Kevala Kumbhaka
Kevala Kumbhaka
TYPE:Description
PRAMANA：Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण
Source：Yogatattvopanishad 49 - 51
Original Verse：
"ततः परं यथेष्टं तु शक्तः स्याद्वायुधारणे ॥ ४९ ॥
यथेष्टधारणाद्वायोः सिध्येत् केवलकुम्भकः ।
केवले कुम्भके सिद्धे रेचपूरविवर्जिते ॥ ५० ॥
न तस्य दुर्लभं किंचित् त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ।"
Transliteration：
"tataḥ paraṃ yatheṣṭaṃ tu śaktaḥ syādvāyudhāraṇe ॥ 49 ॥
yatheṣṭadhāraṇādvāyoḥ sidhyet kevalaKumbhakaḥ |
kevale kumbhake siddhe recapūravivarjite ॥ 50 ॥
na tasya durlabhaṃ kiṃcit triṣu lokeṣu vidyate |"
Translation：
Thereafter he will acquire power to hold the breath as long as desired. By holding the breath as long as desired,
the Kevala Kumbhaka is successfuly accomplished. When the Kevala (mere) Kumbhaka devoid of the Recaka and the
Puraka is attained, there is nothing in all the three worlds difficult of attainment for that practitioner
Two varieties of Kumbhakas
TYPE:Benefit
PRAMANA：Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण
Source：Sandilya Upanishad VI 13-5, 13-6
Original Verse：
"कुम्भकः स द्विविधः सहितः केवलश्चेति । रेचकपूरकयुक्तः
सहितः । तद्विवर्जितः केवलः । केवलसिद्धिपर्यन्तं सहितमभ्यसेत् ।
केवलकुम्भके सिद्धे त्रिषु लोकेषु न तस्य दुर्लभं भवति ।
केवलकुम्भकात् कुण्डलिनीबोधो जायते ॥ १३-५ ॥
उपायोपेयकुम्भकद्वयमाह- कुम्भक इति । ततः किं जायत
इत्यत्र- केवलेति ॥ १३-५ ॥
ततः कृशवपुः प्रसन्नवदनो निर्मललोचनोऽभिव्यक्तनादो
निर्मुक्तरोगजालो जितबिन्दुः पट्वग्निर्भवति ॥ १३-६ ॥
ततः किं स्यादित्यत्र ततः इति ॥ १३-६ ॥"
Transliteration：
"Kumbhakaḥ sa dvividhaḥ sahitaḥ kevalaśceti | recakapūrakayuktaḥ
sahitaḥ | tadvivarjitaḥ kevalaḥ | kevalasiddhiparyantaṃ sahitamabhyaset |
kevalakumbhake siddhe triṣu lokeṣu na tasya durlabhaṃ bhavati |
kevalakumbhakāt kuṇḍalinībodho jāyate ॥ 13-5 ॥
upāyopeyaKumbhakadvayamāha- Kumbhaka iti | tataḥ kiṃ jāyata
ityatra- kevaleti ॥ 13-5 ॥
tataḥ kṛśavapuḥ prasannavadano nirmalalocano'bhivyaktanādo
nirmuktarogajālo jitabinduḥ paṭvagnirbhavati ॥ 13-6 ॥
tataḥ kiṃ syādityatra tataḥ iti ॥ 13-6 ॥"
Translation：
"That Kumbhaka is of two kinds: mixed and pure. The mixed is conjoint with Recaka (expelling) and Puraka (in-filling). The pure is devoid of those (two processes). Till the acquisition of the pure (Kumbhaka) (the Yogin) should practise the mixed (Kumbhaka).
When the pure Kumbhaka has been accomplished, for him there is nothing unattainable in the three worlds. From the Kevala-Kumbhaka, the rousing of the Kundalini is brought about.
Thence, (the Yogin) becomes light-bodied, with a cheerful countenance, with his eyes free from dirt, with Nada manifested, released from the clutches of groups of diseases, with his Bindu (semen) under control and with his vital warmth glowing briskly."
Kevala Kumbhaka
TYPE:Technique/Benefit
PRAMANA：Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण
Apta Pramana Source：
Kumbhaka Paddhatih 88
Kumbhaka Paddhatih 89
Transliteration：
"kevalaṃ kumbhayet prāṇaṃ reca-pūraṇa-verjitam
tūyaḥ śeṣodito'nye tu kevalaṃ Kumbhakaṃ viduḥ"
"mano-javatvaṃ ca mano-jayaś-ca pālitya-hānir-valitasya nāśaḥ
nāda-śrutiś-cāṣṭavidhāsya siddhir-vāyor-jayaḥ kevala-kumbhakāt syāt"
Translation：
Prāṇa should be restrained irrespective of inspiration or expiration. This is fourth variety of Kumbhaka, called Kevala-Kumbhaka.
Benefits of Kevala-Kumbhaka are stated as increased dexterity of the mind, control of mental activities, disappearance of grey hair and wrinkles, hearing of mystical sounds, accomplishment of eight-fold siddhis and control of vayu.