Kūrma-Kumbhaka

Description

Various Types of Pranayamas

Type

Benefit

Pramana

Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण

Apta Pramana Source

1)Kumbhaka Paddhatih 79

2)Kumbhaka Paddhatih 80

Original Verse

1)

"निमिलोन्म्īलने त्यक्त्व पिथे कस्थम्-इव स्थितिह् नेत्रयोस्-च सर्īरस्य कुर्म-कुम्भह् स उच्यते भवतो'भ्यस-वसन्-मनो-वतौ स्थिरवुभौ"

2)

तर्जन्यनामिकेऽङ्गुष्ठ-मर्द्दिते क्षुत-सम्भवे क्षुत-संहरणः कुम्भः कृकरस्य जय-प्रदः

Transliteration

1)

"nimīlonmīlane tyaktvā pīṭhe kāṣṭham-iva sthitiḥ netrayoś-ca śarīrasya kūrma-kumbhaḥ sa ucyate bhavato'bhyāsa-vaśān-mano-vātau sthirāvubhau"

2)

"tarjanyanāmike'ṅguṣṭha-marddite kṣuta-sambhave kṣuta-saṃharaṇaḥ kumbhaḥ kṛkarasya jaya-pradaḥ"

Translation

1)

When the blinking of the eyes are controlled and one becomes perfectly steady in the asana like a log of wood and devoid of movements of the eyes and the body, it is called Kūrma-Kumbhaka. With the practice of this Kumbhaka, one attains steadiness of vayu and mind.

2)

When there is a possibility of sneezing, one should rub the index and ring fingers with the thumb. This obviously does not include the process of Kumbhaka.