What is Swara Yoga: The Tantric Science of Brain Breathing
Today, you are going to unearth knowledge about something, which many of you may not have any idea about. Swara Yoga is an ancient form of yoga, that revolves around breathing. This is something, that many yogis discovered years ago. According to Swara Yoga, breath is the main underlying principle that drives everything in motion. Breath stops, and so does motion. You can now attain the knowledge about this yogic discipline from the best yoga school in rishikesh.
You may already know, what the meaning of ‘Swara’ is. It means a sound or musical note. You can also unearth another meaning, and that is, the flow of air through only one nostril. Yoga means unison. And, Swara Yoga means the realization of the existence of cosmic consciousness, through proper awareness and observation. This again leads to the manipulation of the flow of breath. So, if this sounds interesting, let us delve further.
Guide To Swara Yoga
Swara Yoga is an old Tantric practice, which involves the study of the flow of breath through the nostrils. The same is done in keeping with the moon phases, directions and time of the day. Pranayama is often associated with the manipulation of the breath in various ways, depending on the needs of the practitioners. However, Swara Yoga is much different, as you will study about the association of the breath, in relation to the diurnal activities of the sun, moon, stars, and other planets. You also need to take into account the physical as well as mental state of the practitioners. While pursuing yoga in rishikesh, you will be able to learn the same under expert guidance.
You will be amazed to know, that Swara Yoga is a secret science, that was kept hidden for a long time. Only the kings and royals had knowledge about the same. The ancient knowledge was only available to the disciples of the sages, who knew about it. The sages also used this pure knowledge for divinations and predictions. The sages mainly used the knowledge, when anyone asked for their assistance in solving problems related to the physical body, mental state, emotions, or if anyone required spiritual guidance. Many people also asked the sages about favourable times, for certain actions. Kings and princes took note of the favourable times, before going for wars as well.
Anyone who possessed the knowledge of Swara Yoga could become free from negativities. The Yoga form finds mention in the Agama Shastra and Shaiva Tantra. Lord Shiva is regarded as the Guru of both these realms. The most beautiful thing about this ancient science, is that, by knowing about the ‘Swara’ in relation to the environment, you can get results in your mundane life, in your favour. In fact, you can find out which is going to be the most successful route for you, beforehand, and then embark on the journey. You can even choose the appropriate foot, on which you must land, for favourable reactions from the planets.
Types of Swara Yoga
According to the sacred texts, there are three main types of Swara.
They are-
⦁ Ida Nadi or Left Swara
⦁ Pingala Nadi or Right Swara
⦁ Sushumna Nadi or Central Swara
Ida Nadi or Left Swara
Now, let us delve deep into the realm of the Ida nadi. When you breathe in through the left nostril, it is said that you are inhaling through the Ida. It mainly represents the female energy or the moon energy. Furthermore, the left swara mainly influences the parasympathetic nervous system and other mental activities. It happens to be connected to the right hemisphere of the brain. It stays active from the no moon day of each lunar cycle to the full moon day. When the left swara is active on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Monday, you can gain favourable results. Some of the zodiac signs that gain from its good effects are Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, and Pisces. When the left swara is active, you should auspicious tasks, like embarking on a journey, buying a new house, get married, purchase jewellery, and start the treatment of diseases.
Pingala Nadi or Right Swara
The Pingala nadi is located on the right side of the spine. It represents the male energy, the Purusha, or the sun. This Swara is associated with all the healing activities, and affects the sympathetic nervous system. You can feel the dominance of the Pingala nadi, during the time from the full moon day to the no moon day. The right Swara gives good results on Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays. All those who are born under the signs of Gemini, Aries, Aquarius, Libra, and Sagittarius, get favourable results in this time. You can perform inauspicious tasks, during this time. They include Tantric activities, sensual gestures and mean behaviour. This period also tends to increase your dynamism.
Sushumna Nadi or Central Swara
The third Swara, the Sushumna, represents Shiva. It is located within the spine. When the left and right Swara flow together, the Sushumna stays active. You should not perform any action, favourable or unfavourable, as it will not yield any result. It mainly indicates non-attachment. You can perform meditation during such times, to improve your own mental focus and concentration.
The Rhythms of Swara Decoded
You will be amazed to know, that each Swara becomes active alternately. Moreover, the Swaras become active for at least 1-1.5 hrs everyday as well. The cycles continue for the entire day and night. Moreover, they are related to the moon phases. For healthy individuals, the Swara changes at sunrise and sunset. You can unearth all such information and more, from the yoga retreat in rishikesh.
If you delve into the Shiva Swarodaya, you will find at least 395 Sutras, which mentions various practices about the health, wellbeing, and wealth.
You can very easily maintain good health, if you follow the scripts.
⦁ If you are suffering from a congested nose, then you should forcefully breathe more through that nose. This prevents the worsening of the situation. Whenever, you feel any discomfort, you should change the active nostril for inhalation. Doing so, will help you to overcome any mental, physical or emotional issue.
⦁ If you want to cure common cold, you have to breathe through the right nostril at least 21 times, while blocking the left nostril. You can also try sleeping on the left side, as it will give you considerable relief. It can eventually lead to the activation of the right nostril.
⦁ This Swara Yoga will also prove to be useful in the case of acidity and fever. You should aim at activating the left nostril. Breathe through the left nostril, at least 21 times, for maximum effects. Block the right nostril, all this while. If you sleep on the right side, you can get relief from fever-like symptoms.
⦁ If you have proper knowledge of Swara Yoga, you must prepare your own Swara medicines. These medicines mainly work at the vibration level, without any side effects.
According to Sutra No 391 of Shiva Swarodaya, anyone who has the knowledge of the nadis, Swara Yoga, and the five elements, is more powerful than one who knows Rasayanas. All the yogis who practice yoga in rishikesh, will tell you similar things, during the classes.
Now, let us move on to, how the knowledge of Swara Yoga can help in generating wealth. Most people believe that, if you have a lot of knowledge, you will be able to generate a lot of wealth. Moreover, your skills, attitude, and strategy also play a huge role in this wealth creation plan. But, Swara Yoga goes much deeper. If you want success in this world, you ought to enter and align yourself with the cosmic rhythm, and you can get the returns manifold.
Here are a few simple ways by which you can align yourself with the cosmic rhythm.
⦁ You ought to get up each day, before sunrise, and find out which your active nostril is. You need to kiss the same hand, on the same side. Thereafter, you must touch the face, neck, or other body parts with the hand. While getting out of the bed, you ought to keep the active foot, which corresponds to the active nostril, on the ground. After that, you can proceed with the morning activities. This simple practice will set things straight, and you will be able to achieve all that you want to achieve on that single day.
Swara Yoga also has the power to help you to influence other people. If you want to influence anyone, you are required to ask the person concerned, to stand on the active side of the nostril. If the right nostril is the active one, the person whom you want to influence must stand on the right, and if the left nostril is active, the person whom you want to influence must stand on the left side.
You can also refer to Sutra 53, which says that charity is also another important activity. If you do charity or donate something to the poor, during the time of inhalation through the left nostril, you are bound to get a million auspicious fruits.
Thus, you can very well understand, that the knowledge of Swara Yoga can help in getting, health, wealth, and immense happiness. If you are a yoga enthusiast, who wants to make yoga your life, you must learn and practice Swara Yoga. It will bring around enlightenment and self-empowerment.
Nasika Mudra Or Vishnu Mudra
If you are interested in pursuing authentic yoga in rishikesh, then it makes sense to learn about Vishnu Mudra as well. This is the first yoga mudra, that such yoga student must encounter. You must have done this in Nadi Shodhana. However, not everyone knows about this mudra in detail. Vishnu mudra is used in breathing techniques, where one or both the nostrils ought to be blocked.
To make you understand in a better manner, we have decided to do deeper. You may already have this knowledge that the three main Deities are Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva. When the world was on the verge of getting destroyed due to evil forces, Lord Vishnu took on the Vishnu avatar. The Yoga mudra corresponding to this form is called Nasika mudra. It is basically a balancing practice, which balances the left and right hemispheres of the brain. In order to practice Swara Yoga, and get all its benefits, it is absolutely important for you to know hoe to go about this process.
How To Do Vishnu Mudra?
⦁ You have to open the right hand in front of you, facing the face. The palm should be facing you.
⦁ In the next step, you have to fold the index finger and middle finger, onto your palm. The tops of both these fingers must touch the mound.
⦁ The ring and the little finger will be kept open and pointing outwards.
⦁ This hand configuration is called the Vishnu mudra or Nasika mudra.
⦁ You will be using the mudra in Pranayama practices very often, during Nadi Shodhana and Anulom Vilom.
When you perform the Vishnu mudra or the Nasika mudra, it facilitates single nostril breathing and alternate nostril breathing. It helps in partially blocking the nostrils. You should also know, that you ought to practice the Vishnu mudra with the right hand. The left hand should rest on the knees of the left leg.
Anyone can practice this mudra, while practicing Swara Yoga. There are no known contraindications of this practice. The configuration of the fingers is also quite simple. However, beginners may have some issues initially. That is why, it is always recommended to do such practices under expert guidance. You can learn Swara yoga from the best school, called Hrishikesh Yoga School. The best is waiting to happen, only if you take the first initiative.
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