PRANAYAMA SAMHITA

A Pranayama Compendium of Neglected, Little Known, or Forgotten Breathing Exercises

of the Hatha yogis

There is no other method for controlling the mind and realizing the self except by controlling the
prana breaths ... There is no other method to control prana breaths except by yoga sadhana (i.e.,
pranayama).
From Bija Yoga (Seed of Yoga, 74-75)

PRIMARY TEXT CONSULTED:

KP: Kumbhaka Paddhati (Path of the Water Pot) by Raghuvira

SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTS:
GS: Gheranda Samhita (Gheranda’s Compendium)
HRA: Hatha Ratna Avali (String of Jewels on Hatha) by Shrinavasa
HSC: Hatha Sanketa Candrika (Moonlight on the Conventions of Hatha [Yoga]) by Sundaradeva
HTK: Hatha Tatva Kaumudi (Moonlight on the Principles of Hatha [Yoga]) by Sundaradeva
JP: Joga Pradipika by Jayatarama
ShanU: Shandilya Upanishad (Shandilya’s Secret Book)
VS: Vasishtha Samhita (Vasishtha’s Compendium)
YCU: Yoga Chudamani Upanishad (Secret Book of the Crown Jewel of Yoga)
YRah: Yoga Rahasya (Secret Yoga)

INTRODUCTION

This is a compendium of neglected, little known, or forgotten breathing exercises of the Hatha yogis. The base
material is taken from the Kumbhaka Paddhati (published by the Lonavla Yoga Institute, India), and supplemented
by the texts listed above.

ENTRY FORMAT:

ENGLISH NAME description of technique (aka: also known as, other names, if any);
sanskrit name BENEFITS (if any listed)

KEY ABBREVIATIONS:

IN = inhale EX = exhale R = right nostril L = left nostril

B = bandha K = kumbhaka > = next phase <> = alternate IN /EX

PRACTICE CATEGORIES

Inhale through open nostrils/exhale variously

Inhale nostrils partially closed
Inhale/exhale through one nostril
Inhale/exhale through same nostril
Inhale/exhale through alternate nostrils
Inhale/exhale through mouth
Hold breath at/move breath to specific areas in the body
Exercises with major vayus
Exercises with the minor vayus
Other visualizations

DEFINITION OF KUMBHAKA

The word kumbhaka derives from kumbha: “jar, pitcher, waterpot, ewer, small water-jar” (ka is an affix added here
to express similarity; i.e., kumbhaka literally means “like a pot” or “pot-like”). Kumbhaka has two meanings.
Specifically it names one of three breathing phases generally said to comprise pranayama: puraka, “filling,
completing, satisfying” (from pura, “filling”), i.e., inhalation; recaka, “emptying, purging” (from reca, “emptying”),
i.e., exhalation; and kumbhaka, “pot.” The “pot” referred to in this sense is the torso (or lungs). The analogy is that
just as a clay pot holds water, the torso “pot” holds air; in this context, kumbhaka means breath retention. There are
actually two varieties of breath retention, Interior (abhyantara), in which the inhale is held in the torso, and Exterior
(bahya), in which the breath is held “outside” the torso after exhale; so to be precise, pranayama consists of four
phases: inhale, inner retention, exhale, outer retention. More generally however, which at times can be somewhat
confusing, kumbhaka refers to pranayama itself, which indicates that traditionally among the three phases,
kumbhaka is considered most important.

Kumbhaka is said to have six limbs (sadanga): mula bandha, puraka, jalandhara bandha, kumbhaka, uddiyana
bandha, and recaka. In addition, kumbhaka has two basic categories: Supported (sahita) and Isolated (kevala).
Supported in turn has two categories: Embryo-less (agarbha or nigarbha), which means the practice includes neither
mantra nor meditation; and Embryo (sagarbha), which means the practice includes either or both mantra and
meditation. There are then six varieties of Embryo: Smokey (sadhuma), Smokeless (vidhuma), XXX (sajvala),
Tranquil (prashanta), Marked (salakshya), and Unmarked.

MEASURE (matra)

Another common technique of pranayama is Measure (matra), the use of particular ratios between inhale, retention,
and exhale. The most common variety of Measure ration is 1:4:2; i.e., for every one count of inhale are four counts
of inner retention and two counts of exhale. This ratio is said to generate heat with concentration on the navel;
increase the flow of nectar with concentration on svadishthana cakra; and relieve indigestion with concentration on
muldhara cakra. Another ratio mentioned in the KP is 1:2:1. The YCU (103) recommends a very odd ratio: 6:8:5,
which it names Making OM (omkara) pranayama.

INHALE THROUGH OPEN NOSTRILS/EXHALE VARIOUSLY

PLEASANT GOING IN both nostrils “with noise” > hold > EX both nostrils (aka:
vama gati FOUNDATION GOING, vartma gati). BENEFITS: overcome hunger, thirst,
sleep; achieve levitation (from HSC). SUGGESTED
MEDITATIONS during IN: on HAMSA (from HTK 10.31); on bija (seed) syllable VAM

CONQUEROR IN both nostrils “causing a sonorous sound at the root of the throat” > hold
ujjayi until sensation felt to “tip of hair and nails” > EX L. BENEFITS:
removes disorders of phlegm, dropsy, phlegmatic disorders of the throat, morbidity of
the nadis, vitiation of humors in the body constituents (dhatus), stimulates gastric fire

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT? IN both nostrils > hold > EX R. BENEFIT: strengthens

gada (aka: shri gada) practitioner

BODY CHAIN? IN both nostrils > hold > IN both nostrils > hold > repeat IN to capacity >
svanga shrinkhla then hold > then EX both nostrils > hold > EX both nostrils > hold > repeat to completion of
EX. Should not be practiced without hamsa vedha?

ABSOLUTE IN both nostrils > hold, mentally recite so’ham 15 times/minute > EX both
kevali nostrils (from GS)

UNTRANSLATED sit in Fortunate (bhadra) > turn tongue upwards > IN both nostrils > hold >
trataka EX both nostrils > adopt all bandhas. BENEFIT: purifies nadis (from JP 5.491-493)

POT KING IN both nostrils forcefully > hold to capacity

kumbharaja

BELLOWS three versions in KP, a fourth from commentary on HP 2.64

bhastrika
1) rapidly IN <> EX both nostrils (like the “bellows of an iron smith”) until tired > then IN R > hold with
jalandhara B > EX L
2) MIDDLE BELLOWS: close L nostril, IN R > quickly close R, EX through open L > repeat several
times, alternating between L and R > then IN R > hold with jalandhara B > EX L
3) INTERIOR BELLOWS two versions
a) rapidly IN <> EX both nostrils until tired > then IN R > hold with jalandhara B > EX both b) sit in
Lotus (padma) > close L > IN <> EX rapidly through R. When tired, IN through R and close both nostrils
> hold to capacity > EX through L. Nostrils can be reversed
4) close L, rapidly and forcefully IN <> EX R several times > then hold to capacity > close R, EX through
open L > rapidly and forcefully IN <> EX through L several times > hold to capacity > close L > EX R

INHALE NOSTRILS PARTIALLY CLOSED

PULLING TO AND FRO two versions; only one listed, Raising (utkarshaka) not listed, very
karshaka similar to Pleasant Going

DRAWING DOWN IN <> EX with both nostrils partially closed (alternative from HTK
apakarshaka 10.23-24: IN <> EX through one nostril only. BENEFITS: breathing becomes
prolonged and subtle, breath retained without force)

EXPERIMENTAL BREATHS

IN both half open >

a) EX both open
a) EX R open
b) EX L open

INHALE/EXHALE THROUGH ONE NOSTRIL

INHALE/EXHALE THROUGH SAME NOSTRIL

??? sit in a pleasant posture (sukha?), IN R > hold (from top of hair to toenails) > EX R. BENEFITS: brain is
purified, diseases destroyed

INHALE/EXHALE THROUGH ALTERNATE NOSTRILS (RIGHT FIRST)

SUN PIERCING sit in Thunderbolt (vajra) > IN R with a “friction” in the throat producing a
surya bhedana “sonorous” sound > hold to capacity > EX L (add from HTK 10.31: while meditating on
a luminous solar disk like that of the sun at noon in summer,
situated at the navel; from the JP: meditate on the sun blazing brightly in the heart). (aka: LOTUS, kamala; RIGHT
TURNING WHEEL, dakshina varta cakra). BENEFITS: produces heat in the body, removes disorders of vata in
abdomen, disorders of heart and throat, purifies frontal sinus

FIRE ??? IN R (agni) > hold > EX L (shoma), then reverse: IN L > hold > EX R. This
agni shoma equals one round

GUIDED PROCESS quickly IN R > hold > IN L > hold. EX in same order. Also can be
krama netra reversed (vyutkrama “inverted order”)

GUIDE IN R > hold > IN L > hold > repeat sequence until complete. Can also be done in
netra reverse order. Repeat order on EX.

INHALE/EXHALE THROUGH ALTERNATE NOSTRILS (LEFT FIRST)

MOON PIERCING opposite SUN PIERCING (add from HTK 10.32: meditate on nectar
chandra bhedana oozing from full moon of an autumn night, situated in the sahasrara) (aka: LEFT TURNING
WHEEL, vama varta cakra). BENEFITS: cools, nourishes the body
EXCITING JOY IN L > hold > EX through both
kumuda

THREE EYED IN L quickly > IN R quickly > hold > IN both nostrils > hold > EX.
tri netra (name of Shiva) BENEFITS: gives three-fold siddhis

CHANNEL PURIFYING sit in Bound Lotus? (baddha padma) > IN L > hold > EX R, then
nadi shuddhi reverse: IN R > hold > EX L. BENEFITS: purifies energy channels, gives good
health, inner subtle sound is heard

SUGGESTED MEDITATIONS for nadi shuddhi

on IN L meditate on half moon, pure, full of nectar, located at confluence of three nadis at ajna cakra (from JP);
gaze at nose tip, visualize “harmonious orb” of moon, silently repeat bija mantra VAM (from VS)

on EX R meditate on flashing fire element, silently repeat bija mantra RAM (from VS)
on IN R meditate on full moon with millions of rays at ajna, also sun at navel (from JP); meditate on
luminous disk of moon, like an ocean of nectar and white like milk (from YCU)

WAVE short IN <> EX, first through one nostril, then the other (YRah)
lahiri

INHALE/EXHALE THROUGH MOUTH

TRIDENT IN through nose and mouth simultaneously > hold > EX

trishula

CROW BEAK IN over the tongue formed into a tube > EX through open nostrils. Should
kaka cancuka be performed for 80 rounds. BENEFITS: removes hunger, thirst, fever
(alternative: press teeth together > hold with upturned tongue > EX
through open nostrils. BENEFITS: practiced for six months, gets rid of disease and overcomes premature death)

SEET [SOUND] MAKING turn the tongue upwards > IN through mouth making a hissing
sit kari sound (seet) > hold > EX through open nostrils. Concentrate on the
pressed tongue. BENEFITS: contributes to all the accomplishments
(siddhi), with this practice the practitioner becomes handsome, controls hunger, sleep, laziness, disease; enjoys the
multitude of powers

COOLING CROW BEAK form mouth like crow beak > IN > hold, raise tongue and taste
sit kari kaka cancuka flow of nectar > EX through both nostrils. BENEFITS: practiced
for a month gets rid of heat due to exertion, disease, and overcomes
premature death

??? sit in Hero (vira), raise tongue and bring it slightly outside > IN across tongue >
bhuyaGgama hold > EX across tongue. Apply all bandhas, gaze at nose tip (from JP 5.487-490)

??? place the tongue near to but not touching front teeth, form mouth like crow beak and draw in air.
BENEFITS: overcomes fatigue, fever

?? ? turn tip of tongue back in throat, form mouth like crow beak > IN. BENEFITS: practiced for six months,
practitioner becomes a poet

HOLD BREATH AT/MOVE BREATH TO SPECIFIC AREAS IN THE BODY

EXERCISES WITH MAJOR VAYUS

MOVING THE SELF IN > hold > move prana through all the parts of the body
jiva cala

DEER hold breath (apana) at front of sacrum > apply mula B and concentrate on that
mriga region

EQUAL hold breath (samana) at navel and concentrate on that region. BENEFITS: helps
samana attain uddiyana B, increases gastric fire, controls hunger and thirst

COVERING “draw the breath in through the whole body” > then hold breath by contracting the
vyana whole body “with subtle concentration.” BENEFITS: immunity from cold, removal of disease

EXERCISES WITH THE MINOR VAYUS

SERPENT FUNCTION: eructation, i.e., belching. Swallow air slowly like a bit of rice > hold
naga to capacity with jalandhara B > EX through throat. BENEFITS: control hunger and thirst
TORTOISE FUNCTION: blinking. Control blinking of eyes in a posture, become “perfectly
kurma steady” like a “log of wood,” no movement anywhere (aka: trataka). BENEFIT: attain steadiness
of vayu and mind

KR-MAKING FUNCTION: hunger and thirst. Just before a sneeze, rub index and ring
krkara fingers with thumb. BENEFIT: controls sneeze

GOD-GIVEN FUNCTION: yawning. Just before a yawn, close mouth and push air down
devadatta throat. BENEFIT: controls yawn

OTHER VISUALIZATIONS

UPPER IN > hold breath from heart up to crown

uttara

ADHARA IN > hold breath from crown down to heart

lower

MOST BEAUTIFUL hold breath with progressive concentration on the throat, palate,
kritti shreshtha mid-brow, and crown and then maintain it there

ELEMENT PURIFYING plug nostrils > hold breath in the six cakras sequentially
bhuta shuddhi

UPPER After EX > hold, visualize moon at base of spine, and “concentrate from place to
urdhvaja place going along the spine”

[SUBTLE] SOUND sit in Lotus (padma) > IN both nostrils and make sound of OM in low tone
nada and rising from navel through heart, throat, and ending at Brahman Hole (brahma
randhra). BENEFIT: helps prolong kumbhaka (from HSC)

VOID, EMPTY EX both nostrils > hold breath outside, contemplate and absorb nectar
shunyaka oozing from Moon (from SauP 12.22-24)

THROAT ?? sit in Half Accomplished (ardha siddha: L heel under pelvis, R foot on L
kantha vetali thigh) > IN both nostrils > hold in throat > EX both nostrils. Practice in summer.
BENEFIT: after 6 months nadis purified (from JP 494-498)

??? between stomach and chest is a downward-facing Lotus, through recaka turn it face up and meditate on it.
This is the resting abode of the sun disk, above which is the moon (vidhu) cakra, and above this is the
triangular body of anala. Above this (UNCLEAR) is:
 fourth state (kevala)
five gaganas
atma and brahma nanda

??? in the center of the spine where the head is supported, there’s a cavity from which white ambrosia secretes
from the moon. The moon lies in the sashasrara with a murmuring sound (vajra nadi). BENEFITS:
overcomes death

??? IN through both nostrils, fill the cavity (torso?) and hold at navel (BENEFIT: overcomes disease), at nose
tip (BENEFIT: helps control prana), at big toes (BENEFIT: body becomes light) (cf VS 3.34). Order?

??? Take vahni (fire, kundalini + prana) from “respective places,” condense it in the Heart Lotus, then unite in
Brahma Hole (brahma randhra) at the crown. BENEFIT: gain control over vayus (winds), which then enter
sushumna. Same result achieved by: control of EX; exhaling vayu in navel through right nostril (surya
nadi); practice of samadhi

THREE RELATED VISUALIZATIONS

ON THE VISUALIZE, COLOR, LOCATION (ELEMENT)

IN padmayoni (LOTUS WOMB) brahma, red, navel (fire)
vishnu, dark blue, navel (brhadyogiyajnavalkyasmrti)
hold vishnu, dark blue, lotus of heart (air)
brahma, reddish yellow, heart (brhadyogiyajnavalkyasmrti)
EX shambhu (Shiva), ----, forehead (water)
ishvara, spotless crystal, forehead (brhadyogiyajnavalkyasmrti)