Books published by Bihar School of Yoga

Hatha Yoga Pradipika is divided into different portions, each of which explain a certain part of Yoga. Hatha Yoga involves the yoga of the body, and yet this book does not restrict itself to the physical aspects of yoga, but delves deeper to how yoga can awaken the chakras and the kundalini energy, helping the person who practices it achieve spiritual liberation. There are different upadesas or chapters to Hatha Yoga Pradipika, out of which the shatkarmas are discussed elaborately in one of them. These are yogic practices which are created to completely purify the body. There are different methods like neti, involving saline water through the nostrils, and the cleaning of sinuses among other things. There are other practices like dhauti and basti, which are described in detail. There are other upadesas that describe tantric practices in yoga, involving various methods which are all designed as enemas to cleanse the body. There are different exercises, for example to improve the frenulum of the tongue and to awaken the kundalini shakti effectively. The final upadesa is about samadhi, which is the final meditative state of yoga where the practitioner is said to become one with the cosmos. It talks of the alchemy of life, and how this state of spiritual enlightenment can be attained through continuous practice. Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a translation of Swami Svatmarama s original text, making it palatable and easier to understand than the original.

The physical act of breathing is said to have a very subtle influence on the level of consciousness, and therefore the effects of Swara Yoga are also very subtle. It aims at directly awakening the highest human potential. In other systems a similar understanding of the swara, the breath is also expressed. For example, in Taoism it states that, "if one meditates upon the breath, the cosmic deities or forces can be seen operating the physical body. By sustaining oneself purely on the breath, rather than on coarse food, one''s entire being will be purified and strengthened. Then the consciousness is able to ascend to the heavens where eternal life is experienced by the body and soul."

His discourses on yoga and its philosophy will help every individual who is looking to tread down the path of enlightenment through meditation and contemplation