This document provides an overview of pranayama according to the Hathapradipika text. It defines pranayama as the extension or expansion of prana, the vital energy. The document outlines the steps of pranayama including puraka (inhalation), rechaka (exhalation), and kumbhaka (retention of breath). It describes various types of pranayama techniques like suryabhedana and ujjayi. The benefits of practicing pranayama include purification of nadis (energy channels), increased gastric heat, and annihilation of diseases. Pranayama is presented as an important tool in Hatha yoga for awakening k

1. CONCEPT OF PRANAYAMA
IN HATHAPRADIPIKA
By
Asian Referee, NIS Coach, National Awardee,
Guinness World record holder in Yoga Warrior
Pose1
Email-chandrakantayoga@yahoo.co.in

2. INTRODUCTION
• Pranayama is generally defined as Breath
Control. The word “Pranayama” is
comprised of two roots: “Prana” &
“Ayama”.
• Prana means – Vital Energy
• Ayama means – “Extension” or
“Expansion”
Thus the word “Pranayama” means
“Extension or Expansion of the
Dimension of Prana”.

3. Technique
Of
Pranayama
Attain a
higher state
of vibratory
energy
Activated &
Regulated
Life Force
One can go
beyond
normal
boundaries
& limitation

4. DEFINITIONS OF
PRANAYAMA
• “Pranayama” is a powerful tool to take
one person from Bahiranga Yoga to
Antaranga Yoga.
• Control of breath or pause between
Inhalation & exhalation is called
“Pranayama”.
• “Pranayama” is the discipline of Breath
for the discipline of mind.
• Voluntary Control of breath in a proper
manner is called “Pranayama”.

5. STEPS OF PRANAYAMA
PRANAYAMA
PURAKA
(Inhalation)
RECHAKA
(Exhalation)
KUMBHAKA
(Retention of Breath)
SAHITA
(With Puraka &
Rechaka)
KEVALA
(Without Puraka &
Rechaka)

6. YOGIC PHYSIOLOGY OF
PRANAYAMA
• The human framework is
comprised of five bodies or
sheaths, called “Pancha
Koshas”.
• The practice of Pranayama
mainly work with
“Pranamaya Kosha”.

7. PRANIC BODY
• The Pranayama Kosha is
also made up of five
major Pranas:
• Prana
• Apana
• Samana
• Udana
• Vyana.

8. PRANAYAMA ACCORDING TO
HATHAPRADIPIKA
• Hathapradipika, the most authoritive text book
of Hatha Yoga, was written by Svatmarama Suri.
• It was written between the middle of 14th century
& middle of 10th century (1350 – 1550) AD.

9. WHO SHOULD DO PRANAYAMA
• After becoming well-versed in Asanas the yogi, with
(his senses under) control and eating moderate
agreeable food, should practice Pranayama as advised
by the Guru. (HP II/1)
• So long as breathing goes on the mind remains
unsteady; when (it) stops, (the mind) becomes still &
the yogi attains complete motionlessness. Hence, one
should restrain one’s breath. (HP II/2)
• (The Aspirant) should do Pranayama after getting rid
of corpulence, disorders of phlegm etc. by means of
the six purificatory processes. He will succeed in yoga.
(HP II/37)

10. CONCEPT OF PRANAYAMA
• There is life so long as vayu (working) in the body. Vayu ceasing to
work means death. Therefore respiration should be regulated (so as
to minimize respiratory activity) (HP II/3)
• Vayu does not travel along the middle path because Nadis are full of
impurities. Thus we cannot attain the state of unmani (HP II/4)
• Hence, the pure heart (yogi) should regularly practice Pranayama so
that the impurities in the Sushumna Nadi are removed. (HP II/6)
• Maruta penetrates the mouth of Sushumna & moves by (along this
Nadi) with ease. (HP II/41)
• When maruta courses through the Sushumna, mind attains
steadiness. This state of mind is called “manonmani”. (HP II/42)
• By practicing the different Pranayama one attains all different
Siddhis (extraordinary powers) including “manonmani”.

11. WHEN PRANAYAMA SHOULD BE
DONE?
• One should perform Pranayama four times a day – in
the morning, at noon, in the evening and at midnight
– gradually increasing the number of rounds up to
eighty.
(HP II/11)

12. WHAT SHOULD BE TAKEN IN THE
BEGINNING OF THIS PRACTICE?
• In the beginning of the practice (of Yoga i.e. the
Pranayama) food with ample milk and ghee in it is
advised. But when the practice gets stabilized there
is no need to observe such a restriction.
(HP II/14)

13. PROCESS OF PRANAYAMA
• Adopting the Padmasana (pose), the Yogi
should draw in breath through the Candra
(left nostril) and, having retained it according
to his capacity, should exhale through Surya
(right nostril).
(HP II/7)
• Then he should again fill in the (thoracic)
cavity by taking in breath through the Sun
(right nostril) and exhale through the Candra
(left nostril) after performing Kumbhaka
according to his capacity
(HP II/8)

14. • Inhaling through that (nostril) by which he had
exhaled and, having retained the breath so long as
it can be done without suppressing the impulse to
exhale, one should exhale by the other one slowly
– never rapidly.
(HP II/9)
• Breath should be drawn in through the Ida (left
nostril) and retained, (then) it should be thrown out
by the other one; and, then taking in air through
the Pingala (right nostril) and retaining it, it should
be thrown out through the left one. By constant
and prolonged practice of Pranayama in this
manner through the Surya (right nostril) and
Candra (left nostril) the whole group of Yogi’s
Nadis get purified in three months or more.
(HP II/10)

15. • One should perform Pranayama four times a day – in
the morning, at noon, in the evening and at midnight –
gradually increasing the number of rounds up to
eighty.
(HP II/11)
• (Pranayama) of a low degree of merit generates heat;
that of an intermediate degree throbbing; and by
(Pranayama) in all its intensity a condition is achieved
(the coveted blissful position) in which it is easy for
Prana to rise to Brahmarandhra (the highest central
point in the brain). Hence one should train respiration
(by practicing Pranayama).
(HP II/12)

16. • One should rub over the body (any) perspiration
caused by exertion (due to Pranayama). By (doing) this
the body attains strength and lightness.
(HP II/13)

17. BANDHAS IN PRANAYAMA
• At the end of Puraka one should adopt the Bandha
called Jalandhara . Uddiyanaka should be
performed at the end of Kumbhaka as Recaka
begins.
(HP II/45)
• By simultaneous contraction of the pubic region
(Mulabandha) and the throat (Jalandharabandha)
and retracting the abdomen towards the back
(Uddiyanaka) Prana soon begins to course through
the Brahmanadi (Sushumna)
(HP II/46)

18. • Raising Apana upwards and taking Prana downwards
from the throat, the Yogi becomes (like) a boy of
sixteen and is freed from old age.
(HP II/47)

19. TYPES OF PRANAYAMA
PRANAYAMA
SURYABHEDANA
UJJAYI
SITKARI
SHITALI
BHASTRIKA
BHRAMARI
MURCCHA
PLAVINI

20. 1. Suryabhedana – Assuming a firm Asana on a
comfortable seat and slowly drawing in
external air through the right nostril.
Kumbhaka (retention of breath) is to be
practiced until one feels the (effect of)
retention (of breath) upto the hairs and the
tips of the nails. Then the breath is to be
slowly exhaled through the the left nostril.
(HP II/48-49)

21. 2. Ujjayi – Closing the mouth, one should slowly draw in
air through both nostrils, producing a sound, in such a
way that its touch is felt from throat to the chest.
(HP II/51)

22. 3. Sitkari – Through the
mouth the sound sit
should be produced
(while inhaling), and
exhalation should be
done only through the
nose. By practicing
assiduously in this
manner one (the Yogi)
becomes a second
cupid.
(HP II/54)

23. 4. Sitali – Inhaling by
(manipulating) the
tongue Kumbhaka
(retention of breath)
should be performed, as
before, and then the wise
(Yogi) should exhale
through both the nostrils.
(HP II/57)

24. 5. Bhastrika – Getting settled in Padmasana, the wise
should, with the neck and body held erect, close the
mouth and effortfully exhale through the nostrils,
making a sound, so that exhalation is felt in the
chest, throat and (upper part of the) skull; then he
should breathe in quickly till the (inhaled) air
reaches the cardiac region (i.e. the lungs)
(HP II/60-61)

25. 6. Bhramari – As a result of
practicing rapid inhalation,
producing a sound resembling
the hum of a male bee, (and
after performing Kumbhaka)
slow exhalation, producing the
very low hum of a female bee,
an indescribable blissful
experience fills the mind of
eminent Yogis.
(HP II/68)

26. 7. Murccha – At the end of
Puraka (inhalation) one (the
aspirant) should adopt a very
firm Jalandhara (Bandha) and
exhale slowly. This is known
as Murcchana (Kumbhaka). It
leads to loss of (all)
awareness and gives pleasure.
(HP II/69)

27. 8. Plavini – With the stomach completely filled with a
liberal quantity of air introduced (through the mouth
and the esophagus) a Yogi easily floats like a lotus
leaf even on deepest water.
(HP II/70)

28. BENEFITS OF PRANAYAMA
• By proper practice of
Pranayama all diseases are
annihilated.
(HP II/16)
• Several diseases like hiccup, asthma,
cough and pain in the head, ear and the
eyes, develop from a disorder of Pavana.
(HP II/17)

29. • One should exhale, retain and inhale in a regulated manner
and should in this way attain success (in Pranayama).
(HP II/18)
• When the Nadis get purified, appearance of external signs
like slimness of the body and lustre, are certain.
(HP II/19)

30. • By purified the Nadis one is able to retain breath with ease;
the (gastric) heat is increased; and experience of (internally
aroused) sound and good health are secured.
(HP II/20)
• Rapid performance of Recaka and Puraka like (emptying
and filling up of) the bellows of a blacksmith is Kapalabhati,
well-known as the destroyer of disorders caused by
phlegm.
(HP II/36)

31. • By (practicing) Kumbhakas Kundalini is aroused; and the
passage of Sushumna is cleared of all obstacles and
success in Hatha (Yoga) is achieved.
(HP II/75)
• Slimness of body, luster on the face, clarity of voice,
brightness of eyes, freedom from disease, stimulation of
gastric heat and purification of the Nadis are the marks of
success in Hatha (Yoga).
(HP II/78)

32. THANK YOU