Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Swami Swatmarama

      1 Salutation to Âdinātha (Siva) who expounded the knowledge of Hatha Yoga, which like a staircase leads the aspirant to the high pinnacled Rāja Yoga.

      2 Yogin Swātmārāma, after saluting her Gurû Srinātha explains Hatha Yoga for the attainment of Rāja Yoga.

      3 Owing to the darkness arising from the multiplicity of opinions people are unable to know the Rāja Yoga. Compassionate Swātmārāma composes the Hatha Yoga Pradipikā like a torch to dispel it.

      4 Matsyendra, Goraksa, etc., knew Hatha Vidyā, and by their favor Yogi Swātmārāma also learnt it from them.

      5 The following Siddhas (masters) are said to have existed in former times:- Sri Adinātha (Siva), Matsyendra, Nātha, Sābar, Anand, Bhairava, Chaurangi, Mina Nātha, Goraksanātha, Virupāksa, Bilesaya.

      6 Manthāna, Bhairava, Siddhi Buddha, Kanthadi, Karantaka, Surānanda, Siddhipāda, Charapati.

      7 Kāneri, Pujyapāda, Nityanātha, Niranjana, Kapāli, Vindunātha, Kāka Chandiswara.

      8 Allāma, Prabhudeva, Ghodā, Choli, Tintini, Bhānuki, Nardevā, Khanda Kāpālika, etc.

      9 These Mahāsiddhas (great masters), breaking the sceptre of death, are roaming in the universe.

      10 Like a house protecting one from the heat of the sun, Hatha Yoga protects its practisers from the burning heat of the three Tāpas; and, similarly, it is the supporting tortoise, as it were, for those who are constantly devoted to the practice of Yoga.

      11 A yogi or yogini desirous of success should keep the knowledge of Hatha Yoga secret; for it becomes potent by concealing, and impotent by exposing.

      12 The Yogi or Yogini should practice Hatha Yoga in a small room, situated in a solitary place, being 4 cubits square, and free from stones, fire, water, disturbances of all kinds, and in a country where justice is properly administered, where good people live, and food can be obtained easily and plentifully.

      13 The room should have a small door, be free from holes, hollows, neither too high nor too low, well plastered with cow-dung and free from dirt, filth and insects. On its outside there should be bowers, raised platform (chabootrā), a well, and a compound. These characteristics of a room for Hatha Yogis and Hatha Yoginis have been described by adepts in the practice of Hatha.

      14 Having seated in such a room and free from all anxieties, one should practice Yoga, as instructed by his or her gurû .

      15 Yoga is destroyed by the following six causes:-- Over-eating, exertion, talkativeness, adhering to rules, i.e., cold bath in the morning, eating at night, or eating fruits only, company of men, and unsteadiness.

      16 The following six bring speedy success:-- Courage, daring, perseverance, discriminative knowledge, faith, aloofness from company.

      17 The ten rules of conduct are: ahimsâ (non-injuring), truth, non-stealing, continence, forgiveness, endurance, compassion, meekness, sparing diet, and cleanliness.

      18 The ten niyamas mentioned by those proficient in the knowledge of Yoga are: Tapa, patience, belief in God, charity, adoration of God, hearing discourses on the principles of religion, shame, intellect, Tapa and Yajna.

      1 Being the first accessory of Hatha Yoga, āsana is described first. It should be practiced for gaining steady posture, health and lightness of body.

      2 I am going to describe certain âsanas which have been adopted by Munis like Vasistha, etc., and Yogis and Yoginis like Matsyendra, etc.

      1 Having kept both the hands under both the thighs, with the body straight, when one sits calmly in this posture, it is called Swastika.

      1 Placing the right ankle on the left side and the left ankle on the right side, makes Gomukha-āsana, having the appearance of a cow.

      1 One foot is to be placed on the thigh of the opposite side; and so also the other foot on the opposite thigh. This is called Virâsana.

      1 Placing the right ankle on the left side of the anus, and the left ankle on the right side of it, makes what the Yogis and Yoginis call Kurma-âsana.

      1 Taking the posture of Padmâ-âsana and carrying the hands under the thighs, when the Yogi or Yogini raises himself or herself above the ground, with his or her palms resting on the ground, it becomes Kukkuta-âsana.

      1 Having assumed the Kukkuta-āsana, when one grasps his or her neck by crossing his or her hands behind his or her head, and lies in this posture with his or her back touching the ground, it becomes Uttāna Kurma-āsana, from its appearance like that of a tortoise

      1 Having caught the toes of the foot with both hands and carried them to the ears by drawing the body like a bow, it becomes Dhanura âsana.

      1 Having placed with the right foot at the root of the left thigh, let the toe be grasped with the right hand passing over the back, and having placed the left foot on the