Sitali Kumbhaka

Description

Sitali Pranayama

Category: Breathing Technique

Shastra Pramana

Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण Sandilyopanishad VI 13-14

"जिह्वया वायुं गृहीत्वा यथाशक्ति कुम्भयित्वा नासाभ्यां रेचयेत् । तेन गुल्मप्लीहज्वरपित्तक्षुधादि नश्यति शीतली तु जिह्वया ॥ १३-४ ॥

jihvayā vāyuṃ gṛhītvā yathāśakti kumbhayitvā nāsābhyāṃ recayet | tena gulmaplīhajvarapittakṣudhādi naśyati śītalī tu jihvayā ॥ 13-4 ॥

Drawing in the air through the tongue, holding in Kumbhaka as long as possible, (the Yogin) should expel it through the nostrils. Therefrom, dyspepsia, enlargement of the spleen, fever, biliousness, hunger and the like are destroyed.

Benefits

1.)

Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण Yoga-Sikhopanishad 95-96

मुखेन वायुं संगृह्य घ्राणरन्ध्रेण रेचयेत् ॥ ९५ ॥ शीतलीकरणं चेदं हन्ति पित्तं क्षुधां तृषम् । शीतलीलक्षणमाह​- मुखेनेति ॥ ९६ ॥"

mukhena vāyuṃ saṃgṛhya ghrāṇarandhreṇa recayet ॥ 95 ॥ śītalīkaraṇaṃ cedaṃ hanti pittaṃ kṣudhāṃ tṛṣam | śītalīlakṣaṇamāha- mukheneti ॥ 96 ॥

Drawing in air through the mouth, (he) should expel (it) through the nostrils. This is performing the Sitali (Kumbhaka) and destroys bile, hunger and thirst.

2.)

Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Shiva Samhita. III. 70

काकचंच्वा पिबेद्वायुं शीतलं यो विचक्षणः । प्राणापानविधानज्ञः स भवेन्मुक्तिभाजनः ॥ ७० ॥

kākacaṃcvā pibedvāyuṃ śītalaṃ yo vicakṣaṇaḥ । prāṇāpānavidhānajñaḥ sa bhavenmuktibhājanaḥ ॥ 70 ॥

When the skilful Yogi, knowing the laws of action of prana and apana, can drink the cold air through the concentration of the mouth, in the form of a crow-bill, then he becomes entitled to liberation.

3.)

Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Darshanopanishad (VI.25-26)

जिह्वया वायुमाकृष्य यः पिबेत् सततं नरः । श्रमदाहविनिर्मुक्तो योगी नीरोगतामियात् ॥ २५ ॥ जिह्वया वायुमाकृष्य जिह्वामूले निरोधयेत् । पिबेदमृतमव्यग्रं सकलं सुखमाप्नुयात् ॥ २६ ॥"

jihvayā vāyumākṛṣya yaḥ pibet satataṃ naraḥ | śramadāhavinirmukto yogī nīrogatāmiyāt ॥ 25 ॥ jihvayā vāyumākṛṣya jihvāmūle nirodhayet | pibedamṛtamavyagraṃ sakalaṃ sukhamāpnuyāt ॥ 26 ॥"

He who always drinks air by inhaling it through the tongue, that Yogin will attain immunity from disease, and of fatigue and thirst. He who should confine the air at the root of the tongue, after inhaling it by means of the tongue, will coolly drink the nectar of immortality and enjoy all happiness.

4.)

Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण

Hathatatvakaumudi (Chapter 10, Verse 17)

गुल्मप्लीहोदरघ्नो ज्वरक्षवथुतृषम् यक्ष्मपित्ते निहन्ति ॥ दोषं देवं च हन्यादिति मददलनः शीतलीनाम कुम्भः ॥ १७ ॥

gulmaplīhodaraghno jvarakṣavathutṛṣam yakṣmapitte nihanti ॥ doṣaṃ devaṃ ca hanyāditi madadalanaḥ śītalīnāma kumbhaḥ ॥ 17 ॥

This cures inflammation, spleen disorders (pliha), dropsy, fever, sore throat, thirst, consumption, acidity (pitta) and the evils related to deities (deva-evil spirits) and controls lust. This is Sitali Kumbhaka.

5.)

Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण

Hathatatvakaumudi (Chapter 12, Verse 3-4)

रेचयेद् घ्राणरन्ध्राभ्याम् शीतलीकाकचञ्चुकः | प्राणापानविधानज्ञो मुक्तिभागस्य साधनात् ॥ ३ ॥ निथ्याभ्यासवतो यान्ति श्रमदाहज्वरामयाः | मासाभ्यासात् मृत्युजयो निरन्तरकृते भवेत् ॥ ४ ॥

recayed ghrāṇarandhrābhyām śītalīkākacañcukaḥ | prāṇāpānavidhānajño muktibhāgasya sādhanāt ॥ 3 ॥ nithyābhyāsavato yānti śramadāhajvarāmayāḥ | māsābhyāsāt mṛtyujayo nirantarakṛte bhavet ॥ 4 ॥

This is sitalikakacancuka. An adept of Pranayama attains liberation through this practice. Regular practice of this (sitalikakacancuka) overcomes fatigue, burning sensation, fever and such other diseases. Continuous practice for one month makes one free from premature death.