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Home , Bindu (symbol), Gheranda Samhita, Hatha yoga, Laghava, Raja yoga, Samadhi

ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review

Introduction dhyana and 7) Nirlipta (non-involvement or is expansion of human capabilities. The liberation) achieved by .(Gheranda practitioner of different branches of yoga can get 1/9,11) many benefits and can achieve a lot of amazing Signs of Success of (perfections) which are described in 1) Slimness of the body, 2) cheerful face, Patanjalî Yoga sûtra and various texts of Hatha 3) hearing of the mystical sound, 4) shining eyes, Yoga. 5) sense of wellness, 6) control over the , Benefits of practice of limbs of Yoga 7) increase in gastric fire and 8) purification of By the practice of steps of yoga, all nadîs. impurities are reduced and there is an illumination Âsanas alleviates diseases, of knowledge. It culminates in the highest removes the sins, and practice of knowledge of discrimination between Purusa and brings an end to mental ills of a yogî. Prakriti. (Patanjalî Yoga sûtra II/28) (Hatharatnavali 1/59, 3/77)

Siddhis and Benefits Achieved by Practice of Hatha Yoga and

Dr. Saroj Kumar Sahu

By practice of various , and Description , kundalinî is aroused and the 1) Benefits of practice of dissolves into sûnya or Brahmarandhra. ( IV/10) ) When the yogî perfects in the practice of (non-violence), others around him give By mastering yoga, self-realization is achieved. up enmity. ii) When the yogî perfects himself on ( 1/5) (truthfulness) his speech becomes true. Saptasadhana of Ghata achieved by Yoga iii) When the perfects in the practice of asteya (non-stealing), all the wealth of the world become 1) Sodhana (purification of body) available to him, iv) When the yogî perfects in achieved by satkarma, 2) Dhridhata (firmness) the practice of brahmacharya (continence), he by , 3) Sthirata (steadiness) by , acquires immense strength (physical, mental and 4) Dhirata (patience) by pratyahara, spiritual), v) When the yogî perfects in the practice 5) Laghava (lightness) by pranayama, of aparigraha (non-receiving), he gets the 6) Âtman (self realization) by knowledge of the present birth.

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(Patanjalî Yoga sûtra II/ 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 ) 4) Benefits of practice of Pranayama 2) Benefits of practice of By regular practice of pranayama, the obstuctions of knowledge (caused by impurities i) When the yogî perfects in the practice of mind) are reduced. Then the mind becomes of sauca, he develops dislike towards his own capable of practicing dharana. body and has no attachment for any other’s body. The yogi’s mind becomes pure, joyful and (Patanjalî Yoga sûtra II- 52,53) concentrated. He develops a complete control When the prana (breath) is steady, the over the . He becomes capable of self mind attains steadiness. By this steadiness of realization. ii) Supreme happiness got by santosa prana the yogî attains steadiness. By proper (). iii) Supernormal capabilities of practice of pranayama all diseases are body and mind are achieved when the impurities eradicated. All impurities of the nadîs are removed of the body and mind are reduced by the practice by pranayama. Even and other Devas of tapa. iv) By svadhyaya, the yogî can have regularly do pranayama to get rid of the fear of interaction with god, and sages. He can death. The practice of various kumbhakas one receive divine help. v) By meditating on Isvara obtains different siddhis or wondrous perfections. along with repetition of , the practitioner gains (Hatha Yoga Pradipika II-2,16,37,39, 47 ) two fold results. He acquires internal The group of nadîs is purified and prana and his obstacles on the way of easily pierces the opening of susumna and enters yoga are also removed. By Isvarapranidhana, into it. Mind becomes steady as the prana moves the yogî can attain samadhi. into susumna. This poised state of mind is called (Patanjalî Yoga sûtra I/29, II/ 40,41,42, 43, manonmani. Proper practice of pranayama 44, 45) alleviates all the diseases. Whereas improper practice invites all the disorders. 3) Benefits of practice of Âsana (Hatharatnavali II/2, 3 & III/91) When asana is perfected, the yogî is not Through the practice of pranayama, disturbed by the pairs of opposites like pleasure khecharatva (travel in space), elimination of and pain, heat and cold etc. (Patanjalî Yoga sûtra disease and awakening of kundalinî is achieved. II/48) Bliss manifests in the mind and one becomes Âsanas make one’s body and mind happy. steady, keep one healthy and light (flexible) of (Gheranda Samhita 5/57) the limbs. The practitioner surely destroys all his (Hatha Yoga Pradipika I/17) , whether acquired in this life or in the past Practice of asana alleviates diseases and through regulation of breath. The yogî destroys contributes to sthairya (stability), arogya (health) various virtues and vices accumulated in his past and angapataba (efficient body). life. Pranayama makes the yogi free from sin; (Hatharatnavali 3/5) next destroys the bonds of all his good action.

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The yogî achieves psychic powers and having not overpower him. He is beyond the powers of crossed the ocean of virtue and vice, moves about and yantras. freely through the three worlds. (Hatha Yoga Pradipika IV/108, 109, 111, 113) The yogî acquires the following siddhis 8) Benefits of practice of –1) Bakya (prophecy). 2) Kamachari (Dhyana, Dhâranâ & Samadhi together) on (transporting himself everywhere at will). different objects 3) Dûradristi (). 4) Dûrasriti i) If the yogî practices samyama on the (clairaudience). 5) Shukshmadristi (subtle sight). three parinamas or mutations (, 6) Parakayaprabesana( power of entering laksana, abastha), he acquires the knowledge another’s body). 7) Vinmutralepanesvarna of past, present and future. ii) The yogî who (turning base metals to gold by rubbing them with practices samyama on the differentiation of a his excrements and urine). 8) Adrusyakarana word, its meaning and its knowledge, he acquires (power of becoming invisible). 9) Khecharatva the knowledge of all the living beings. iii) When (moving in the air). (Siva Samhita III/49-52, the yogî observes the samskara he gets the 54) knowledge of past life. iv) If he practices 5) Benefits of practice of Pratyâhâra samyama on the vrttis of his own , he can acquire the knowledge of another person’s citta. By the perfection of pratyâhâra the yogî v) When the yogî practices samyama on the develops supreme control over the indriyas. appearance of his own body, then he obstructs (Patanjalî Yoga sûtra II- 55) its ability to be seen. At this stage he becomes invisible. vi) Like this the yogî can concentrate 6) Benefits of practice of Dhâranâ on his own voice, smell, touchability and taste and The wise yogî who continuously practices stop the reception by another person’s organs. dhâranâ (concentration) never dies through vii) By practicing samyama on the two kinds of hundred cycles of the great Brahmâ. (sopakrama and nirûpakrama) one (Siva Samhita III/65) gets the knowledge of death, it’s time etc. This knowledge can also be gained by practicing 7) Results of Samadhi samyama directed towards omens (aristas). The yogî in samadhi is not swallowed vii) If the yogî practices samyama on maitrî up by the process of time (death). He is not (friendliness), karuna (), influenced by good or bad karma, nor is he (delight) and (indifference), then these affected by anything done against him. He will be strenghtened. viii) If the yogî practices experiences neither smell, taste, form, touch, samyama on bala (strength), he acquires the strength of elephant etc. ix) The knowledge of all sound nor colour. the lokas is acquired if the yogî practices He does not cognize his self (ego) nor samyama on the Sun. x) The knowledge of that of others. He is not affected by heat or cold, structure and arrangement of stars is acquired pain or pleasure, honour or dishonour. He can when the yogî practices samyama on Moon. not be killed by any weapon; all the world can xi) The knowledge of movement of other stars is

38 JULY - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 acquired when the yogî practices samyama on from each other, one becomes master of all actions the Dhruba star. xii) If the yogî practices and knowledge. xiv) By practice of samyama samyama on the navel (manipuracakra), he on single moments and their sequence in time, one acquires the knowledge of structure of the body. gets the distinguishing knowledge. Then he can xiii) If the yogî practices samyama on the throat distinguish between two similar characteristics pit, he is not affected by hunger and thirst. xiv) If objects, their species or location i.. one becomes the yogî practices samyama on the Kurmanadî, capable of distinguishing between and his body becomes steady. xv) If the yogî practices appearance. samyama on the cranial light, he can see the (Patanjalî Yoga sûtra III/ 5, 16-19, 21, 24, siddhas. xv) If the yogî practices samyama on 25, 27-33, 35, 40-42-46, 48-50, 53, 54) the heart, he gets complete knowledge of citta. xvi) When the yogî practices samyama on the 9) Benefits of practice of Satkarma udanavayu, he gets the power to walk on water, (6 Purificatory processes) mud, thorny bush and similar objects and the Satkarma effect purification of the body. power to levitate. xvii) By controlling the These six karmas completely cure obesity, samanavayu, the body becomes effulgent and phlegmatic disorders and remove impurities of a radiant. xviii) By practice of samyama on the physical . (Hatha Yoga Pradipika II-23, relation between ear and space, one gains power 36) to hear divine sounds. xix) By practice of 10) Benefits of practice of Astakarma samyama on the relation between body and (8 Purificatory processes) space, and when there is complete absorption of the weightlessness of cotton, one gets the power 1) Practice of pranayama becomes to move in space with ease. xx) By samyama successful, 2) all the six are properly on the of the Bodiless, the veil that covers purified. 3) all the diseases are removed, the light is removed. xxi) By practice of 4) liberation is achieved, 5) physical wellness is samyama on the gross and subtle forms of the gained. elements and their relative characteristics and their (Hatharatnavali 1/62, 62) objectivity, there arises perfect mastery over the 11) Benefits of practice of Mudra elements. Then comes the power like anima etc and also the perfection of the body which is no Practice of mudras destroys old age and longer subject to the harm created by the death. By practicing mudras, gain eight elements. xxii) By practice of samyama on how siddhis. the senses act, their characteristics and the ego- (Hatha Yoga Pradipika III/7,8) sense and their mutual relationship and their 12) Benefits of practice of Nadanusandhana meaningfulness one gets mastery over the sense organs. Then the yogî can physically move with By constant practice of concentration on the speed of mind, can use the indriyas without nada, all vices are destroyed. The mind and the help of physical body and can conquer the prana verily get absorbed in that pure state or Prakriti. xxiii) By practice of samyama on the caitanya (Niranjana). (Hatha Yoga Pradipika knowledge that Purusa and Prakriti are different IV/105)

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Conclusion 8) Sharma, Srinivasa. Gheranda Samhita, Yogatatvam, Chaukhamba Âsanas, kumbhakas and mudras of Bhawan, , 2006. hatha yoga should be practiced meticulously till 9) Sharma, H. L. Gheranda Samhita, one attains raja yoga. All the hathayoga practices Chaukhamba Orientaliya, Delhi, 110007, India. are meant for attainment of raja yoga (samadhi). 10) Muktibodhananda, Swami. Hatha Yoga Those perfected in raja yoga cheat death. (Hatha Pradipika, Yoga Publication Trust, Munger, Yoga Pradipika I/67, IV/103) Bihar, India, 2005. Bibliography : 11) Vishnudevananda, Swami. Hatha Yoga Pradipika, The Classic Guide for The 1) , Swami Satyananda. Four chapters Advance Practice of Hatha Yoga, Motilal on Freedom, Yoga Publication Trust, Munger, Banarsidass Publishers Private Limited, 41 . Bihar, India, 2006. A. Bangalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi 2) Baba, Bangali. Yoga sûtra of Patanjalî, With 1100007, 2008. the Commentary of , Motilal Banarsidass 12) Gharote, M. L. Devnath, Parimal. Bijay Publishers Private Limited, 41 U. A. Bangalow Kant. Hatharatnavali, A treatise on Hatha Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi 1100007, 2005. Yoga of Srinivasa Yogi, The Lonavala Yoga 3) Nambiar’, K. Yoga Sûtras of Patanjalî, Institute (India), Lonava, 2017. The , Shivanandanagar – 13) Vasu, Rai Bhahadur Srisa Chandra. The Siva 249192, Tehri-Garhwal, U.P., Himalayas, India, Samhita, The Panini Office, Bhubaneswari 1997. Asrama, Bahadurganj, Allahabad, 1914. 4) Vivekananda, Swami. Raja Yoga, Conquering 14) Srikrishnadass, Khemraj. Siva Samhita, Shri The Internal Nature, Advaita Venkateshwar Press, Khemraj Srikrishnadass (Publication Department), 5 Delhi Entally Marg, 7thKhetwadi, Mumbai-400004, 2009. Road, Kolkata, 700014. 5) Prabhavananda, Swami, Isherwood Christopher, Patanjalî Yoga Sûtras, Sri Math, Mylapore, Madras, 600004. 6) , Swami. Demystifying Patanjalî, The Yoga Sûtras, Ananda Publication, B-10/8, DLF City, Phase-1, Gurgaon, Haryana- 122002, Year – 2012. Dr. Saroj Kumar Sahu, Guest Faculty (Dept. of Yoga 7) Saraswati, Swami Niranjanananda. Gheranda and Naturopathy, NOU, Baripada, Gopabandhu Samhita, Yoga Publication Trust, Munger, Mahavidyalaya, Puri & AYUSH Medical Bihar, India, 2012. Officer (National Health Mission)

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