KRIYA YOGA ...MAJOR COMPONENTS -PART03

NOTE;-COMPILATION OF SACRED SCRIPTURES & GREAT MASTERS.

KRIYA YOGA : -

The actual practice of first stage of Kriya has the following parts:

1--TALABHYA KRIYAT

2-NABHI KRIYA

3-HONG-SAW TECHNIQUE

4-MANASHIK PRANAYAM

5-KRIYA PRANAYAMA

6-SHAMBHAVI MUDRA

7-YONI MUDRA

8-MAHA MUDRA

Here first of all we should know the location of Chakras....

THE LOCATION OF THE CHAKRAS;-

06 POINTS;-

1-The Chakras are subtle astral (ethereal) organs inside the spinal cord . In Kriya Yoga it is not as much important to visualize a Chakra with petals, with a Bija Mantra in its center, with a Yantra... and with all you can find in New Age books, as to perceive approximately its location.The practice of Kriya Yoga refines this perception.When certain particular conditions are established – mental silence,relaxation, an intense aspiration of the soul – the practice of Kriya Pranayama takes, so to say, the "inward route" and the Spiritual Reality manifests. You will then perceive, in the astral dimension, the reality of the Chakras. You will be able to listen to their astral vibration as well as hues of light pouring forth from their locations. The practice of Kechari Mudra fosters this experience, especially when the "wind"of the breath subside.

2-The nature of each Chakra reveals two aspects, one internal and one external. The internal aspect of a Chakra, its essence, is a vibration of"light" attracting your awareness upward, toward the Spirit. The external aspect of a Chakra, its physical side, is a diffuse "light" enlivening and sustaining the life of the physical body.Now, while climbing the ladder of the spine during Kriya Pranayama, you can conceive the Chakras as tiny "twinkling lights" illuminating a hollow tube which is the spinal cord. Then, when the awareness is brought down, the Chakras are internally perceived as organs

distributing energy (coming from the Infinity above) into the body,enlivening the part of the body which is in front of them.

3-The first Chakra, Muladhara, is at the base of the spinal column just above the coccyx (tailbone) region. The second Chakra, Swadhisthana, is in the sacral region, halfway between Muladhara and Manipura. The third Chakra, Manipura, is in the lumbar region, at the same level as the navel.The fourth Chakra, Anahata, (more simply called heart Chakra) is in the dorsal region; its location can be felt by bringing the shoulder blades closer and concentrating on the tense muscles in the area between them or just below them. The fifth Chakra, Vishuddha, is located where the neck

joins the shoulders. Its location can be detected by swaying the head from side to side, keeping the upper chest immobile, and concentrating on the point where you perceive a "cracking" sound.

The sixth Chakra is called Ajna. Medulla oblongata and Kutastha(the point between the eyebrows) are strictly related to Ajna and can not be considered as separated entities. Medulla is considered the physical counter part of Ajna Chakra.

4-What matters is that by finding stability of concentration in any of the three points, the spiritual eye, a luminous point in the middle of an infinite spherical radiance, appears at the interior vision. This experience is the royal entrance to the spiritual dimension.Sometimes the term Bhrumadhya is utilized at the place of Kutastha.In order to locate medulla, at the top of the spine, raise your chin and tense the muscles of the neck at the base of the occipital bone; then concentrate on the small hollow under that bone. Medulla is just anterior to that hollow.Moving from the seat of medulla toward the point between the eyebrows,it is not difficult to locate the seat of Ajna: swing slowly your head sideways (a few centimeters left and right) having the sensation of something connecting the two temples.

5-The seat of Ajna Chakra is the intersecting point of two lines: the line connecting the seat of medulla with the point between the eyebrows and the line connecting the two temples.

The energy flowing through the tip of the tongue during Kechari Mudra stimulates the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland, or hypophysis,is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea. It forms a protrusion at the bottom of the brain hypothalamus. It is worthwhile to focus on this gland in order to obtain the experience of the spiritual eye.Then emphasizes the role of the pineal gland. This is another small endocrine gland in the brain. It is shaped like a tiny pinecone (symbolically, many spiritual organizations, have used the pine cone as an icon). It is located behind the pituitary gland, at the back of the third ventricle of the brain. Having full experience of the white spiritual Light after long concentration upon the pineal gland it is considered the last action that you do to perfect you meditation before being lost in Samadhi.

6-In the commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Pranabananda Giri there is a hint to two further spiritual centers in the brain: Roudri and Bama. Roudri is located on the left side of the brain above the left ear,while Bama is located on the right side of the brain above the right ear. We shall have the opportunity to utilize them during the practice of those Higher Kriyas that happen in the upper part of the brain.Bindu is located in the occipital region and is not considered a Chakra in itself. However it is a very important spiritual center because it works as a door leading the awareness to Sahasrara – the seventh Chakra located at the top of the head. Bindu is located where the hairline twists in a kind of vortex (This is the Sikha point where the Hindus leave a lock of hair after having shaved their head.)In order to become aware of Sahasrara some schools counsel to focus on Fontanelle [the anterior fontanelle more properly called''Bregma/ब्रैग्मा-शीर्षस्थान''.]The eighth Chakra is the highest center we are going to consider. It is located at about 30 centimeters above Fontanelle.

POSITION FOR MEDITATION;-

04 FACTS;-

1-'Half-lotus' ;-

One should sit facing east. According to Patanjali, the yogi's posture(Asana) must be steady and pleasant.Most kriyabans are relaxed in 'Half-lotus' sitting position, which has been used since time immemorial for meditation, because it’s comfortable and easily managed. The key is to maintain an erect spine by sitting on theedge of a thick cushion so the buttocks are slightly raised. Sit cross-legged with the knees resting on the floor. Bring the left foot toward the body so its sole is resting against the inside of the right thigh. Draw the heel of the left foot in toward the groin as much as possible. The right leg is bent at the knee and the right foot is comfortably placed over the left thigh or calf or both. Let the right knee drop as far as possible toward the floor. The shoulders are in a natural position. The head, neck, chest, and spine are in a straight line as if they were linked. When the legs get tired, reverse them to prolong the position.

2- Fingers interlocked-The best hand position;-

The best hand position is with fingers interlocked as in the well-known photo of Lahiri Mahasaya. This balances the energy from the right hand to the left and vice versa. The hand position for

meditation and for Pranayama is the same because you move fromPranayama to meditation without interruption. Usually you don't even realize it. For certain health or physical conditions, it may be beneficial to practice the half lotus on an armless chair provided it is large enough. In

this way, one leg at a time can be lowered and the knee joint relaxed!

3-Siddhasana: (Perfect Pose) is of medium difficulty.;-

The sole of the left foot is placed against the right thigh while the heel presses on theperineum. The right heel is against the pubic bone. This leg position combined with Kechari Mudra closes the pranic circuit and makes Kriya Pranayama easy and beneficial. It is said the position helps one to become aware of the movement of Prana.

4-Padmasana: (lotus position) a difficult, uncomfortable position; -

the right foot is placed on the left thigh and the left foot on the right thigh with the soles of the feet turned up. It is explained that when this Asana is combined with Kechari and Shambhavi Mudra, it results in an energetic condition that produces the experience of the internal light coming from each Chakra. It helps keep the body from bending or falling over as it tends to do when deep Pratyahara is practiced. Padmasana is uncomfortable for a beginner because the knees and the ankles become extremely painful. It is not advised anyone to perform this difficult posture; some yogis have had to have knee cartilage removed after years of forcing themselves into the Padmasana.

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1-TALABHYA KRIYA ;-

03 POINTS;-

In Hatha Yoga books there are different suggestions for lengthening the frenulum.Talabya Kriya and Kechari Mudra are completely different! Open your mouth in front of a mirror during the first part of Talabya Kriya to see the hollow parts on each side of the frenulum which appear isolated from the body of the tongue. during Kechari Mudra, it is the uvula that comes forward and only the root of the tongue is visible!The below 3 exercises are termed as Talabhya Kriya. Thereafter for all the following practices, the tongue is kept in ‘roll back’ position in the mouth.

1-Talabya Kriya Start with the tongue in a relaxed position with the tip lightly touching the back of the upper teeth. Press the body of the tongue against the upper palate to create a suction cup effect. It is important to have the tongue tip touching the back of the upper teeth before pressing its body against the upper palate. While pressing the tongue against the upper palate (roof of the mouth), drop/lower the bottom jaw until you clearly feel the stretch in the lingual frenulum (the small fold of tissue under the tongue that attaches it to the base of the mouth.) A sound like a ‘frog jumping into water’ will be made in this process. Stretching of ferarum, this way is done 50 times with the accompanying sound.At the beginning, do not exceed 10 repetitions a day to avoid straining the frenulum.

2-Make snake like movement of the tongue.Get up down movement of the sides of tongue.This way is done 50 times.

3-After some months of practicing Talabya Kriya regularly, it should be possible to insert the tongue into the nasal pharynx cavity . Even after mastering Kechari Mudra, Talabya Kriya should continue to be practiced because it creates a perceivable relaxing effect on the thinking process. It is not known why stretching the frenulum reduces thought production.. 2-NABHI KRIYA;-

03 POINTS;-

1-The Nabhi Kriya is a “baby-Kriya”, without being Kriya proper, it gives the devotee a taste of the flow of energy in the highway to the Infinite, as Master called the spine. The Nabhi Kriya has to do with stimulating the flow of energy in the spine. This works by working directly on the directly on the Manipur chakra, and that is why its called the Nabhi Kriya. The word “nabhi”, in Sanskrit, means the bellybutton, and this is approximately the position of the Manipur chakra in the human body. This is a technique to stimulate the Manipur chakra, in order to stimulate the flow of energy up in the spine.

2-Navi Kriya Using Om Japa and without attempting to control the breath, one's awareness slowly moves up along the spinal column. The Mantra Om is placed in the first five Chakras, in the Bindu, and in the point between the eyebrows. The chin is then tilted down toward the throat cavity. The hands are joined with the fingers interlocked, palms face downward, and the pads of both thumbs are touching. Om is chanted from 75 to 100 times in the navel (umbilicus) either aloud or mentally. The thumbs lightly press the navel for each Om.By no means should the breath be synchronized with the chanting of Om. The chin's normal position is then resumed and Om is mentally chanted in reverse order from the point between the eyebrows to Muladhara. This is one Navi Kriya (it lasts between 140-160 seconds). A kriyaban does 4 repetitions of Navi Kriya.While doing this, a calm energy [it is called Samana] expands from the lower-middle part of the abdomen.

3-The concentration shifts first to the Bindu and then to the third Chakra (moving downward in a straight line, outside the body). The hands are kept behind the back and joined by interlocking the fingers and the palms face upward with the pads of both thumbs touching. Om is chanted – aloud or mentally – approximately 25 times in the third Chakra.with the tongue rolled back, mouth closed, press the chin against the chest keeping the attention on the naval and mentally chanting and counting ‘OM’ is this fashion. The practice said above are to be done in this sequence without omitting anyone, two times daily, morning and night.

3-HONG-SAW TECHNIQUE:-

This is simple a technique of observing the breath. The incoming and outgoing breath is closely observed throughout the period of inhalation and exhalation. No attempt is made to alter the rate of breathing. The natural rhythm is kept and the breath is seemed to slow by itself. The word Hong is synchronized with incoming breath and word Saw is synchronized with outgoing breath. One should not miss a single breath and synchronizing should be uniformed thought the length of the breath with the corresponding sounds of Hong and saw. You should do this any amount of time.

This Hong – Saw Technique should be Practiced regularly, try to get one separate place and try to practice there only this will help to focus more and results would be fast.

4-MANASHIK PRANAYAM;-

03 POINTS;-

1-This is a technique of visualization. One should visualize the ascending and descending Breath, through the spinal cord from the point of coccyx bone to the medulla point. The medulla point is located at the back of the head exactly opposite to the mid point of the eyebrows while the coccyx point is located where the spinal cord ends. The whole attention is kept on this back point. The mind is directed to ascend upward slowly and to descend downward slowly.There are six spinal centers (Chakras) known as:

1-1-Muladhar corresponding to coccyx (First Chakra)

1-2-Swadhisthan corresponding to the sacral (Second Chakra)

1-3-Manipura corresponding to the point on the spinal cord opposite to the naval (Third Chakra)

1-4-Anhata: this corresponds to the point of the spinal cord just behind the heart or in between the shoulder blades. (Fourth Chakra)

1-5-Visudha: This corresponds to C-7 of the vertebrate. (Fifth Chakra)

1-6-Medulla point: This corresponds to the occipital lobe just behind the point corresponding to the point between the eyebrows, which is called Agana Chakra. (Sixth Chakra).

2-These are the six points which vortex of energy where mind is guided to travel up and down the spine. As the mind crosses one of the centers “OM” is mentally chanted. Thus while ascending the spine “OM” is chanted mentally six times once at each chakra or center and similarly on the downward movement of the mind.This is called mentally Pranayam. The ascent and descent can be as slow as 5 to 10 seconds can or slower sill up to 22 seconds for ascent and another 22 second for the descent. This practice can be done in number of times.

3-KEEPING THE POINT IN BETWEEN EYEBROWS;-

Without focusing, the eyes anywhere gently place the attention at the mid-point of the eyebrows in the forehead. This is not a concentration but mind is given a seat and one should be aware whether the mind anchored there or not without drying to force. If it waves gently, bring it back to the point.This practice can also be done in any number of times.The above through practices are called auxiliary kriya. They are done to enable the devote to practice the actual Kriya Yoga, which follows in a better way. The devotee equips himself by the above practice so as too proficient in Kriya practice, which are to be described now.

5-PRANYAM (Kriya);-

...NEXT..

....SHIVOHAM....