Kumbhaka

Description

Kumbhakas and Bandhas to acheive the Ultimate state of Yoga

Pramana

Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण Srimat Sarvajnanottra Agama. Yoga Pada 18

"पिधाय सर्वद्वाराणि निश्वासोच्छ्वासवर्जितः ॥ १८ सम्पूर्ण कुम्भवतृ तिष्ठत् प्राणायामः स कुम्भकः ।"

"pidha’ya srva dva’ra’n.i nis’vasocchvasa varjitah sampu’rna kumbhavat tis”t’het pra’n.a’ya’mah sa Kumbhakah&"

Closing all the passages meant for the flow of prana and keeping free from inhalation and exhalation, the sadhaka should remain seated like a vessel (kumbha) completely filled up to its mouth.This mode of Pranayama is known as Kumbhaka.

The Essential Nature of Kumbhaka and Pranayama

Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Yoga Kundali-Upanishad I 19-21

"प्राणरोधमथेदानीं प्रवक्ष्यामि समासतः । प्राणश्च देहगो वायुरायामः कुम्भकः स्मृतः ॥ १९ ॥ स एव द्विविधः प्रोक्तः सहितः केवलस्तथा । यावत् केवलसिद्धिः स्यात् तावत् सहितमभ्यसेत् ॥ २० ॥ सूर्योज्जायी शीतली च भस्त्री च्ऐव चतुर्थिका । भेद्ऐरेव समं कुम्भो यः स्यात् सहितकुम्भकः ॥ २१ ॥"

"prāṇarodhamathedānīṃ pravakṣyāmi samāsataḥ | prāṇaśca dehago vāyurāyāmaḥ Kumbhakaḥ smṛtaḥ ॥ 19 ॥ sa eva dvividhaḥ proktaḥ sahitaḥ kevalastathā | yāvat kevalasiddhiḥ syāt tāvat sahitamabhyaset ॥ 20 ॥ sūryojjāyī śītalī ca bhastrī caiva caturthikā | bhedaireva samaṃ kumbho yaḥ syāt sahitaKumbhakaḥ ॥ 21 ॥

Then I shall presently relate briefly about the control of the vital air. Prana is air coursing through the body and Ayama is said to be Kumbhaka (holding under control). The same is said to be of two kinds: the combined (Pranayama) and that (which is practiced) alone by itself. One should practice the combined Pranayama till he attains success in the (practice of Kumbhaka) alone by itself. The Kumbhaka which is practiced along with Surya, Ujjayi, Siitali and Bhastrl as the fourth, that is the combined Kumbhaka.

How to Start

How to start the practice of Kumbhakas?

Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Yoga Kundali-Upanishad I 54-55

प्रथमे दिवसे कार्यं कुम्भकानां चतुष्टयम् । प्रत्येकं दशसंख्याकं द्वितीये पञ्चभिस्तथा ॥ ५४ ॥ विंशत्यलं तृतीयेऽह्नि पञ्चवृद्ध्या दिने दिने । कर्तव्यः कुम्भको नित्यं बन्धत्रयसमन्वितः ॥ ५५ ॥

prathame divase kāryaṃ kumbhakānāṃ catuṣṭayam | pratyekaṃ daśasaṃkhyākaṃ dvitīye pañcabhistathā ॥ 54 ॥ viṃśatyalaṃ tṛtīye'hni pañcavṛddhyā dine dine | kartavyaḥ kumbhako nityaṃ bandhatrayasamanvitaḥ ॥ 55 ॥

On the first day should be practised the four kinds of Kumbhakas, (at the rate of) ten of each several kind. On the second day in the same way, but with the number increased by five. On the third day, twenty (of each kind) will do. Hence, everyday, be increasing the number by five (progressively) per day, the Kumbhaka should be performed everyday along with the three Bandha-s.

Nine Types of Kumbhakas

Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण

Haṭharatnāvalī (2, 5)

Bहस्त्रिका, भ्रामरी, सूर्यभेदोज्जायी च शीतली ॥ मूर्च्छानामकसीत्कारं केवलश्चाष्टकुम्भकाः ॥ भुजङ्गकरणी चेति कुम्भका नवसङ्ख्यकाः ॥5॥"

"Bhastrikā, bhrāmarī, sūryabhedojjāyī ca śītalī ॥ mūrcchānāmakasītkāraṃ kevalaścāṣṭakumbhakāḥ॥ bhujaṅgakaraṇī ceti kumbhakā navasaṅkhyakāḥ ॥5॥"

Tr. Bhastrikā, bhrāmarī, sūryabheda, ujjāyī, śītalī, mūrcchā, sītkāra and kevala are the eight Kumbhakas, bhujangakaraṇī is the ninth Kumbhaka. 5.