Benefits of Pranayama

Pranayama should be done gradually

Benefit

Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Source: Yoga-Chudamani Upanishad (116-119)

Original Verse: "प्राणायामेन युक्तेन सर्वरोगक्षयो भवेत् । प्राणायामवियुक्तेभ्यः सर्वरोगसमुद्भवः ॥ ११६ ॥ हिक्का कासस्तथा श्वासः शिरःकर्णाक्षिवेदनाः । भवन्ति विविधा रोगाः पवनव्यत्ययक्रमात् ॥ ११७ ॥ यथा सिंहो गजो व्याघ्रो भवेद्वश्यः शन्ऐः शन्ऐः । तथ्ऐव सेवितो वायुरन्यथा हन्ति साधकम् ॥ ११८ ॥ युक्तंयुक्तं त्यजेद्वायुं युक्तंयुक्तं प्रपूरयेत् । युक्तंयुक्तं प्रबध्नीयादेवं सिद्धिमवाप्नुयात् ॥ ११९ ॥"

Transliteration: "prāṇāyāmena yuktena sarvarogakṣayo bhavet | prāṇāyāmaviyuktebhyaḥ sarvarogasamudbhavaḥ ॥ 116 ॥ hikkā kāsastathā śvāsaḥ śiraḥkarṇākṣivedanāḥ | bhavanti vividhā rogāḥ pavanavyatyayakramāt ॥ 117 ॥ yathā siṃho gajo vyāghro bhavedvaśyaḥ śanaiḥ śanaiḥ | tathaiva sevito vāyuranyathā hanti sādhakam ॥ 118 ॥ yuktaṃyuktaṃ tyajedvāyuṃ yuktaṃyuktaṃ prapūrayet | yuktaṃyuktaṃ prabadhnīyādevaṃ siddhimavāpnuyāt ॥ 119 ॥"

Translation: For him who is possessed of Pranayama, there will be the destruction of all diseases. For those devoid of Pranayama, there will be the generation of ail diseases. Hiccup, Asthma, hard breathing, diseases of the head, ears and eyes and various kinds of (other) diseases are generated out of the ill-regulation of the vital air. Even as the lion, the elephant and the tiger get tamed by slow stages, even so the vital air that is well regulated; otherwise it kills the practitioner. One should leave off the vital air according to exigencies, should fill it in according to exigencies, should hold it bound according to exigencies; and by so doing will finally achieve success.

Apta Pramana Source, Chapter, Verse: "Haṭhapradīpikā of Svātmārāma (4, 24-25)"

Original Verse: "प्राणायामेन युक्तेन सर्वरोगक्ष्यो भवेत् ॥ अयुक्ताभ्यासयोगेन सर्वरोगसमुध्ववः ॥ २४ ॥ हिक्काकासस्-तथा श्वासः शिरःकर्णाक्षिवेदनाः ॥ भवन्ति विविधाः रोगाः पवनस्य व्यतिक्रमात् ॥ २५ ॥"

Transliteration: "prāṇāyāmena yuktena sarvarogakṣyo bhavet // ayuktābhyāsayogena sarvarogasamudhvavaḥ // 24 // hikkākāsas-tathā śvāsaḥ śiraḥkarṇākṣivedanāḥ // bhavanti vividhāḥ rogāḥ pavanasya vyatikramāt // 25 //"

Translation: "A judicious practice of prāṇāyāma will alleviate all the ailments. An improper practice, on the contrary, gives rise to all the diseases. 24 The faulty course of prāṇā causes several disorder - like hiccup, cough, asthma and pain in head, ears and eyes. 25"

Qualities of Yogic Body

Description

Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Source: Shiva Samhita 31

Original Verse: "प्रौढवन्हिः सुभोगी च सुखीसर्वान्ङ्गसुन्दरः | सम्पूर्णह्रदयो योगी सर्वोत्साहबलान्वितः ॥ जायते योगिनोऽवश्यमेतत्सर्वं कलेवरे ॥ ३१ ॥"

Transliteration: "prauḍhavanhiḥ subhogī ca sukhīsarvānṅgasundaraḥ | sampūrṇahradayo yogī sarvotsāhabalānvitaḥ ॥ jāyate Yogino'vaśyametatsarvaṃ kalevare ॥ 31 ॥"

Translation: The following qualities are surely always found in the bodies of every Yogi: Strong appetite, good digestion, cheerfulness, handsome figure, great courage, mighty enthusiasm and full strength.

Benefits of Pranayama and purifying the nadis

Benefits

Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Source: Yogatattvopanishad 44-46

Original Verse: "एवं मासत्रयाभ्यासान्नाडीशुद्धिस्ततो भवेत् । यदा तु नाडीशुद्धिः स्यात् तदा चिह्नानि बाह्यतः ॥ ४४ ॥ जायन्ते योगिनो देहे तानि वक्ष्याम्यशेषतः । शरीरलघुता दीप्तिर्जाठराग्निविवर्धनम् ॥ ४५ ॥ कृशत्वं च शरीरस्य तदा जायेत निश्चितम् ।"

Transliteration: "evaṃ māsatrayābhyāsānnāḍīśuddhistato behave | yadā tu nāḍīśuddhiḥ syāt tadā cihnāni bāhyataḥ ॥ 44 ॥ jāyante Yogino dehe tāni vakṣyāmyaśeṣataḥ | śarīralaghutā dīptirjāṭharāgnivivardhanam ॥ 45 ॥ kṛśatvaṃ ca śarīrasya tadā jāyeta niścitam |"

Translation: By practicing thus for three months, the purification of the Nadis will result therefrom. When the purification of the Nadis is attained, then will external symptoms arise in the body of the Yogin. I shall relate them in their entirety: Lightness of the body, lustre, the rousing of the Jatharagni (increase of digestive power) and shiness of the body; these will surely result then.

Apta Pramana Source, Chapter, Verse: "Haṭhapradīpikā of Svātmārāma (Chapter 4, Verse 15)"

Original Verse: "यदा नाडीशुद्धिः स्यात् तदा चिह्नानि बाह्यतः ॥ कायस्य कृशता कान्तिर् जायते निश्चितं तथा ॥ १५ ॥"

Transliteration: "yadā nāḍīśuddhiḥ syāt tadā cihnāni bāhyataḥ // kāyasya kṛśatā kāntir jāyate niścitaṃ tathā // 15 // "

Translation: "When the nāḍīs are purified, the external signs surely appear, such as slimness of the body and lustre. 15"

Purification of the nadis and experience of bliss

Technique

Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Source: Sandilyopanishad VII 8-10

Original Verse: "यथेष्टधारणं वायोरनलस्य प्रदीपनम् । नादाभिव्यक्तिरारोग्यं जायते नाडिशोधनात् ॥ ८ ॥ विधिवत् प्राणसंयाम्ऐर्नाडीचक्रे विशोधिते । सुषुम्नावदनं भित्त्वा सुखाद्विशति मारुतः ॥ ९ ॥ मारुते मध्यसंचारे मनःस्थ्ऐर्यं प्रजायते । यो मनःसुस्थिरीभावः स्ऐवावस्था मनोन्मनी ॥ १० ॥"

Transliteration: "yatheṣṭadhāraṇaṃ vāyoranalasya pradīpanam | nādābhivyaktirārogyaṃ jāyate nāḍiśodhanāt ॥ 8 ॥ vidhivat prāṇasaṃyāmairnāḍīcakre viśodhite | suṣumnāvadanaṃ bhittvā sukhādviśati mārutaḥ ॥ 9 ॥ mārute madhyasaṃcāre manaḥsthairyaṃ prajāyate| yo manaḥsusthirībhāvaḥ saivāvasthā manonmanī ॥ 10 ॥"

Translation: "Holding the breath as long as desired, the rousing of the fire, the manifestation of the Nada, and freedom from disease: from the purification of the Nadi-s (the above consequences) are produced.

When the plexus of the Nadi-s is purified by Pranayama (rarefaction of breath) as prescribed in the rules, the vital air enters freely, after bursting through the mouth of the Susumna Nadi.

When the vital air courses through the middle (of the Susumna), there is generated the fixity of the mind. The state of intense fixity of the mind; that alone will be the ecstatic state of the mind."

Apta Pramana Source, Chapter, Verse: "Haṭhapradīpikā of Svātmārāma (Chapter 4, Verse 29)"

Original Verse: "विधिवत् प्राणसंयामैर् नादीचक्रे विशोधिते ॥ सुषुम्नावदनं भित्वा सुखाद् विशति मारुतः ॥29॥"

Transliteration: "vidhivat prāṇasaṃyāmair nādīcakre viśodhite ॥ suṣumnāvadanaṃ bhitvā sukhād viśati mārutaḥ ॥29॥"

Translation: "When the group of nādīs is purified through prescribed practice of prāṇāyāma, prāṇa easily pierces and enters the opening of suṣumnā. 29"

Effect of Pranayama, Dharana, Pratyahara, Dhyana

Benefits

Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Source: Srimat Sarvajnanottra Agama. Yoga Pada 16

Transliteration: "pra’n.a’ya’mair dahed dos”a’n dharan.a’bhistu kilbis”am ll 16 pratya’ha’ren.a samsarga’n dhya’nena’nas’vara’n gun.a’n l"

Translation: By the practice of Pranayama, the sadhaka incinerates all the defilements. By Dharana, he annihilates all of his sinful effects. By Pratyahara, he maintains himself completely free from the negative thoughts and vices. And by Dhyana, he becomes capable of nullifying the effects of even those qualities which do not decay.