Classical Hatha Yoga - Hardcover

Swami Rajarshi Muni

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 8188243019 ISBN 13: 9788188243013

Publisher: Life Mission Publications, 2007

Synopsis

This is certainly one book on Yoga the serious practitioner or teacher of Yoga should be in possession of. It is perhaps the most comprehensive book ever written on the subject of Yoga and it is written by an extremely highly advanced Yogi whose personal practice is authenticated by the scriptures and all known classics. The annals of spiritual literature will long remain embellished by this truly extraordinary work. For clarity of presentation the book is presented in two parts. The first part consists of fourteen chapters. It is concerned with the constituents, theory and techniques of classical Hatha Yoga. The coverage proceeds systematically through the eight limbs of Ashtang Yoga through its well known three stages. The first stage is Yam and Niyam (rules of moral codes of conduct and rules of self discipline). Next are the three constituents of Hatha Yoga, namely: Asan (postures); Pranayam (breath Control); and Pratyahar (withdrawal of the mind from the senses). Then the third stage, the three constituents of Raja Yoga: Dharana (the practice of mental focusing); Dyan (the practice of meditation); and Samadhi (the state of superconsciousness). The sequential order thus proceeds from asan , shatkriyas and bandhs to pranayam, kundalini, mudra and pratyahar and finally to dharana, dhyan and samadhi. Three chapters are devoted to pranayam and nadi shuddi, four to the very little known and esoteric areas of yoga practice, the mudras . There is an illuminating chapter on the kundalini. The second part of the book is exclusively devoted to asans or yogic postures. It consists of profusely illustrated text arranged in a standardized format laying out the techniques of execution of some 550 yoga postures, the individual postures grouped into 76 groups. 777 color photo illustrations support the textual instructions. Every posture is dealt with in a detailed, step by step technique, in each case accompanied by the appropriate regimen for breathing. Advice is given in each group as to the postures to be practiced at three levels, beginners, intermediate and advanced. The physical therapeutic and subtle benefits of each group are given. Anything of particular note in relation to any given asan is also recorded. The fact that is never lost sight of is that at the heart of it, yoga is a spiritual discipline and practice has to do more with the spiritual towards which the body and mind are but essential stepping stones. Throughout, the work is firmly anchored in its spiritual moorings and the practitioner is constantly kept aware of the nature and ultimate goal of his or her practice and of its fruits. All in all, this is the most exhaustive book ever on this subject. Its range and span are unprecedented. It covers the full gamut of yoga as delineated by the ancient texts. Perhaps no work of any known time represents over 500 yoga postures. These are only a selection from the prolific plentitude of postures that have manifested spontaneously in the course of the author s yoga sadhana and represent a lofty spiritual achievement. None but a truly accomplished practitioner knows this uncharted territory. The mudra is a product of spontaneous yoga and is seldom ever mentioned let alone taught, and some among these are the pinnacles of yoga practice. The reader will find here what has never before been revealed by a realized master in such depth and detail the secrets of the kundalini and the great liberating mudras. His revelations of the khechari mudra must rank as unprecedented and unique. All that the world has known about it can only be read in the Scriptures and ancient yoga texts. But this author has attained the khechari mudra. This book is an absolute must read for anyone seriously interested in yoga.

About this title

About the Author:

Swami Rajarshi Muni was born in 1931 in the lineage of the Jadeja rulers of the former State of Kutchh in Gujarat, India. He briefly served in several Governmental roles before he renounced the world and received sannyas from his guru, Swami Kripalvanda. He has pursued the study and practice of Yoga since early youth, and has been engaged almost exclusively in secluded Yoga sadhana for at least ten hours a day since he received sannyas initiation in 1971. For many years Muniji has undertaken intense research in the Vedic Scriptures and the associated literature of ancient times. He is a Sanskrit scholar and a profound philosopher who has written many books, most of which are published in Gujarati, his native language. Until recently only a few of these works have been translated into English. Thus relatively few readers in the western world have had the opportunity to engage his extraordinary mind and appreciate the depth of his philosophical insight. More importantly, Muniji is a highly advanced yogi who for the past thirty-five years has successfully engaged in the most intense and demanding sadhana (spiritual practice). In this way, his vast practical experience in the pursuit of Divine Yoga matches his grasp of the fundamentals of the philosophy and science of Yoga. In 1993 he emerged from secluded sadhana in response to a spiritual calling to undertake certain works for the advancement of the public good. At this time he set out to propagate the moral, ethical and spiritual values of the sanatan dharma as well as the knowledge of true Yoga. These goals are central to the mission of the Lakulish spiritual lineage, of which he is currently the spiritual head. His efforts to accomplish these goals have led to the establishment of the Life Mission, a world-wide organization that serves as a vehicle to spread the knowledge and practice of both Yoga and the sanatan dharma. He has also created a major new pilgrimage center in western India. Finally, he has increased the vast library of his published works to nearly 100 titles in four different languages, including ten books in English. These unique works on Yoga and the spiritual and cultural heritage of India are unlike anything that has been seen in the modern world in that they are both supremely profound and eminently practical. His work in the world duly completed, he reverted to secluded sadhana once again in February 2007. Swami Rajarshi Muni is an advanced yogi, a realized Master in the classic mould of Indian adepts: a knower of the Kundalini and master of khechari mudra. He is a gift to the world from the eternal culture that since ancient times has shared the gentle light of Brahmavidya, the knowledge of God.

Review:

Classical Hatha Yoga A WONDERFUL RESOURCE for the sincere yoga practitioner January 26, 2008 By J Cb John (UK)   This book is very nicely produced .... Gets two thumbs up, being well worth the asking price. I am most impressed by this book. .... the section discussing the 'Khechari Mudra', is downright ASTONISHING. NEVER before have I encountered a text that is so incredibly incisive and authoritative about this practice .... the anatomical details provided in this discussion, in specific relation to this yogic practice, have NEVER been put into generally-available print, at ANY point in time. EVER.   Swami Rajarshi Muni cuts through the nonsense and provides exact details of the structures involved and the means by which they are engaged during the mudra .... the comparison between 'spontaneous' and 'artificial' means of approaching Khechari Mudra is thoroughly illuminating and the precise anatomical explanation has FINALLY enabled me to understand how amrit (nectar) from the pituitary gland can flow as a consequence of influence by the tongue. .... now that I know it can occur spontaneously, this raises PROFOUND philosophical questions. Personally, I am now acutely conscious of Swami Rajarshi's firm assertion that khechari mudra can (and, he claims, should) occur spontaneously. I say acutely conscious because now that I know it can occur spontaneously, this raises PROFOUND philosophical questions. If one considers the negative side effects as justification for arguing that khechari mudra must be unnatural and, in effect, a perversion of normal human anatomical processes, then WHY can it occur spontaneously? Furthermore, if you read the truly mind-blowing explanation of the neuro-anatomical basis for the flow of amrit, you will find it is so utterly astonishing that it seems, to me at least, that there was DEFINITELY some kind of deliberate implementation of this potential in the design of human anatomy, by whatever intelligent power lies behind the existence of the world as we know it. The implications of khechari mudra, from a physiological and neuro-anatomical standpoint, are just too far-reaching and profound for the spontaneity and complexity of the process to be a simple coincidence.   I feel that Swami Rajarshi's discussion of khechari mudra alone - these few pages - justify the purchase price of the book, in themselves - they have potentially averted me from decades of misapprehension regarding khechari mudra - what price can one put on that? (The book) it is extremely well laid out and offers the reader rare clarity on the complexities of hatha yoga. I have read yoga books by many authors .... but the manner in which Swami Rajarshi Muni has written this book - SO frankly, SO lucidly, SO powerfully and authentically...just leaves me daydreaming, wishing the impossible - that, in this lifetime, I could, through some divine intervention, somehow come to be a disciple of his. It's in the top 5% of the books I've encountered on the subject. --amazon.com January 26, 2008 By J Cb John (UK)

First of all, there is already a HUGE review for this book & I agree with all of that. But here's where I add my opinion: This is a no-nonsense book written almost like a text / reference book. So if you are looking for a easy reading book, this is not it. On the other hand, if you are looking for a book that guides you as a serious Yoga student, then you are on right track. Go ahead and get it - You won't find another book like this. The book is divided into many sections and the Asanas are grouped into various stages. This is done to allow each student to master each individual group separately and then progress to the next level. The yoga institute (in India) that he (the author) has reshaped follows the same approach. They teach you a set of asanas and theory behind those asana and let you master those. Once you pass the test on the asanas, you are allowed to go to the next level. This book follows similar structure however, it does not talk about mastering each stage before moving onto the next one. Along with each asana, the book describes the benefits of each asana as well as pitfalls. (Note that the Lotus position, very well known for meditation, should not be practiced for a long time without a guru's guidance. i.e. Don't use it for meditation if your sessions are beyond 5-minute range.) The preliminary chapters talk about the 8 parts of yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) and what is necessary to get one out of the Maya of this world, out of the business of building bad karma. The author states that this is important for one's progress through yoga. One of the important aspects that Swami Rajarshi Muni has stressed on is Mitahar - or eat sufficient and only as much as is needed for the body - no more. All the talk about Khechari Mudra with that Huge Review is well described in the book. The Khechari Mudra is the ultimate mudra for a Yogi through which the Divine Body can be achieved. The author's other book: Divine body through Yoga, talks about what the Divine body is and reasons why it must be possible. It is the ultimate goal for a Yogi. The author is the first one to talk about Divine Body with the intent of making it known to everyone outside of India and outside of those few reading sanskrit scriptures. It is another companion book you want to read to understand the Divine Body and why it should be an ultimate goal. Another book also from the same author is Infinite Grace, a must read if you want to know the path the author's Guru took and how the guru initiates Swami Rajarshi Muni into the next stage of yoga. This book would tell you what it takes to be a disciple in this lineage and what it means to be one. --Classical Hatha Yoga G. Man Yogi, Amazon.com, October 20, 2008.

About this edition

• Publisher: Life Mission Publications
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 8188243019
• ISBN 13: 9788188243013
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 587