Nada Yoga - All Yoga - tribe.net
The Yoga that ensues from intently listening to the internal sound of Anahata Nada is called Nada Yoga. This Anahata sound is infinite and ageless. It began with the expression of the physical universe from one, absolute, indivisible formless God. When this world came into being, so did Nada. Om is the initial nada. The highest Yogis say that its the first vibration of creation.
The Holy Bible says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" ~ John 1/1 This word or sound is Nada.
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: Samadhi Pada, 26 :
Sa Purbesham api Guru Kalen anavachhedath.
- God is the Guru of all ancient Gurus. He is unpurturbed by the passage of time.
27: Tasya Vachaka Pranava.
- Pranava or Om is his name. This ancient vibration is his symbol.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika : Indrianam mano natho... ... nadam ashritah.
-Mind is the master of the sense organs, Prana is the master of the mind. Prana or maruta or the vital breath can be mastered by Laya Yoga. Sa Layo Nadam ashritah. This absorption can be attained with the help of Nada.
The whole external world is the creation of Nada. Nada is of 4 kinds. Vaikhari (words we speak), Madhyama (Mental thoughts), Pashyanti (subtle intuitive vibrations) and Para Nada (Divine word).
Nada Yoga: When the ears are closed and the yogi is constantly engaged in Bhramari Mudra, a moment comes when he can hear the internal sweet sound that never stops. We have always heard it! We are only not conscious of it, being overwhelmed by external noises of the world. This first sound is like the call of crickets in the evening. Actually its the vibration of Prana. Its like a thread that has to be grasped and followed. It will lead to other deeper sounds and ultimately the "cave" inside the heart chakra.
This world is composed of noisy vibrations of all kinds. The Nada ensnares the mind and leads it into very deep meditative states into quieter and quieter vibrations... into Samadhi.
Yogataravali : Srinoti sabdatitam nadam muktir na samsaya. - ~ By listening to this Anahata vibration beyond the realm of sounds, one surely attains enlightenment.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Aghori Sadhus of Antiquity
Aghori Sadhus are very rarely to be found. There are only about a handful of 1500 in the total 1.2 Billion population of India. Most hindus are afraid of Aghoris. These Aghoris are not actually violent but are known to consume corpses of humans or dogs, etc. when they can find it. They dont hurt or kill anyone. By inspiring fear in the minds of worldly men, they keep them at bay and do austerities in secret and indeed for a good reason. An Aghori tries to destroy all fear, hatred, fondness, greed, anger present inside the mind.
In Aghora, the adepts attain mastery over the components of the universe; the 5 mahabhutas ie., earth, water, fire, air and Akasha. They also understand the vital force Prana from inside out and energies that are even more subtle. They become the students of Mahashakti (Mother Nature) and play with the universal laws like a small child plays with toys! They transmute elements as if its a funny game. Ordinary men cannot understand their ways and are afraid and disgusted by them. The Aghoris are shy and keep away from the world of men. They stay in remote mountain caves, dense tiger infested forests, Cremation grounds and desolate river banks. Verily they are a cult steeped in mystery. Very few sadhus dare to tread this path, for its a closed tradition and they guard their secrets well. Very few people of this world have met adept Aghori Yogis. So little of them is known except their strange power and horrendous lifestyle.
Yogiraj Gambhir Nath is a legend from the nineteenth century. He was the most powerful yogi during his lifetime. According to Sant Vijayakrishna Goswami, Gambhirnathji could create and destroy this universe in the blink of an eye. Numerous miracles are known to be performed by him, including giving life to a dead devotee. He was the embodiment of kindness and devotion to God. He didnt wear silken clothes because numerous silkworms are boiled to death during it's manufacture. And he lived the life of a pauper even though he was the President of the gigantic Natha tradition. He was devoid of arrogance and pride. What very few people know is that, in his youth, Gambhirnath had been an Aghori.
When Yogiraj Visuddhananda was a little boy, he was taken to Gyangunj for initiation. After initiation from Maha_Rishi Mahatapa, he was taken to the place where Yogi Gambhirnath had set his Asana (seat) for blessing. Gambhirnath spoke very little. He awoke form samadhi, opened his merciful eyes, looked once at the boy and said, "OK, good." And instantly entered samadhi again. [taken from the record of Swami Visuddhananda]
Visuddhananda Paramhamsa became a legend in the field of Surya Science. He could transmute elements and create anything, even a living being by the power of his Yoga and solar science. He was not an Aghori but a Tantrik Yogi of the first order. He was very kind and wise and could openly perform unthinkable miracles. Once he opened his navel and displayed the Manipur Lotus to his devotees and students. His accounts can be found in Visuddhananda Prasanga and Yogirajadhiraj. He became a Paramhamsa yogi, as great as the legendary Rishis of yore. He was a rare adept in many fields simultaneously; his prowess is unequalled in Yoga, Tantra, Solar Science and Mantra Science. He walked with equal ease in both Hatha and Raja Yoga. He was the spiritual brother ( Gurubhai ) of Kutupananda or, Rishi Kauthumi ( Kooti Hoomi ), the Guru of Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Henry Olcott. [Rishi Kutupananda has mentioned students of foreign origin in a letter to Yogi Vishuddhananda. ]
When Sant Bijoykrishna Goswami ( Vijayakrishna Goswami ) was searching for a true Guru (yoga master), he met Yogi Gambhirnath in a mountain cave. A young chela (student) Aghori sadhu, who looked very fierce in appearence was guarding the cave. [Taken from the Diary of Kuladananda Brahmachari 1900AD] His job was to ward off inquisitive worldly people who disturbed the adept's austerities. The chela threw pebbles at Vijaykrishna and his friend, but never actually hitting them and shouted ferociously. The friend ran away to save himself, but Vijayakrishna advanced. Finding the latter to be fearless and stubborn, the chela was very pleased. He offered Vijaya some prasadam(holy food offered to God) which to Vijaya's utter shock was a half burnt human palm! Vijaya declined and was taken inside the cave. Inside he saw a one of a kind sight.
On four sides sat 4 adepts in their respective asanas. They had their own dhoonis (holy fire) and were incessantly engaged in sadhana. All of them were from a different religious tradition and have become one in adepthood. They have lost all personal weakness and pride and were just children of One Single God. One of these adepts were Yogiraj Gambhirnath, another was a Ramaeth Vaishnava Sant, another a Nanakshahi Sikh Mahatma and the fourth was a Sufi Muslim Sage. Its so strange to see that the Mahatmas have reconciled their difference of paths and were worshipping God togather. Gambhirnathji told young Vijaya that he was not his Guru, for such is the will of God. But he taught Vijaya Ajapa pranayama; Vijayakrishna Goswami was taught the same pranayama years later by his Guru and he understood the importance of it 20 years after meeting Gambhirnath. Bijoykrishna Goswami became a famous adept of the Vaishnava Tradition. He was like a Rishi, he spent almost 16 hours in samadhi. It is said that after he was posioned to death, he reentered his own corpse and maintained his life for a few more weeks to end his earthly Karma. He was not an Aghori, by the way.
Aghori is a branch of the Nath Yoga cult. Yogiraj Guru Gorakh Nath arranged the yogis into 12 orders. They are: Kanphat, Aoghar, Machendra, Bhartrihari, Sarangi, Durihar, Kanipa (Kanifnath), Rampanthi, Siddhi-Kerani, Aghori, Yogini and Sanyogi. There is a 13th muslim branch called Ardhyogi.Main pilgrimages of the Nath tradition are: Gorakhpur, Kajli, Peshawar (Pakistan), Dwarka, Haridwar, Pasupatinath (Nepal), Damdama (Kolkata) Mahanaad Jateshwar Temple (Hoogli), Kapildhara (Gaya), Nath Tilla, Mount Ar (Gujarat).
There is a misconception that the legendary sage Trailinga swami of Varanasi was an Aghori. Tailanga Swami was not an Aghori. His real name was Hitlal Mishra, he was the disciple of Swami Bhagirath Saraswati. His monkhood name was Swami Ganapati Saraswati. Had he been an Aghori, he would have been in the Nath Order. He was a fully realised Shaiva Yogi. (a devotee of Shiva) He was well versed in the scriptures and was an adept Hathayogi, Rajayogi and Rasayanik (alchemist). He could transmute matter from one form to another. He once lifted a 1 ton Shiva Lingam from the Ganges and planted (put Life force inside it) in his single room Ashram in Kashi. He was a very huge man and was often seen floating in padmasana, completely nude in the Ganges. When he was doing austerities in the bank of river Narmada and wanted to drink it's water, the whole river turned to milk. Khaki Baba, another yogi witnessed this miracle. Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Yogiraj ShyamaCharan Lahiri, Bama Khepa, Yogiraj Lokenath Brahmachari & Bijoykrishna Goswami met him in his 250 years lifetime. All these facts can be proved from the records of the aforesaid holymen.
Being a devotee of Shiva is different from being an Aghori. There are innumerable subclasses among Shiva worshippers. They are broadly divided into the Right Path ( Dakshina Achara ) and the Left Path ( Vama Achara ). Along the Right path, walk the the Rudradhyai Vedic, Swetashwetara Upanishad Rishis, Patanjal, Raja Yogi, Hatha Yogi and common devotees. The Left path is reserved by the terrible Aghori, Kapalik, Tantrik sadhus. The attitude, sense of sanctity, austerities, mantras and behaviors are radically different between the Right and the Left.
When I was a boy, I met a remarkable sadhu in Rajgir, Bihar, near the hotspring. He was almost 7 feet in height and very strongly built. He looked amazingly nimble for a 50 year old. He was wearing a garland of Rudraksha beads alternating with bones from the human vertibral column; he was unclad except for a small cloth around his loins. He had grey hair cut short on his head. I looked at him in awe ( because he radiated a magnetic personality ) and asked what kind of a sadhu he was. He looked at me kindly and said, "Mai AghorNath hoon, beta." (I am an Aghor Nath, my son.) and walked away. Only after I heard the word "Aghori" and saw the bones, that I felt a little nervous; otherwise he was quite kind and gentle in his manners.
In Aghora, the adepts attain mastery over the components of the universe; the 5 mahabhutas ie., earth, water, fire, air and Akasha. They also understand the vital force Prana from inside out and energies that are even more subtle. They become the students of Mahashakti (Mother Nature) and play with the universal laws like a small child plays with toys! They transmute elements as if its a funny game. Ordinary men cannot understand their ways and are afraid and disgusted by them. The Aghoris are shy and keep away from the world of men. They stay in remote mountain caves, dense tiger infested forests, Cremation grounds and desolate river banks. Verily they are a cult steeped in mystery. Very few sadhus dare to tread this path, for its a closed tradition and they guard their secrets well. Very few people of this world have met adept Aghori Yogis. So little of them is known except their strange power and horrendous lifestyle.
Yogiraj Gambhir Nath is a legend from the nineteenth century. He was the most powerful yogi during his lifetime. According to Sant Vijayakrishna Goswami, Gambhirnathji could create and destroy this universe in the blink of an eye. Numerous miracles are known to be performed by him, including giving life to a dead devotee. He was the embodiment of kindness and devotion to God. He didnt wear silken clothes because numerous silkworms are boiled to death during it's manufacture. And he lived the life of a pauper even though he was the President of the gigantic Natha tradition. He was devoid of arrogance and pride. What very few people know is that, in his youth, Gambhirnath had been an Aghori.
When Yogiraj Visuddhananda was a little boy, he was taken to Gyangunj for initiation. After initiation from Maha_Rishi Mahatapa, he was taken to the place where Yogi Gambhirnath had set his Asana (seat) for blessing. Gambhirnath spoke very little. He awoke form samadhi, opened his merciful eyes, looked once at the boy and said, "OK, good." And instantly entered samadhi again. [taken from the record of Swami Visuddhananda]
Visuddhananda Paramhamsa became a legend in the field of Surya Science. He could transmute elements and create anything, even a living being by the power of his Yoga and solar science. He was not an Aghori but a Tantrik Yogi of the first order. He was very kind and wise and could openly perform unthinkable miracles. Once he opened his navel and displayed the Manipur Lotus to his devotees and students. His accounts can be found in Visuddhananda Prasanga and Yogirajadhiraj. He became a Paramhamsa yogi, as great as the legendary Rishis of yore. He was a rare adept in many fields simultaneously; his prowess is unequalled in Yoga, Tantra, Solar Science and Mantra Science. He walked with equal ease in both Hatha and Raja Yoga. He was the spiritual brother ( Gurubhai ) of Kutupananda or, Rishi Kauthumi ( Kooti Hoomi ), the Guru of Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Henry Olcott. [Rishi Kutupananda has mentioned students of foreign origin in a letter to Yogi Vishuddhananda. ]
When Sant Bijoykrishna Goswami ( Vijayakrishna Goswami ) was searching for a true Guru (yoga master), he met Yogi Gambhirnath in a mountain cave. A young chela (student) Aghori sadhu, who looked very fierce in appearence was guarding the cave. [Taken from the Diary of Kuladananda Brahmachari 1900AD] His job was to ward off inquisitive worldly people who disturbed the adept's austerities. The chela threw pebbles at Vijaykrishna and his friend, but never actually hitting them and shouted ferociously. The friend ran away to save himself, but Vijayakrishna advanced. Finding the latter to be fearless and stubborn, the chela was very pleased. He offered Vijaya some prasadam(holy food offered to God) which to Vijaya's utter shock was a half burnt human palm! Vijaya declined and was taken inside the cave. Inside he saw a one of a kind sight.
On four sides sat 4 adepts in their respective asanas. They had their own dhoonis (holy fire) and were incessantly engaged in sadhana. All of them were from a different religious tradition and have become one in adepthood. They have lost all personal weakness and pride and were just children of One Single God. One of these adepts were Yogiraj Gambhirnath, another was a Ramaeth Vaishnava Sant, another a Nanakshahi Sikh Mahatma and the fourth was a Sufi Muslim Sage. Its so strange to see that the Mahatmas have reconciled their difference of paths and were worshipping God togather. Gambhirnathji told young Vijaya that he was not his Guru, for such is the will of God. But he taught Vijaya Ajapa pranayama; Vijayakrishna Goswami was taught the same pranayama years later by his Guru and he understood the importance of it 20 years after meeting Gambhirnath. Bijoykrishna Goswami became a famous adept of the Vaishnava Tradition. He was like a Rishi, he spent almost 16 hours in samadhi. It is said that after he was posioned to death, he reentered his own corpse and maintained his life for a few more weeks to end his earthly Karma. He was not an Aghori, by the way.
Aghori is a branch of the Nath Yoga cult. Yogiraj Guru Gorakh Nath arranged the yogis into 12 orders. They are: Kanphat, Aoghar, Machendra, Bhartrihari, Sarangi, Durihar, Kanipa (Kanifnath), Rampanthi, Siddhi-Kerani, Aghori, Yogini and Sanyogi. There is a 13th muslim branch called Ardhyogi.Main pilgrimages of the Nath tradition are: Gorakhpur, Kajli, Peshawar (Pakistan), Dwarka, Haridwar, Pasupatinath (Nepal), Damdama (Kolkata) Mahanaad Jateshwar Temple (Hoogli), Kapildhara (Gaya), Nath Tilla, Mount Ar (Gujarat).
There is a misconception that the legendary sage Trailinga swami of Varanasi was an Aghori. Tailanga Swami was not an Aghori. His real name was Hitlal Mishra, he was the disciple of Swami Bhagirath Saraswati. His monkhood name was Swami Ganapati Saraswati. Had he been an Aghori, he would have been in the Nath Order. He was a fully realised Shaiva Yogi. (a devotee of Shiva) He was well versed in the scriptures and was an adept Hathayogi, Rajayogi and Rasayanik (alchemist). He could transmute matter from one form to another. He once lifted a 1 ton Shiva Lingam from the Ganges and planted (put Life force inside it) in his single room Ashram in Kashi. He was a very huge man and was often seen floating in padmasana, completely nude in the Ganges. When he was doing austerities in the bank of river Narmada and wanted to drink it's water, the whole river turned to milk. Khaki Baba, another yogi witnessed this miracle. Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Yogiraj ShyamaCharan Lahiri, Bama Khepa, Yogiraj Lokenath Brahmachari & Bijoykrishna Goswami met him in his 250 years lifetime. All these facts can be proved from the records of the aforesaid holymen.
Being a devotee of Shiva is different from being an Aghori. There are innumerable subclasses among Shiva worshippers. They are broadly divided into the Right Path ( Dakshina Achara ) and the Left Path ( Vama Achara ). Along the Right path, walk the the Rudradhyai Vedic, Swetashwetara Upanishad Rishis, Patanjal, Raja Yogi, Hatha Yogi and common devotees. The Left path is reserved by the terrible Aghori, Kapalik, Tantrik sadhus. The attitude, sense of sanctity, austerities, mantras and behaviors are radically different between the Right and the Left.
When I was a boy, I met a remarkable sadhu in Rajgir, Bihar, near the hotspring. He was almost 7 feet in height and very strongly built. He looked amazingly nimble for a 50 year old. He was wearing a garland of Rudraksha beads alternating with bones from the human vertibral column; he was unclad except for a small cloth around his loins. He had grey hair cut short on his head. I looked at him in awe ( because he radiated a magnetic personality ) and asked what kind of a sadhu he was. He looked at me kindly and said, "Mai AghorNath hoon, beta." (I am an Aghor Nath, my son.) and walked away. Only after I heard the word "Aghori" and saw the bones, that I felt a little nervous; otherwise he was quite kind and gentle in his manners.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Practice at Dawn
Last night was most satisfying. Recently, my meditations are rather shallow and a strange drowsiness is engulfing me everytime I try meditation for long hours. My master passed away six years ago. So there's no one to turn to for instructions. A week ago I dreamt of my Guru. This dream had a deep impact on me. I began to consider taking up the practices he taught me. He used to encourage me to meditate at midnight and during the hours of dawn. I looked around the house and found my rosary beads. After four long years last night I spent the whole night doing Japa. When I began the session, I had a splitting headache and feeling very ill. I continued the mental discipline with the rosary anyway. I couldnt sit straight because I was feeling too tired. So I leaned on a pillow and stuck to the practice.As the morning light appeared, I went to the roof and sat on an prayer mat. I started doing japa again with the mantra master taught me. I was now feeling a lot better. After an hour, I decided to do some pranayama. I was thinking about doing it for almost a week now, as I was feeling a loss of breath quite frequently. Anyway, I started with my own style, anti-acidity breathing. Next, I began doing Nadi-cleansing pranayama. (last time I did it some six years ago!) I had my armpit rest (Yoga-danda) to help open the proper channel. But I was feeling breathless. Some difficulty was there in the practice. I found my brass water receptacle (with a nozzle) from a shelf. I cleaned it; it was quite dirty. I went to the kitchen and boiled some water with a teaspoon of salt. Then I added some cold water in it. I poured this warm liquid into my snouted receptacle. After almost 8 years of being out of practice, I performed Neti. I put the nozzle to one nostril and tilted my head. To my surprise, the water came out smoothly through the other nostril. I alternated the nostrils several times and my sinus was clean at last.I went to the roof again and performed pranayama again. Smooth and perfecto! :) I completed 20 cycles, as tradition goes. The sun was up and sparkling now. I glimpsed at it now and then and did some more Japa. Happiness was engulfing me, my physical sensation was one of perfect well being. The wind carried a strange divine fragrance. Happy happy happy.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Eightfold Path
- Yama (Cleansing the character. Being truthful, honest, kind and so forth)
- Niyama (Increasing the mastery of will over the body by taking up vows.)
- Asana (Fixing a posture in which one can sit absolutely still for 3 hour. The yogi should feel comfortable and the spine should remain straight and perpendicular to the ground.)
- Pranayama (Breathing techniques to calm the mind and heal the body. It also increases concentration and the alkaline nature of blood.)
- Pratyahara (Withdrawal of the conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind from any kind of distraction and focussing it on a single object.)
- Dharana (Achieving some amount of one-pointedness. Its analogous to the concentration of sunrays through a magnifying glass.)
- Dhyana (The complete focussing of the mind-stuff on a single object. Its like a laser beam.)
- Samadhi (Becoming one with the object of meditation. To accomplish samadhi is to attain full knowledge of the object and have full power over it.)
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