Preperation to Pranayama

How to sit before Pranayama

PRAMANA：Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण Apta Pramana Source：Hathatatvakaumudi Ch.35.12

Original Verse：

"अधःशक्तिं दृढं धृत्वा तिष्ठेत् पद्मासनोपरि |

गुरूपदिष्टमार्गेण प्राणायामं पुराभ्यसेत् ॥ १२ ॥ "

Transliteration：

"adhaḥśaktiṃ dṛḍhaṃ dhṛtvā tiṣṭhet padmāsanopari |

gurūpadiṣṭamārgeṇa prāṇāyāmaṃ purābhyaset ॥ 12 ॥ "

Translation：

Adopting Padmasana, one should firmly hold the sakti at the bottom (practising mulabandha) and undertake the practice of Pranayama in the beginning following the instruction of the Guru.

Preparation to Pranayama

PRAMANA：Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण Apta Pramana Source：Hathatatvakaumudi Ch.36.1

Original Verse：

"अथासने दृढीभूते वशी हितमिताशनः |

गुरूपदिष्टमार्गेण प्राणायामान् समभ्यसेत् ॥ इति ॥ १ ॥ "

Transliteration：

"athāsane dṛḍhībhūte vaśī hitamitāśanaḥ |

gurūpadiṣṭamārgeṇa prāṇāyāmān samabhyaset ॥ iti ॥ 1 ॥"

Translation：

One who has mastered the asanas, has restrained (the senses), takes nutritious and moderate food should practice Pranayama being guided by the Guru.

Satvik attitude before Pranayama

PRAMANA：Āpta Pramāṇa - आप्त प्रमाण Apta Pramana Source：Hathatatvakaumudi Ch.36.5

Original Verse：

चक्रं नाडीसमूहम् | प्राणसङ्ग्रहणे प्राणोर्ध्वं चरणे ब्रह्मरन्ध्रप्राप्तये समर्थः |

अतो योगारम्भे प्रथमतः प्राणायामं सात्विकया रजस्तमोवर्जितया बुद्ध्या तथा कुर्यात् यथा सुषुम्णानाडीस्थो मलदोषस्खलतीति ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration：

"cakraṃ nāḍīsamūham | prāṇasaṅgrahaṇe prāṇordhvaṃ caraṇe brahmarandhraprāptaye samarthaḥ |

ato yogārambhe prathamataḥ prāṇāyāmaṃ sātvikayā rajastamovarjitayā buddhyā tathā kuryāt yathā suṣumṇānāḍīstho maladoṣaskhalatīti ॥ 5 ॥ "

Translation：

Cakra means the network of the nadis. Pranasangrahana means raising the prana upwards in the brahmarandhra.

Therefore, in the very beginning, Pranayama has to be practiced with a satvika attitude, relieving rajas and tamas in such a fashion that the impurities from the susumna nadi are eliminated.