Prana (Life Air)
Prana (life breath) is the main factor of this body so long as it is alive. Yoga practice is dealt by Prana with the help of outside air while breathing through the nostrils. Prana remains inside the body till death. So Prana is air-life. Soul is the spirit residing in the heart that can be seen or realized through knowledge and the process of pranayama. This Prana is known as the ten working forces at different parts of the body in the knowledge of a yogi. Where mind goes and wishes to do something, Prana follows to get the work done through sense organs. So to get success in yoga, control over mind and prana is essential. A special scripture known as “Paban Bijoy Swarodoy Shastra” indicates different methods of controlling the Prana (breath).
Tri Pranayam
While doing any puja or daily routine sandhya (Repetition of Gayatri Mantra or Ishta Mantra given by Guru), Pranayama -‐ simple breath in and out is necessary for at least three times in each nostril. The process is very simple. First, breathe in by the left nostril, closing the right nostril with the help of the thumb and forefinger. Take the breath out by the right nostril, closing the left nostril. Then, breathe in by the right nostril, closing the left nostril, and breathe out by the left nostril, closing the right nostril. Do it this way for a minimum of three times in each nostril. This process is also called “Tri-‐pranayama”. Thus, the sushumna nadi will be opened which is essential in holy performances.
While going to sleep at night
After a whole day’s toil, we need complete rest of the body and brain at night when we go to bed. The whole day and night are spent in material affairs. It is wise to repeat the name of God until going into deep sleep. A spiritual aspirant must repeat the Ishta mantra (name of God) given by Guru in every breath and find the unique result. You will enjoy sound sleep. If you have a bad dream, repeat the name of Sri Govinda. There will be no bad effect of such a dream.
While getting up from sleep in the morning
While getting up from sleep, take the name of God (Sri Hari, Durga, Kali, Shiva, Ganesh, Hare Krishna, Sita Ram, Hanuman, etc). The spiritual aspirant may do the japa (recitation of the name of God, Ishta mantra) as much as you can. Mentally and physically, you will be fresh. Before coming down from the bed, lie down straight on your front for four to five minutes, touching your forehead on the pillow. Then lie on your back. Lift up both legs at the same time three times (up and down), and on the fourth attempt, sit up and look at the lines of both palms for a while, and then get down from the bed.
While getting down, notice your breath in the left or right nostril and accordingly touch the earth with that same side foot, breathing in by that side’s nostril, touching the mouth by the hand of that side, with the name of God you like most. Then salute the earth and your Ishta Guru. Put a little water touching with the right hand over the face and eyes, and then get out of the room and salute to the sun. Drink water as much as you like but not less than 500ml. Now go to the toilet and pass the urine and stool. By the action mentioned above, your bowels will be clear, and you will feel very comfortable. By drinking water in the early morning, you will not feel thirsty, yet you should drink some water at some intervals. Teach this practice to children also for maintenance of good physical health and good habit.
Physical Exercises
Some physical exercises must be done every day. Also, find some time to do the yoga practices before going for your daily routine. People say that they have no time for yoga practices. This is a lame excuse. Go to bed early and get up as early as possible. Do your practices well in time and get ready for work. My Guruji was not at all prepared to accept this lame excuse that I did not get time in the morning or I would be delayed in going to work. He said, “where there is a will, there is a way”.
To be Noted for Journey
Long Journey
Preferable breath in the left nostril (ida nadi). On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday while going to a far distance, notice your breath in the nostril (left or right), stamp with the foot of the left or right side 11 times on earth, touch arm with opposite hand (left for right side or right for left side), step forward with the leg of the side breathing easily. On Thursday stamping half with the edge of the foot of the side breathing easily, you may step forward. On Friday and Saturday stamping 7 times with the foot of the side breathing easily.
Short Journey
While going out to work or shopping etc. for a short duration, stamping with the foot of the side breathing smoothly, 5 times with the right foot when breathing is in the right nostril and 4 times by the left foot when breathing is in the left nostril. Step forward with that leg whilst breathing in with the name of God touching the arm with opposite hand.
Please remember: When breathing is in the sushumna nadi, you will not go anywhere. During that period, you may take the name of God only till breath is changed.
When you find no suitable auspicious day to start a journey, whereas you are bound to go for some urgency, the Lord Shivaji has kindly given a safe direction to follow. Please note this carefully.
Step forward with the leg of that side breathing smoothly, touching with the hand the different parts of the body and with the name of God and breathing in.
Sunday – touch the head.
Monday – touch the mouth.
Tuesday – touch the neck (throat).
Wednesday – touch the belly.
Thursday – touch the side of the body.
Friday – touch the ear.
Saturday – touch the back.
If you try for a few days, you will never forget, and you will make your long or short journey safely. The creator of the universe is always aware of his creation, especially the human being, for whom different scriptures and directions have been implemented to follow for well-being and safety.
Mul Sadhan
After passing stools, push your middle finger of the left hand inside the rectum, putting some mustard oil on it, and rub slowly. Bring out and wash with water. Push the middle finger in again and again and clear the rectum with water properly. By this process, the rectum will be cleared. There will be no effect of piles, dyspepsia, and worms. Mustard oil may not be necessary always. But this mul sudhan is very useful for the yogic aspirant who practices mul bandha mudra. Apana vayu moves freely. Mul bandha mudra helps to rouse Kundalini Shakti and Prana vayu to move upwards through Sushumna nadi, which should be practiced regularly and sincerely
Karna Bhati
Twice daily, in the morning and evening, push the index finger of each hand into each ear at the same time and rub properly. If done every day, there may not be any problem in hearing and other diseases of the ear, as experienced by the yogis. In the morning and after taking food, sitting in Bajrasan, rub the forehead with the side of the thumb finger with much pressure. This will remove the effect of sinus, and you will also feel freshness after getting up from a long sleep in the night.
Change of Breath
Breathing is automatically done in 24 hours through both the nostrils, one hour in each nostril. When needed, it can be changed with an easy process by just lying in the bed on the opposite side of the body for one or two minutes. Breathing in the left nostril is known as Ida nadi, and in the right nostril as Pingala nadi (Ganga and Yamuna respectively). The middle one is known as Sushumna nadi (Saraswati), most important in spiritual practices. The knowledge of the above three nadis should be properly achieved from the Guru. Change of nadi can be done in other ways too, but an easy process is stated here.
A few very important actions which are to be taken in accordance with breathing in the nostrils are mentioned here for guidance.
At night, after taking food, sit in Bajrasan for ten to fifteen minutes while breathing in the right nostril (Pingala nadi). After some time when breathing is through the left nostril (Ida nadi), go to the toilet and pass urine. Drink some water and go to bed. Sleep on the left side to change the breath and to fall asleep. A female person will sleep on the right side to keep the left nostril open.
During the daytime, breathing in the left nostril and at night in the right nostril are good for health.
Drinking water, passing urine, and holy performances are good while breathing in the left nostril. Taking food, clearance of bowels, and bathing, etc., are to be done while breathing in the right nostril.
Prana (life breath) is our life. Proper practice of breath can save us from so many diseases, unforeseen happenings, and even increase the span of life. So, you practice them and see the result.
Treatment of Thirst
When you are toiling with some physical work, you may feel thirsty and usually drink cold water. This is not good for health. Our yogi Guru advises lying down on the right side of the body for a while to open the left nostril, which will cool down and relax the body when fatigued. Then you may drink water if you want. Another important process that removes thirst is breathing in through your mouth, holding for some time, and then breathing out through both nostrils. Do it for four to five minutes and see the unique result. I had practiced on the advice of my Guru on a particular occasion and found the unique result. You can practice it for purifying the blood without taking costly blood tonics. This process is also known as “Shitali Kumbhak.”
Treatment of Headache
If you feel a headache badly on one side of the head, tie tightly with a rope above the elbow of the arm on that side for four to five minutes. If the headache is in the whole head, then tie on both arms. Thereafter, open the knot and you will find that the headache is gone. This is a unique treatment without a painkiller tablet.
Treatment of Eye
When you wash your face and brush your teeth in the morning, take a handful of water on your palm and splash it on both eyes about twenty times. Afterward, wash your eyes with cold water six to seven times. After taking food at noon and at night, also splash water on both eyes at least ten times. This will keep the eyesight bright and prevent disease if one can do this for the whole life from childhood.
Digestion of Food
After taking food, sit in Bajrasan for ten to fifteen minutes and keep the breathing in the right nostril. Another process is by moving the fingers of the right hand around the belly (navel) seven times while reciting the following hymn (mantra):
“Om baataapirbhakshitang yeno pito yeno mahaadadhi yan mayaa khaaditong pitong tan me aagasthyadorishyati”.
