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    Gheranda Samhita
    Gheranda Samhita
    Gheranda Samhita
    Ebook150 pages1 hour

    Gheranda Samhita

    By Swami Vishnuswaroop

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    About this ebook

    It is said that Gheraṇḍa Samhitā was composed in the Seventeenth Century by Sage Gheraṇḍa. Not so much is known regarding his time and place of birth. His system of yoga is called 'Saptāṅga Yoga' i.e. the yoga of seven limbs or parts. We know 'Aṣṭāṅga Yoga' (i.e. the eight limbs of yoga) by Sage Patañjali and 'Ṣaḍāṅga Yoga' (i.e. the six limbs of yoga) by Guru Gorakhanāth. All these systems of yoga with their specific limbs/parts are equally respected and followed in the yogic tradition.

    The first aspect of yogic practice described in Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is ṣaṭkarma, the six yogic cleansing practices. Their practice is important to get rid of diseases from the body and purify it properly. The second aspect of yogic practice discussed is the āsana. The importance of āsana practice is that they help create firmness and stability in the body. The third aspect of practice described is the mudrā which is used to control the flow of prāṇa and retain and circulate it within the body. The fourth aspect of practice he talked is pratyāhāra.

    According to Sage Gheraṇḍa, when body is purified through ṣaṭkarma, it is made firm and stable by āsana and prāṇa is controlled and retained by mudrā, then one can naturally do the practice of pratyāhāra. The fifth aspect of practice he taught is prānāyāma. In most of the prānāyāma practices he included mantras with them. Practice of pranayama with specific mantras creates direct impact on energy field within the body and mind through the vibrations of the mantras which eventually contribute for the expansion of awareness. 

    The sixth aspect of discourse in Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is dhyāna. The state of dhyāna arises naturally when the body is pure, firm and stable, prāṇa is controlled and the mind is withdrawn within itself. It describes three types of dhyāna for developing awareness and one-pointedness of the mind. The seventh and final aspect described in Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is samādhi. Its achievement is the final goal of yoga.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDivine Yoga Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal
    Release dateNov 27, 2015
    ISBN9781519941121
    Gheranda Samhita
    Author

    Swami Vishnuswaroop

    Swami Vishnuswaroop (Thakur Krishna Uprety), B. A. (Majored in English & Economics), M. A. in Theravada Buddhism, received his Diploma in Yogic Studies (First Class) from Bihar Yoga Bharati, Munger, Bihar, India. He was formally trained under the direct guidance and supervision of Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati in the Guru Kula tradition of the Bihar School of Yoga. His guru gave his spiritual name 'Vishnuswaroop' when he was initiated into the sannyasa tradition. Divine Yoga Institute has published nine books on classical yoga, meditation, and tantra. He has taught Nepalese and foreign nationals the theory and practice of traditional yoga and the yogic way of life for more than twenty-five years.

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      Book preview

      Gheranda Samhita - Swami Vishnuswaroop

      Dedication

      This book is dedicated to my Guru Swami Satyananda Saraswani,

      Founder of Bihar School of Yoga,

      Munger, India.

      Contents

      Dedication

      Gratitude

      Introduction

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      A Key to Transliteration

      Also by This Author

      Gratitude

      First of all I would like to express my heartfelt salutations to Adinatha (the Primordial Master) and my Guru Swami Satyananda Saraswati for their unwavering inspiration and guidance I have received for my work. I realize that my firm faith and belief in God and Guru is a motivational gift for me in completing this work. I could never have done it without their blessings.

      I am always thankful to Ms. Bhawani Uprety for her untiring support she has provided me during my involvement in writing and translating various classical texts on yoga. My due thanks goes to her forever.

      On the occasion of the Guru Purnima Day I wish that may God and Guru inspire us to tread the path of yoga in order to achieve the ultimate goal of human life!

      - Swami Vishnuswaroop

      Introduction

      It is said that Gheraṇḍa Samhitā was composed in the Seventeenth Century by Sage Gheraṇḍa. Not so much is known regarding his time and place of birth. His system of yoga is called 'Saptāṅga Yoga' i.e. the yoga of seven limbs or parts. We know 'Aṣṭāṅga Yoga' (i.e. the eight limbs of yoga) by Sage Patañjali and 'Ṣaḍāṅga Yoga' (i.e. the six limbs of yoga) by Guru Gorakhanāth. All these systems of yoga with their specific limbs/parts are equally respected and followed in the yogic tradition.

      The first aspect of yogic practice described in Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is ṣaṭkarma, the six yogic cleansing practices. Their practice is important to get rid of diseases from the body and purify it properly. The second aspect of yogic practice discussed is the āsana. The importance of āsana practice is that they help create firmness and stability in the body. The third aspect of practice described is the mudrā which is used to control the flow of prāṇa and retain and circulate it within the body. The fourth aspect of practice he talked is pratyāhāra.

      According to Sage Gheraṇḍa, when body is purified through ṣaṭkarma, it is made firm and stable by āsana and prāṇa is controlled and retained by mudrā, then one can naturally do the practice of pratyāhāra. The fifth aspect of practice he taught is prānāyāma. In most of the prānāyāma practices he included mantras with them. Practice of pranayama with specific mantras creates direct impact on energy field within the body and mind through the vibrations of the mantras which eventually contribute for the expansion of awareness. 

      The sixth aspect of discourse in Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is dhyāna. The state of dhyāna arises naturally when the body is pure, firm and stable, prāṇa is controlled and the mind is withdrawn within itself. It describes three types of dhyāna for developing awareness and one-pointedness of the mind. The seventh and final aspect described in Gheraṇḍa Samhitā is samādhi. Its achievement is the final goal of yoga.

      Publisher

      Chapter One

      Discourse on Śaṭkarma

      Salutations to Ādīśvara

      आदीश्वराय प्रणमामि तस्मै येनोपदिष्टा हठयोगविद्या ।

      विभ्राजते प्रोन्नतराजयोगमं आरोढुमिच्छोरधिरोहिणीव ॥

      ādīśvarāya praṇamāmi tasmai yenopadiṣṭā haṭhayoga vidyā /

      virājate pronnatarājayogaṃ āroḍhumicchādhirohiṇīva //

      Salutation to Śrī Ādinātha (the primordial Lord Śiva) who imparted the knowledge of Haṭha Yoga that shines forth as a stairway for those who desire to climb highly advanced Rāja Yoga.

      एकदा चण्डकापालिर्गत्वा घेरण्डकुट्टिरम् ।

      प्रणम्य विनयाद्भक्त्या घेरण्डं परिपृच्छति ॥१॥

      ekadā caṇḍakāpālirgatvā gheraṇḍakuṭṭiram /

      praṇamya vinayādbhaktayā gheraṇḍaṃ paripṛcchati //1//

      One day Caṇḍakapāli went to the cottage of Sage Gheraṇḍa, saluted him with due respect and devotion and asked him. -1.

      Body Based Yoga

      चण्डकापालिरुवाच ।

      घटस्थयोगं योगेश तत्त्वज्ञानस्य कारणम् ।

      इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि योगेश्वर वद प्रभो ॥२॥

      caṇḍakapāliruvāca /

      ghaṭasthayogaṃ yogeśa tattvajñānasya kāraṇam /

      idānīṃ śrotumicchāmi yogeśvara vada prabho //2//

      Caṇḍakapāli said: - O Lord of Yoga! I wish to learn ghaṭasthayoga (body based yoga) which is the cause of tattvajñāna (knowledge of the truth). O Lord of Yogīs! O Lord! Please tell me about it. -2.

      घेरण्ड उवाच ।

      साधु साधु महाबाहो यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि ।

      कथयामि च ते वत्स सावधानोऽवधारय ॥३॥

      sādhu sādhu mahābāho yanmāṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi /

      kathayāmi ca te vatsa sāvadhāno’vadhāraya //3//

      Gheraṇḍa said: - O Mighty One! Well, you asked me. O child, I shall tell you. Listen to it very carefully. -3.

      नास्ति मायासम: पाशो नास्ति योगात्परं बलम् ।

      नास्ति ज्ञानात्परो बन्धुर्नाहङ्कारात्परो रिपुः ॥४॥

      nāsti māyāsamaḥ pāśo nāsti yogātparaṃ balam /

      nāsti jñānātparo bandhurnāhaṅkārārātparo ripuḥ //4//

      There is no noose equal to māyā (illusion). There is no power equal to Yoga. There is no greater friend than jñānā (knowledge/wisdom). There is no greater enemy than ahaṅkāra (ego). -4.

      अभ्यासात्कादिवर्णानां यथा शास्त्राणि बोधयेत् ।

      तथा योगं समासाद्य तत्त्वज्ञानं च लभ्यते ॥५॥

      abhyāsātkādivarṇānāṃ yathā śāstrāṇi bodhayet /

      tathā yogaṃ samāsādya tattvajñānaṃ ca labhyate //5//

      Just like by learning alphabets through practice all the śāstrās (branches of learning) are known, so by practicing yoga properly tattvajñāna (knowledge of the truth) is gained. -5.

      सुकृतैर्दुष्कृतैः कार्यैर्जायते प्राणिनां घटः ।

      घटादुत्पद्यते कर्म घटीयन्त्रं यथा भ्रमेत् ॥६॥

      sukṛtairduṣkṛtaiḥ kāryairjāyate prāṇināṃ ghaṭaḥ /

      ghaṭādutpadyate karma ghaṭīyantraṃ yathā bhramet //6//

      The physical bodies of all creatures are produced as the result of their good or bad actions. The karma (action) is originated from the body and its cycle continues just like the circle of a ghaṭīyantra (water-wheel). -6.

      ऊर्ध्वार्धो भ्रमते यद्वद्घटीयन्त्रं गवां वशात् ।

      तद्वत्कर्मवशाज्जीवो भ्रमते जन्ममृत्युभिः ॥७॥

      urdhvārdho bhramate yadvatghaṭīyantraṃ gavāṃ vaśāt/

      tadvatkarmavaśājjīvo bhramate janmamṛtyubhiḥ //7//

      Just like the water-wheel goes up and down as it is moved by the bullocks, so the jīva (the embodied Self) goes through the cycle of birth and death due to its (past) karma. -7.

      आमं कुम्भमिवाम्भस्थो जीर्यमाणः सदा घटः ।

      योगानलेन सन्दह्य घटशुद्धिं समाचरेत् ॥८॥

      āmakumbha ivāmbhastho jīryamāṇaḥ sadā ghaṭaḥ /

      yogānalena sandahyā ghaṭaśuddhiṃ samācaret //8//

      Like a raw clay pot filled with water is destroyed (as it melts quickly), so the body is always deteriorated soon. One should purify the body baking it well by the fire of yoga. -8.

      The Seven Means of Purification

      शोधनं दृढता चैव स्थैर्यं धैर्यं च लाघवम् ।

      प्रत्यक्षं च निर्लिप्तं च घटस्थसप्तसाधनम् ॥९॥

      śodhanaṃ dṛḍhatā caiva sthairyaṃ dhairyaṃ ca lāghavam /

      pratyakṣaṃ ca nirliptaṃ ca ghaṭasthasaptasādhanam //9//

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