What is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika?The most fundamental text of Hatha Yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, a Sanskrit classic written by Swami Swatmarama, a disciple of Swami Goraknath. Said to be the oldest surviving text on the Hatha Yoga, it is one of the three classic texts of Hatha Yoga (the other two being the Gheranda Samhita and the Shiva Samhita).
The book was written in 15th century CE. The work is derived from older Sanskrit texts and Swami Swatamarama's own yogic experiences. It includes information about
asanas, pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis and mudras among other topics.
The book lists in great detail all the main
asanas, pranayama, mudras and bandhas that are familiar to today's yoga student. It runs in the line of Hindu yoga (to distinguish from Buddhist and Jain yoga) and is dedicated to Lord Adinath, a name for Lord Shiva (the Hindu god of destruction and renewal), who is alleged to have imparted the secret of Hatha Yoga to his divine consort Parvati.
By balancing two streams, often known as ida (mental) and pingala (bodily) currents, the shushumna nadi (current of the Self) is said to rise, opening various chakras (cosmic powerpoints within the body, starting from the base of the spine and ending right above the head) until samadhi is attained.
In the West, Hatha Yoga has become wildly popular as a purely physical exercise regimen divorced of its original purpose. Currently, it is estimated that about 30 million Americans practice hatha yoga. But it is still followed in a manner consistent with tradition throughout the Indian subcontinent.
Click on "Main Lessons" above to learn the easy way to keep the currents and chakras balanced.
or read more here:
Book list and brief history of the rise of yoga in the westYoga asanas; a wonderful billion dollar industry
