GHERANDA SAMHITA

Shastra of Hatha Yoga

17th century text (first text was first available in 1804)

It is the conversation between Maharishi Gheranda and Raja Chandkapali.

It is a smriti text.

Saptanga Yoga (also known as ‘ghatasth yoga’). Other texts of yoga talks about ‘ashtanga
yoga’. Hatharatnavali talks about ‘chaturanga yoga’. Gauraksh shatak talks about ‘shadanga
yoga’.

नास्ति मायासम: पाशो नास्ति योगात्परं बलम् ।

नास्ति ज्ञानात्परो बन्धुर्नाहङ्कारात्परो रिपु: ।। 4 ।।
भावार्थ :- माया से बड़ा कोई भी दुःख नहीं है, योग से बड़ा कोई भी बल ( ताकत ) नहीं है, ज्ञान से
बड़ा कोई भी मित्र नहीं है और अहंकार से बड़ा कोई भी दुश्मन नहीं है ।

शोधनं दृढता चैव स्थैर्यं धैर्यञ्च लाघवम् ।

प्रत्यक्षञ्च निर्लिप्तञ्च घटस्य सप्तसाधनम् ।। 9 ।।

षट्कर्मणा शोधनञ्च आसनेन भवेद्दृढम् ।

मुद्रया स्थिरता चैव प्रत्याहारेण धीरता ।। 10 ।।
प्राणायामाल्लाघव ञ्चध्यानात् प्रत्यक्षमात्मनि ।
समाधिना च निर्लिप्तं मुक्तिरेवं न संशय: ।। 11 ।।
 Gheranda
Samhita

Conversation between
Rishi Gheranda &
Chandakapali

Ch.2 - Asana (32 Ch.3 - Mudra & Ch.4 - Ch.5 -

Ch.1 - Shatkarma Ch.6 - Dhyana Ch.7 - Samadhi
nos) Bandha Pratyahara Pranayama

Pratyaksham
Shodhnam Dridhata Sthairyam Dhairyam Laghvam Nirliptam (Non-
(Inner
(Purification) (Firmness) (Steadiness) (Patience) (Lightness) involvement)
Perception)
धौतिर्वस्तिस्तथा नेतिर्लौलिकी त्राटकं तथा ।
कपालभातिश्चैतानि षट्कर्माणि समाचरेत् ।। 12 ।।

Ch.1 -
Shatkarma

Dhauti Basti Neti Lauliki (Nauli) Trataka Kapalabhati

Moola
Danta Dhauti (5
Antar Dhauti Hrid Dhauti Shodhana Jala Sutra Madhyama Bahiranga Vatakarma
nos)
(Ganesh Kriya)

Vatsara Dantamoola Danda Sthala Vama Antaranga Vyutkarma

Varisara (Sankh-
Jivha Vaman Dakshina Sheetkarma
prakshalana)

Karnarandhra
Vahnisara
(Left and Right - Vastra (Vasan) Bhramara
(agnisara)
2)

Bahiskrita Kapalrandhra

1. Shatkarm:
a. Dhauti
i. Antar Dhauti
1. Vaatsaar (Cleaning of stomach and intestines using air, exhale
from mouth)
2. Vaarisaar (Also known as Shankhaprakshalana. Cleaning of
entire digestive tract using water)
3. Vahnisara or Agnisaar (cleaning of stomach and internal
organs using ‘jatharagni’).
4. Bahishkrita (similar to Vaarisaar – but air is also used with
water. Cleaning of large and small intestine. Expelling air from
anus.).
ii. Dant Dhauti (5 in nos.)
1. Dantmoola (cleaning of teeth)
2. Jivhashodhana (cleaning of tongue, pulling of tongue)
3. Karna Randhra (cleaning of ears, 2 nos)
4. Kapalarandhra (cleaning of head)
iii. Hrid Dhauti
1. Dand Dhauti (
2. Vaman Dhauti (kunjal kriya)
3. Vastra Dhauti (4 fingers wide, 22.5 ft long cotton thin cloth)
iv. Moola shodhana – cleaning of anus with turmeric root or middle
finger
b. Basti
c. Neti
d. Lauliki
 e. Trataka
f. Kapalabhati

Chapter – 2: Asana (32 Nos.)

Siddham Vira Utkatam Mandukam
Padmam Dhanur Sankatam Garudam
Bhadram Mritam Mayuram Vrishamm
Muktam Guptam Kukkutam Salabham
Vajram Matsyam Kurma Makaram
Swastika Matsendra Uttana Ustramm
Koormakam
Sinham Goraksha Uttana Bhujangam
Mandukam
Gomukha Paschimottana Vriksham Yogasanam
 Ch. 3 - Mudra (25 nos)

Mudras (16 nos) Bandhas (4 nos) Dharna (5 nos)

Maha mudra Parthividharana Mudra

Uddiyana

Nabho Mudra
Aambhsidharana Mudra
Jalandhara

Mahavedh

Aagneyidharana Mudra
Moolbandha
Khechri

Vayviyadharana Mudra
Vipreetkarni Mahabandha

Aakashiyadharana Mudra
Yoni

Vajroli

Shaktochalini

Tadagi

Mandukimudra

Shambhavi

Ashwini

Pashini

Kaki

Matangi

Bhujangini
Chapter – 4 Pratyahara

1. With the Practice of Pratyahara, following Six Enemies (shadripu) are destroyed:

Shad Ripu
(6 Enemies)

Mada
Krodha (Anger/ Moha Maatsarya
Kama (Lust) Lobha (Greed) (Arrogance/
wrath) (Delusion) (Jealousy/ envy)
Ego/ Pride)

Nadi Suddhi
(Prior to
Pranayama)

Samanu Nirmanu

with Beeja Mantra with Dhauti Karma

16:64:32

Ch. 5 - Pranayama

Moorchha
Surya Bheda Sheetali Bhastrika Bhramari
Sahita Ujjayi (Psychic) (Swooning/ Kevali
(Sun Piercing) (Cooling) (Bellows) (Humming Bee)
Pranayama Pranayama Fainting) Pranayama
Pranayama Pranayama Pranayama Pranayama
Pranayama

Sagarbha Nigarbha
Pranayama - With Pranayama
Beeja Mantra A-U-
M
Uttama
(20:80:40)

Madhyama
(16:64:32)

Adhama
(12:48:24)

Pranas/ their Location & Up-pranas/ their Functions:

 Pranas

5 Main Pranas & 5 Up-pranas &

their Locations their Functions

Prana Apana Samana Vyana Udana Naaga Koorma Krikara Devadatta Dhananjaya

Opening of 1 that does not

Heart Anus Naval Entire Body Throat Belching Hunger Yawning leave the body
Eyes
even after
death

sanjeev
 Ch. 6 - Dhyana

Sthoola (Gross) Jyotirdhayana Sookshma (Subtle)

Dhyana (Light) Dhyana

Form in Sahasrara On Kundalini with

Form in Heart On Mooladhara
Chakra Sambhavi Mudra

12 Petal Lotus
within 1000 petal On Bhrumadhya
Lotus-beeja mantra:

Ha

Sa

Ksha

Ma

La

Va

Ra

Yum

Ha

Sa

Kha

Phrem
 Ch. 7 - Samadhi

Dhyana Yoga Nada Yoga Rasananda Laya Siddhi Bhakti Yoga Manomoorchha
Samadhi Samadhi Samadhi Samadhi Samadhi Samadhi

with
with Sambhavi with Bhramari with Khechri
with Yoni Mudra On Ishta Deva Manomoorchha
Mudra Kumbhaka Mudra
Kumbhaka