Hatha Yoga Pradipika

By Swami Vishnuswaroop

The popular classical text Hatha Yoga Pradipika has been translated into English and presented in its full form without editing/omitting any phrase or verse from the original Sanskrit text. It is seen that some of the authors/translators of Hatha Yoga Pradipika and some classical texts on yoga and tantra have not included the original Sanskrit verses on Vajroli, Amaroli and Sahajoli mudras in their books which are the practices of (tantric) sexual acts. They have considered that these mudras fall in the category of 'impure sadhana (practice)' and they are practiced by 'low-class tantrists'. 

It was felt fair and necessary to include all the verses from the original text of Hatha Yoga Pradipika on the mudras and other practices and to translate them completely. Therefore, each of the Sanskrit verse of this popular text with its 'as it is' translation has been presented in this book. A sincere effort has been made in order to present the translation of this renowned classical text as simple and understandable as possible. 

Hatha Yoga is known as the science of purification. It is believed that total purification of all impurities on the physical level is absolutely necessary in order to purify the mind. When these impurities are eliminated from the body, the energy blocks are removed and Nadis (the subtle channels in the pranic body) function properly. Then the Prana moves freely throughout these subtle channels within the total physical structure. 

Therefore, it is considered that various aspects of the practice of Hatha Yoga e.g. asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha and shatkarma serve as the solid foundation for the preparation and practice of Raja Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Kriya Yoga and Tantra. Originally, the science of Hatha Yoga was not discovered for yoga therapy, but for the expansion and evolution of human consciousness. Although yoga has been scientifically proven to be effective in the treatment of many incurable diseases, the therapeutic effect of yoga is only a byproduct.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Divine Yoga Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal
• Release date: Nov 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781524292034

Swami Vishnuswaroop

Swami Vishnuswaroop (Thakur Krishna Uprety), B. A. (Majored in English & Economics), received his Diploma in Yogic Studies (First Class) from Bihar Yoga Bharati, Munger, Bihar, India. He was formally trained under the direct guidance and supervision of Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati in the Guru Kula tradition of the Bihar School of Yoga. He was initiated into the lineage of Swami Satyananda Saraswati, the founder of Bihar School of Yoga and the direct disciple of Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Rishikesh. His guru gave his spiritual name ‘Vishnuswaroop’ while he was initiated into the sannyasa tradition. Swami Vishnuswaroop is a Life Member of World Yoga Council, International Yoga Federation. Divine Yoga Institute has published his nine books on classical yoga, meditation and tantra. He is one of the few yoga practitioners registered with Nepal Health Professional Council established by The Government of Nepal. He has been teaching on the theory and practice of traditional yoga and the yogic way of life to Nepalese and foreign nationals for more than twenty-five years. Swami Vishnuswaroop has designed a comprehensive yoga program called ‘Yoga Passport’ in order to give a broader theoretical and practical knowledge of yoga which includes various aspects of yogic practice. Many health professionals, yoga practitioners and people from various backgrounds of more than forty-seven countries from various parts of the world have gone through his yoga courses and programs. He currently works as the President of Divine Yoga Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal and travels abroad to provide yogic teaching and training.

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Gratitude

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt salutations to Adinatha (the Primordial Master) and my Guru Swami Satyananda Saraswati for their unwavering inspiration and guidance I have received for my work. I realize that my firm faith and belief in God and Guru is a motivational gift for me in completing this work. I could never have done it without their blessings.

I am always thankful to Ms. Bhawani Uprety for the untiring support she provided me during the preparation of various classical texts on yoga. My many thanks go to her forever.

May the God and Guru inspire us to tread the path of yoga in order to achieve the ultimate goal of human life!

- Swami Vishnuswaroop

Introduction

There are several fundamental texts in the yogic literature on Haṭha Yoga. Among them, Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā by Yogī Svātmārama is a very popular one. Two other texts are Gorakṣa Samhitā and Gheraṇḍa Samhitā by Yogī Gorakṣanātha and the great sage Gheraṇḍa respectively. The fourth main text is known as Haṭha Ratnāvali which was written by Srinivāsabhatta Mahāyogīndra. It is considered that these texts have been written between the 6th and 15th centuries A. D. Another text is known as Śiva Samhita which is considered to have been written/compiled in 17th century A. D. All these texts explain the concept of yoga, its philosophy and practice so that one may attain the ultimate goal of human life – mokṣa or liberation.

The popular classical text Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā has been translated into English and presented in its full form without editing/omitting any phrase or verse from the original Sanskrit text.  It is seen that some of the authors/translators of Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā and some classical texts on yoga and tantra have not included the original Sanskrit verses on vajrolī, amarolī and sahajolī mudrās in their books which are the practices of (tantric) sexual acts. They have considered that these mudrās fall into the category of ‘impure sādhanā (practice)’ and they are practiced by ‘low-class tantrics’.

It was felt fair and necessary to include all the verses from the original text of Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā on the mudrās and other practices and to translate them completely. Therefore, each of the Sanskrit verse of this popular text with its ‘as it is’ translation has been presented in this book. A sincere effort has been made in order to present the translation of this renowned classical text as simple and understandable as possible.

Haṭha Yoga is known as the science of purification. It is believed that total purification of all impurities on the physical level is absolutely necessary in order to purify the mind. When these impurities are eliminated from the body, the energy blocks are removed and nāḍīs (the subtle channels in the pranic body) function properly. Then the prāṇa moves freely throughout these subtle channels within the total physical structure.

Therefore, it is considered that various aspects of the practice of Haṭha Yoga e.g. āsana, prāṇayāma, mudrā, bandha, and ṣaṭkarma serve as the solid foundation for the preparation and practice of Rāja Yoga, Kuṇḍalinī Yoga, Kriyā Yoga and Tantra. Originally, the science of Haṭha Yoga was not discovered for yoga therapy, but for the expansion and evolution of human consciousness. Although yoga has been scientifically proven to be effective in the treatment of many incurable diseases, the therapeutic effect of yoga is only a byproduct.

The objective of Haṭha Yoga is to create a harmonious balance between the physical body, prāṇa (the vital energy) and mind. It is said that when the impulses generated by this harmonious balance stimulate the awakening of the central force (suṣumṇā nāḍī), only then the evolution of consciousness is possible. The original objective of Haṭha Yoga is totally lost if it is not used for this purpose.

So much credit goes to my friend Mr. Jörg Moniz, France who wholeheartedly encouraged me and made a valuable contribution to this work. I would also like to thank all my students/yoga participants from different parts of the world for their kind help and support in this work.

It should be noted that the original Sanskrit Text is in Devanagari along with its Roman transliteration. All the Sanskrit words/phrases that appear in the English translation are given in the transliterated Roman alphabets. For example, ‘Svatmarama’ is written as ‘Svātmārāma’ and ‘Yogishvara’ as ‘Yogīśvara’.

It is hoped that the present text would be useful for all yoga students, yoga practitioners, yoga teachers and general readers who are interested in this subject.

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Chapter One

Discourse on Āsana

Salutation to Ādinātha Śiva

श्रीआदिनाथाय नमोऽस्तु तस्मै येनोपदिष्टा हठयोगविद्या ।

विभ्राजते प्रोन्नतराजयोगं  आरोढुमिच्छोधिरोहिणीव ॥१॥ 

śrīādināthāya namo’stu tasmai yenopadiṣṭā haṭhayogavidyā /

vibhrājate pronnatarājayogaṃ āroḍhumicchodhirohiṇīva //1//

Salutation to Śrī Ādinātha (the primeval Lord Śiva) who imparted the knowledge of Haṭha Yoga that shines forth as a stairway for those who desire to climb highly advanced Rāja Yoga. –1.

Salutation to Guru

प्रणम्य श्रीगुरुं नाथं स्वात्मारामेण योगिना ।

केवलं राजयोगाय हठविद्योपदिश्यते ॥२॥ 

praṇamya śrīguruṃ nāthaṃ svātmārāmeṇa yoginā /

kevalaṃ rājayogāya haṭhavidyopadiśyate //2//

Having saluted the Lord, his Guru, Yogī Svātmārāma imparts the knowledge of Haṭha Yoga solely for (achieving) Rāja Yoga. –2.

भ्रान्त्या बहुमतध्वान्ते राजयोगमजानताम् ।

हठप्रदीपिकां धत्ते स्वात्मारामः कृपाकरः ॥३॥ 

bhrāntyā bahumatadhvānte rājayogamajānatām /

haṭhapradīpikāṃ dhatte svātmārāmaḥ kṛpākaraḥ //3//

Rāja Yoga is not known due to darkness caused by various opinions and confusions. In order to dispel the darkness, the compassionate Yogī Svātmārāma throws light on Haṭha Yoga. –3.

First Haṭha Yogīs: Matsyendra and Gorakṣa

हठविद्यां हि मत्स्येन्द्रगोरक्षाद्या विजानते ।

स्वात्मारामोऽथवा योगी जानीते तत्प्रसादतः ॥४॥ 

haṭhavidyāṃ hi matsyendragorakṣhādyā vijānate /

svātmārāmo’thavā yogī jānīte tatprasādataḥ //4//

Yogīs like Matsyendra, Gorakṣa, etc. certainly knew Haṭha Vidyā (the knowledge). Yogī Svātmārāma knew it by their grace. –4.

Lineage of Mahāsiddhas

श्रीआदिनाथमत्स्येन्द्रशावरानन्दभैरवाः ।

चौरङ्गीमीनगोरक्षविरूपाक्षबिलेशयाः ॥५॥ 

मन्थानो भैरवो योगी सिद्धिर्बुद्धश्च कन्थडिः ।

कोरण्टकः सुरानन्दः सिद्धपादश्च चर्पटिः ॥६॥ 

कानेरी पूज्यपादश्च नित्यनाथो निरञ्जनः ।

कपाली बिन्दुनाथश्च काकचण्डीश्वराह्वयः ॥७॥ 

अल्लामः प्रभुदेवश्च घोडा चोली च टिण्टिणिः ।

भानुकी नारदेवश्च खण्डः कापालिकस्तथा ॥८॥ 

इत्यादयो महासिद्धा हठयोगप्रभावतः ।

खण्डयित्वा कालदण्डं ब्रह्माण्डे विचरन्ति ते ॥९॥ 

śrīādināthamatsyendraśāvarānandabhairavāḥ /

cauraṅgīmīnagorakṣavirūpākṣabileśayāḥ //5//

manthāno bhairavo yogī siddharbuddhaśca kanthaḍiḥ /

koranṭakaḥ surānandaḥ siddhapādaśca carpaṭiḥ //6//

kānerī pūjyapādaśca nityanātho nirañjanaḥ /

kapālī bindunāthaśca kākacaṇḍīśvarāhvayaḥ //7//

allāmaḥ prabhudevaśca ghoḍācolī ca ṭiṇṭiṇiḥ /

bhānukī nāradevaśca khaṇḍaḥ kāpālikastathā //8//

ityādayo mahāsiddhā haṭhayogaprabhāvataḥ /

khaṇḍayitvā kāladaṇḍaṃ brahmāṇḍe vicaranti te //9//

Śrīādinātha (Lord Śiva), Matsyendra, Śāvara, Ānandabhairava, Cauraṅgī, Mina, Gorakṣa, Virūpākṣa, Bileśayā, Manthān, Bhairava, Yogī Siddha, Buddha, Kanthaḍi, Koranṭaka, Surānanda, Siddhapāda, Carpaṭi, Kānerī, Pūjyapāda, Nityanātha, Nirañjana, Kapālī, Bindunātha, Kākacaṇḍīśvara, Allāma, Prabhudeva, Ghoḍācolī, Ṭiṇṭiṇi, Bhānukī, Naradeva, Khaṇḍa, Kāpālika and many other mahāsiddhas (the great perfected yoga masters), having defeated death by the power of Haṭha Yoga, wander about the universe. –5-9.

अशेषतापतप्तानां समाश्रयमठो हठः ।

अशेषयोगयुक्तानामाधारकमठो हठः ॥१०॥ 

aśeṣatāpataptānāṃ samāśrayamaṭho haṭhaḥ /

aśeṣayogayuktānāmādhārakamaṭho haṭhaḥ //10//

For those burnt out by all types of tāpa (misery or pain), Haṭha Yoga is similar to a place of good shelter (that protects one from the heat). For those completely dedicated to the practice of yoga, Haṭha Yoga is the foundation like the tortoise supporting the world. –10.

हठविद्या परं गोप्या योगिना सिद्धिमिच्छता ।

भवेद्वीर्यवती गुप्ता निर्वीर्या तु प्रकाशिता ॥११॥ 

haṭhavidyā paraṃ