sparing diet and cleanliness. 17.
्् ्् ्-
््-्-
््् -््-
-
--
--
The ten niyamas mentioned by those proficient in the knowledge of yoga are: Tapa, patience, belief in God, charity, adoration of God, hearing discourses on the principles of religion, shame, intellect, Tapa and Yaja. 18.
p. 4
\"sanas".
् ्् ््
्् ्् ्-
-
Being the first accessory of Haha Yoga, sana is described first. It should be practised for gaining steady posture, health and lightness of body. 19.
्््् ्््््््
्् ्् ्
I am going to describe certain sanas which have been adopted by Muns like Vasiha, etc., and Yogs like Matsyendra, etc. 20.
\"Swastika-sana".
्् ््् -
- ् ््््
-
-
Having kept both the hands under both the thighs, with the body straight, when one sits calmly in this posture, it is called Swastika. 21.
\"Gomukha-sana".
् ््-् ््-््
्् ्
- -
Placing the right ankle on the left side and the left ankle on the right side, makes Gomukha-sana, having the appearance of a cow. 22.
\"Vrsana".
्््
््
One foot is to be placed on the thigh of the opposite side; and so also the other foot on the opposite thigh. This is called Vrsana. 23.
\"Kurmsana".
् ्् ््
् -
-
Placing the right ankle on the left side of anus, and the left ankle on the right side of it, makes what the Yogs call Krma-sana. 24.
\"Kukkua sana".
् ्् ््
् ्् ् ्
Taking the posture of Padma-sana and carrying the hands under the thighs, when the Yog raises himself above the ground, with his palms resting on the ground, it becomes Kukkua-sana. 25.
p. 5
\"Uttna Krma-sana".
्-्- ्् ्् ्
््् ्-्
--
-
Having assumed Kukkua-sana, when one grasps his neck by crossing his hands behind his head, and lies in this posture with his back touching the ground, it becomes Uttna Krma-sana, from its appearance like that of a tortoise. 26.
\"Dhanura sana".
््् ् ्
्् ््-्
-
Having caught the toes of the feet with both the hands and carried them to the ears by drawing the body like a bow, it becomes Dhanura sana. 27.
\"Matsya-sana".
-्-््-
््््--
् ्््््
-््
््््- -्
्-््-्््
् ्-
््-्
--
-
- -
--
-
-
Having placed the right foot at the root of the left thigh, let the toe be grasped with the right hand passing over the back, and having placed the left foot on the right thigh at its root, let it be grasped with the left hand passing behind the back. This is the sana, as explained by ri Matsyantha. It increases appetite and is an instrument for destroying the group of the most deadly diseases. Its practice awakens the Kundalin, stops the nectar shedding from the moon in people. 28-29.
\"Pachima Tna".
् ्-
्् ्- ्
््--
्
-
-
--
Having stretched the feet on the ground, like a stick, and having grasped the toes of both the feet with both the hands, when one sits with his forehead resting on the thighs, it is called Pachima Tna. 30.
्््
्-
् ्
््
-
This Pachima Tna carries the air from the front to the back part of the body ("i.e.", to the suumna). It kindles gastric fire, reduces obesity and cures all diseases of men. 31.
p. 6
\"Mayra-sana".
््् -
-्
््
् ््
्््
-
Place the palms of both the hands on the ground, and place the navel on both the elbows and balancing thus, the body should be stretched backward like a stick. This is called Mayra-sana. 32.
- ्
् -
-् ् ््
् ्-
-
-
-
-
This sana soon destroys all diseases, and removes abdominal disorders, and also those arising from irregularities of phlegm, bile and wind, digests unwholesome food taken in excess, increases appetite and destroys the most deadly poison. 33.
\"ava-sana".
् ् ्
्- ्-््-
- --
Lying down on the ground, like a corpse, is called ava-sana. It removes fatigue and gives rest to the mind. 34.
्
्््् ्
iva taught 84 sanas. Of these the first four being essential ones, I am going to explain them here. 35.
् ् ् ््
्् ् ््््
These four are:--The Siddha, Padma, Sinha and Bhadra. Even of these, the Siddha-sana, being very comfortable, one should always practise it. 36.
\"The Siddhsana"
्
-््-- ् ्
्् ् ्
््- ््््
्््
् ्
-
Press firmly the heel of the left foot against the perineum, and the right heel above the male organ. With the chin pressing on the chest, one should sit calmly, having restrained the senses, and gaze steadily the space between the eyebrows. This is called the Siddha sana, the opener of the door of salvation. 37.
p. 7
्् ्् ् ्
्् ््् ्
This Siddhsana is performed also by placing the left heel on Mehra (above the male organ), and then placing the right one on it. 38.
्् ् ्
् ्् ््
Some call this Siddhsana, some Vajrsana. Others call it Mukta sana or Gupta sana. 39.
्् ््
् ््् ् ्
Just as sparing food is among Yamas, and Ahis among the Niyamas, so is Siddhsana called by adepts the chief of all the sanas. 40.
-् ् ्
्-् -
-
- -
Out of the 84 sanas Siddhsana should always be practised, because it cleanses the impurities of 72,000 ns. 41.
्- ््-्
््् ््््
- -
By contemplating on oneself, by eating sparingly, and by practising Siddhsana for 12 years, the Yog obtains success. 42.
्् ् ्
् -्
्् ्््
-
Other postures are of no use, when success has been achieved in Siddhsana, and Pra Vy becomes calm and restrained by Kevala Kumbhaka. 43.
्् ् ्
्-््
-
Success in one Siddhsana alone becoming firmly established, one gets Unman at once, and the three bonds (Bandhas) are accomplished of themselves. 44.
p. 8
्- ्
- ् -
-
- -
There is no sana like the Siddhsana and no Kumbhaka like the Kevala. There is no mudr like the Khechari and no "laya" like the Nda (Anhata Nda.) 45.
\"Padmsana".
्
्् ््
्् ् ् ्
््् ्
््-- ् ्
-- 
"Hatha Yoga Pradipika", tr. by Pancham Sinh, [1914],
p. 1
The Haha Yoga Pradipika.
--
--
Chapter 1.
\"On sanas".
-- ् ्
्् --्
् ्--
्
--
--
--
Salutation to dintha (iva) who expounded the knowledge of Haha Yoga, which like a staircase leads the aspirant to the high pinnacled Rja Yoga. 1.
् - ्
- -््
-
- -
Yogin Swtmrma, after saluting first his Gur Srintha explains Haha Yoga for the attainment of Raja Yoga. 2.
्् -् -
- ् ्
- -
-
Owing to the darkness arising from the multiplicity of opinions people are unable to know the Rja Yoga. Compassionate Swtmrma composes the Haha Yoga Pradipik like a torch to dispel it. 3.
-् ््््-्््
् -
- -
-
Matsyendra, Goraka, etc., knew Haha Vidy, and by their favour Yog Swtmrma also learnt it from them. 4.
The following Siddhas (masters) are said to have existed in former times:--
--््््-्-
्--््-््-
Sri dintha (iva), Matsyendra, Ntha, Sbar, Anand, Bhairava, Chaurangi, Mna ntha, Gorakantha, Virupka, Bileaya. 5.
् ्््् ्
् ्् ्
Manthna, Bhairava, Siddhi Buddha, Kanthadi, Karantaka, Surnanda, Siddhipda, Charapati. 6.
p. 2
्् ्- ्
्् ्््
-
Kner, Pjyapda, Nityantha, Nirajana, Kapli, Vinduntha, Kka Chandwara. 7.
् ्
् ् ्
Allma, Prabhudeva, Ghod, Chol, Tintii, Bhnuk Nrdeva, Khanda Kplika, etc. 8.
् ् --
्् -् ्् ्
--
-
These Mahsiddhas (great masters), breaking the sceptre of death, are roaming in the universe. 9.
्--् ्-
्--्-
-- -
Like a house protecting one from the heat of the sun, Haha Yoga protects its practiser from the burning heat of the three Tpas; and, similarly, it is the supporting tortoise, as it were, for those who are constantly devoted to the practice of Yoga. 10.
-् ् ््
्् ् ््
-
A Yog desirous of success should keep the knowledge of Haha Yoga secret; for it becomes potent by concealing, and impotent by exposing. 11.
् ् ्् ्
-्् ्--्
् -् ् -
- --
- -
The Yog should practise Haha Yoga in a small room, situated in a solitary place, being 4 cubits square, and free from stones, fire, water, disturbances of all kinds, and in a country where justice is properly administered, where good people live, and food can be obtained easily and plentifully. 12.
p. 3
्-््-्- ््-
्--््-् -््
् ्
-््
् -् ्् ्््
-
-
-
-
The room should have a small door, be free from holes, hollows, neither too high nor too low, well plastered with cow-dung and free from dirt, filth and insects. On its outside there should be bowers, raised platform (chabootr), a well, and a compound. These characteristics of a room for Haha Yogs have been described by adepts in the practice of Haha. 13.
् ्-्-्
््-् ्
--
-
Having seated in such a room and free from all anxieties, he should practise Yoga, as instructed by his "guru". 14.
् ् ् ्
-्् ् ्् ्
-
Yoga is destroyed by the following six causes:--Over-eating, exertion, talkativeness, adhering to rules, "i.e.", cold bath in the morning, eating at night, or eating fruits only, company of men, and unsteadiness. 15.
्््््््-् ्
-्-््््् ््
-
--
The following six bring speedy success:--Courage, daring, perseverance, discriminative knowledge, faith, aloofness. from company. 16.
-
्् ्् ्
्
-
The ten rules of conduct are: ahis (non-injuring), truth, non-stealing, continence, forgiveness, endurance, compassion, meekness, sparing diet and cleanliness. 17.
्् ्् ्-
््-्-
््् -््-
-
--
--
The ten niyamas mentioned by those proficient in the knowledge of yoga are: Tapa, patience, belief in God, charity, adoration of God, hearing discourses on the principles of religion, shame, intellect, Tapa and Yaja. 18.
p. 4
\"sanas".
् ्् ््
्् ्् ्-
-
Being the first accessory of Haha Yoga, sana is described first. It should be practised for gaining steady posture, health and lightness of body. 19.
्््् ्््््््
्् ्् ्
I am going to describe certain sanas which have been adopted by Muns like Vasiha, etc., and Yogs like Matsyendra, etc. 20.
\"Swastika-sana".
्् ््् -
- ् ््््
-
-
Having kept both the hands under both the thighs, with the body straight, when one sits calmly in this posture, it is called Swastika. 21.
\"Gomukha-sana".
् ््-् ््-््
्् ्
- -
Placing the right ankle on the left side and the left ankle on the right side, makes Gomukha-sana, having the appearance of a cow. 22.
\"Vrsana".
्््
््
One foot is to be placed on the thigh of the opposite side; and so also the other foot on the opposite thigh. This is called Vrsana. 23.
\"Kurmsana".
् ्् ््
् -
-
Placing the right ankle on the left side of anus, and the left ankle on the right side of it, makes what the Yogs call Krma-sana. 24.
\"Kukkua sana".
् ्् ््
् ्् ् ्
Taking the posture of Padma-sana and carrying the hands under the thighs, when the Yog raises himself above the ground, with his palms resting on the ground, it becomes Kukkua-sana. 25.
p. 5
\"Uttna Krma-sana".
्-्- ्् ्् ्
््् ्-्
--
-
Having assumed Kukkua-sana, when one grasps his neck by crossing his hands behind his head, and lies in this posture with his back touching the ground, it becomes Uttna Krma-sana, from its appearance like that of a tortoise. 26.
\"Dhanura sana".
््् ् ्
्् ््-्
-
Having caught the toes of the feet with both the hands and carried them to the ears by drawing the body like a bow, it becomes Dhanura sana. 27.
\"Matsya-sana".
-्-््-
््््--
् ्््््
-््
््््- -्
्-््-्््
् ्-
््-्
--
-
- -
--
-
-
Having placed the right foot at the root of the left thigh, let the toe be grasped with the right hand passing over the back, and having placed the left foot on the right thigh at its root, let it be grasped with the left hand passing behind the back. This is the sana, as explained by ri Matsyantha. It increases appetite and is an instrument for destroying the group of the most deadly diseases. Its practice awakens the Kundalin, stops the nectar shedding from the moon in people. 28-29.
\"Pachima Tna".
् ्-
्् ्- ्
््--
्
-
-
--
Having stretched the feet on the ground, like a stick, and having grasped the toes of both the feet with both the hands, when one sits with his forehead resting on the thighs, it is called Pachima Tna. 30.
्््
्-
् ्
््
-
This Pachima Tna carries the air from the front to the back part of the body ("i.e.", to the suumna). It kindles gastric fire, reduces obesity and cures all diseases of men. 31.
p. 6
\"Mayra-sana".
््् -
-्
््
् ््
्््
-
Place the palms of both the hands on the ground, and place the navel on both the elbows and balancing thus, the body should be stretched backward like a stick. This is called Mayra-sana. 32.
- ्
् -
-् ् ््
् ्-
-
-
-
-
This sana soon destroys all diseases, and removes abdominal disorders, and also those arising from irregularities of phlegm, bile and wind, digests unwholesome food taken in excess, increases appetite and destroys the most deadly poison. 33.
\"ava-sana".
् ् ्
्- ्-््-
- --
Lying down on the ground, like a corpse, is called ava-sana. It removes fatigue and gives rest to the mind. 34.
्
्््् ्
iva taught 84 sanas. Of these the first four being essential ones, I am going to explain them here. 35.
् ् ् ््
्् ् ््््
These four are:--The Siddha, Padma, Sinha and Bhadra. Even of these, the Siddha-sana, being very comfortable, one should always practise it. 36.
\"The Siddhsana"
्
-््-- ् ्
्् ् ्
््- ््््
्््
् ्
-
Press firmly the heel of the left foot against the perineum, and the right heel above the male organ. With the chin pressing on the chest, one should sit calmly, having restrained the senses, and gaze steadily the space between the eyebrows. This is called the Siddha sana, the opener of the door of salvation. 37.
p. 7
्् ्् ् ्
्् ््् ्
This Siddhsana is performed also by placing the left heel on Mehra (above the male organ), and then placing the right one on it. 38.
्् ् ्
् ्् ््
Some call this Siddhsana, some Vajrsana. Others call it Mukta sana or Gupta sana. 39.
्् ््
् ््् ् ्
Just as sparing food is among Yamas, and Ahis among the Niyamas, so is Siddhsana called by adepts the chief of all the sanas. 40.
-् ् ्
्-् -
-
- -
Out of the 84 sanas Siddhsana should always be practised, because it cleanses the impurities of 72,000 ns. 41.
्- ््-्
््् ््््
- -
By contemplating on oneself, by eating sparingly, and by practising Siddhsana for 12 years, the Yog obtains success. 42.
्् ् ्
् -्
्् ्््
-
Other postures are of no use, when success has been achieved in Siddhsana, and Pra Vy becomes calm and restrained by Kevala Kumbhaka. 43.
्् ् ्
्-््
-
Success in one Siddhsana alone becoming firmly established, one gets Unman at once, and the three bonds (Bandhas) are accomplished of themselves. 44.
p. 8
्- ्
- ् -
-
- -
There is no sana like the Siddhsana and no Kumbhaka like the Kevala. There is no mudr like the Khechari and no "laya" like the Nda (Anhata Nda.) 45.
\"Padmsana".
्
्् ््
्् ् ् ्
््् ्
््-- ् ्
-- 
