Table Of ContentGheranda Samhita
Sanskrit - English
Srisa Chandra Vasu
The Gheranda Samhita
l
TranslatedintoEnglishby
RAl(BAHADUR SRISA CHANDRA VASU
SRI SATGURU PUBLICATIONS
40/5.;Sbakti NaaP •.Dcla;.110007,
(India)
Distributed by
INDIAN BOOKS CENTRE
40/5, Shaktt Nagar,
Delhl-ll0007 (India)
First Published 1914-1S
SSPEdition 1979
Published by Sri Satguru Publications, 40/5, Shakti Nagar, Delbi-llO007
&Printed at A. K. Press, Delbi·ll0035
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
LBSSONFIRST. P.AGI-.
ONTHE TRAININGOF TUB The VajrAsana, or the A4amut
PHYSICALBODY. Po~tnre 14
PAOB, TheSwaatlkl1sl'\& l'
Salntation 1 TheblmhAsana 16
The Gomukhllsana 14
TheBevenExercises 2
TheSixPuri6catory Proc_tIII II The VirAaana Iii
TheIi'0II4'Internal Dilantis I 'lhe Dbanuraisana 1/i
Antar-Dhauti .•• 8 The MritA8&1111 Iii
VAt.asAra-Dhanti 4 TheGupUsana 16
TheMatsyasana 16
Yt.rldra-Dhanti 4
The MatsyendrAsana 10
Agnlalr&,orFire Pnrillcation (
ThePaschimottlln..-Aaana 1.
Bahilll:rlta-Dliauti 6 'I'h~Gorai.shaaana 10
Danta.dhautl, orTeeth parilioation 5
The Uti.a~6aanll 10
Danta·Mnla-Dbauti G TbeSankata8llna 17
.Thhl lSodbana,orTongue.Phaat! ... IS
The MayfirAaluia 17
Karua-Dhanti, orEar-Oleaning 7 The Ku"utAsana 17
Hrid-Dhant! '" 7 'I'heKQrmasana 17
Panda·Dhauti 7 The Utt6na KQrmAAila... 17 •
Vamana-Dhauti 7
The.bl.a!l~uk4Bana 1~
Yastra·Dhauti .., ... S
The Vtt4na Ma!l~ukAsana 18
Mnla SodhanR,orPurification ot tbe
The VrlhbAsana 18
Rectum S
TheGarllllAsana 18
Endof Dbautia II
The VrisbAsana 18
Bastls 9
ThebalabbAuna 18
.Tala-Bast! 9
TbelIlakar488na 18
8thala-Basti ... 9
TheVshtrAaana 18
o£ndof Buti·Karma 8
TbeBhuJangAeana 18
Netl 9 The YogAsanB 18
Lauklki-YogIL... 10
TrAtaka,orGazing 10 TWRnLBSSOIf.
KapAlabhAtl ... to
OnMudrAs to
YAma-bm. '" 11
'l'be Advantages of PraotlslDg
V,Qt-Krama ... 11
MudrAs to
Sit-Krama 11
Endof the Firat Lesson II MahAmndri ...... 21
It&Benefits 21
SBOONDLESSON. Nabho-UlldrA... 21
TheAsanas,o. Postures... U 1l~~jy4na.Bandha 21
DifferentKinds of Posturea 12 Its Benents 21
The Siddb4aana 18 lAlaudhara '.".. 22
ThePadmbana 18 Its Benellta is
TheBhadrAsana 18 MQlabandha... U
...
TheMuktA8ana 14 ItaBenellts "
..
11
P.101l. r.-. P.l81.
FooB'l'II
Mah&budha ... 21
Ita Denellta ... U Pratylhlra, orBeatraln1Dgthe Mln4 18
Mabi\ve<lha U J'DTs LI8eOIC.
Its Benellts .•• 21 Prlpl,.e.ma, orRestralnt ofBreath...... IT
Khecbari Mud.r.A. 2-i Place 17
Ita Benellts U Time II
..
Viparit&t&ra~l 26 8b.Seaaons II
... or
Its UeQellts U TheBxperlenomg 8euoDa It
...
YonJmlldrA ... 20 Moderation ofJ>le~ eo
Ita Benellta is Prohibited :Joo4I
Vajro!li Mudra 27 PurlAoatlon orNI~" d
..
Ita Benellta 1'1 KiDde ofKumbllak. "
..
Saktl OUlanl 11 &abIta "
Ita Benellta ... sa 8f1ryabbeda-Kumbllab ... d
Ta~.gl-Hlldr& t9 It.. Denetta
JUndukl-Mudrl 18 The V,J1UI 48
It..Benellts II ThelrBeati d
..
S&mbhavi-Hudrl t8 UJj&yl .7
Ita Benellts ... Ii 8ltall "
Tho rlvo Ph&ra~A-Madrle 10 Db_rib
PArthlvf 80 Bbrlmari (or Beetle-DroIlIDg Ka..
ItIJBenestts SO bbab) If
1mbhui 81 MQrcbh& .8
Ita Benellta 11 KenO 10
.Agneyl 11 11m!r.-oK.
Ita Benellts It nhylna-Yop ... 51
Vlya'fl 81 Sthflla Dh1Aaa 61
Its Beneftts 8t Another Prooeu 61
ltAiIDUranA 82 l:rotlr Dh7&aa lit
...
Its Benellts 88 Another Proae I lit
Alivlui-MudrA 88 SQuhma Phyw 54
..
Ita Benellts , 8B 'BIVD'rB L-.
PMini-Mudd... 8B aamAWYop ... It
Ita Benelltl ... U Dhytaa-Yop IImAdbJ M
Kald-MuclrA... II N&cla-Yop1aa114td 17
...
Ita Benellta U Ru&naDda Yelp BuaI4hl 67
MitauglDJ-Muclr& u- La:ya-8ldclclhlYop, a.m&cIbl ... 18
It.. Benellta ... U BbakUYop~ U
BIthauBjaeDnegfllntla-M.u.d.ri Isat BP&rajlal-eYoorp8aBmlm&cWWbl 1188
TheBoDell. orIrl'lldrb ... II TheeD4 II
THE GH.ERANDA SAMHITA
LESSON FIRST
ON THE TRAINING OF THE PHYSICAL BODY.
SALUTATION.
I bow to that Lord Primeval who taught in the beginning the
eeienee ofthe Training in Hardiness (Hatha Yoga~-a science that stands
out as the first rung Onthe ladder that leads to the supreme heights of
Roya\Training (Raja Yoga).
NOTII.--TheTralnlnr of the body IBthe IIrststep tothe tralnln, ofthe mind. A
healthy mindClanexllt onlyIna healthy body. Renos the Hatha Yop or training ot
the bodylB the first step tothe training otthemIndorRajaYoga. Hathamaybetlaulatecl
I .... hard" orthe training oforinHardiness. Raja Inthis connection may be translated
.. royal orIOrtn888,or training Inroyal graces ormental dlsclpllne.
~~'.ICfi'qit~ I
~ ~""cnftrI1<'fT tR:~{1l I
~ fif"cU'i(fi4i ~ q~ • t II
1. Once ChaJ,l.4aKipAli going to the cottageof GheraJ;.l4asaluted
himwithreverence and devotion.
fft4iQli!fiJQif&iSECi:q-
1I'!(iIl~i.i ~ ~~ IIimIIlI
smr •
~ eft~~1ir ~(q It II
ChaJ'}.4aKAp!li said :-
2. 0 MasterofYoga! 0 best ofthe Yogins!0 Lord! I wish now
tolearn thePhysical Discipline (Yl)ga),which leads to the knowledge of
truth (orTattva-jiiADa).
iRq :ftN-
~ltr
~ ~ ~(iillji(i ~~. I
'liEiCiilil It ~ ~ (1iEi\i4'''''t'4i<tl" __"
I'HE GHERANDA SAMHITA.
GR~nA~J)A REPLIED.
. 3. Well asked, indeed, 0 mighty armed, I shall tell thee, 0 child,
what thou askest me. Attend to it with diligence. .
~ ~Tm(: qy,jt ~Tfta~~ '1m:(,I
~tfta""l~T "~~!,~1{'{. ~t ~: " VII
4. There are no fetters like those of lllusion (MayA), no strength
like that which comes from discipline (Yoga), there is no friend higher
than knowledge (}iil1na), and no greater ,e"n,.e,llfllYut~han Egoism (Ahar;Jkira).
~~~~uMif ~'QT I
~ ~ ~iue,u (I'~~ V5¥f..., II~ II
5. As hy learning the alphabets one can, through practice, master
all the sciences, so by thoroughly practising first the (physical) training,
one acquires the Knowledge of the True.
~'li~i'ti~: ~~ snfirr..t 'Q'l':,
~~ ~ ~ ~'QT ~U~II
6. On account of good find bad deeds, the bodies of all animated
beings are produced, and the bodies give rise to works (Karma which lead..
to rebirth) and thus the circle is continued like that of a Persian Wbe:e1.
~,,\\n rm
V~ 41l4f.!,4...,.· 'fUT~ I
(fJlm~1ftTT~T V"~ ~q~fu'" \9 I
7. As the Persian Wheel in drawing water from a well goes
up and 'down, moved by the bullocks (filling and exhausting tbe buckets
again and again), so the soul passes through life and death moved by its
Deeds.
~ {'{Imm il~m~:~~1i~I~~,~"
q,~ ~1Jl ~:It Ii
8. Like unto an unbaked earthen pot thrown in water, the body is
soon decayed (in this world). Bake it liard in the fire of Training in order
to strengthen and purify the body.
\If'! ~~i(1l. I
~~ffi~~~~ ~,
U((l"~ ~aA 'el!~~ ~m:ml~1I..U , n
THE SEVEN EXERCISE~.
fl. The seven exercises which appertain tothis Training of the body
are the following :--Purificatory, strengthening, steadying, calming, and
those leading to lightness, perception, and isolation.
LESSON FIRST. 3
V'l\1'9~1
~dUJt ~~ ~"' ~III.I
~ e
91{~t f\1{(ti ,,~ SR~!n~~ ~"t 0 II
smDT~mTftN~ 'aUilli'Sf~'umiit I
UII'~iI' ~~ ~~ '" ~~q: II~t II
10-11. lst.-The purification is acquiredby the regular perform
anee of sir practices (to be mentioned shortly); 2nd·-Asana or
posture gives Driddhats or strength; 3rd-Mudl'a. give~Sthirata or steadi
ness; 4th-Pratyahara gives Dhairyati\ or calmness ; 5th:_'PraQayam3
gives lightneas or Laghims ; 6th-Ohyana gives perception (Pratyak
shatwa) of Self; and 7th-Samadhi gives isolaticn (Nirliptata), which is
verily the Freedom.
~~I{I
~ ~9~r ~~~~ ~ om I
~~miUJ
"'~r~'mlif ~l1n~ IIt~II
THillSIX l'UR!FlCATORY PROCESSES.
12. (1) Dhauti ; (2) Basti; (3) Neti ; (4)Laukiki ;(5)Tl'a~ka; (6)
Kapatabhati are tho Shatkarmas or six practices, known asSadhana:
PART 1.
mta-:
vu I
~~ttai=il1fmi~itNilli. I
~~ OOIgftNt ~ ~ ~rn iit~~1I.1I t~"
TH.EFOUR INTERNAL J>HAUTIB.
13. The Dhautis areof Iour kinds, and they clear away the impu
rities of the body. They are:-(aJ Antardhauti (internal washing); (b)
Dantadhauti (cleaning theteeth); (e)Hriddhuuti (cleaning theheart); (d)
Mulaabodhana .cleaning the rectum),
~~:I
'Il~t ~nfteri ~~ "~'tld'lI
~ Wl!n~ ~~~'e(t II \~ II
(a) ANTAR--nHAUTI.
14. Antardhauti is again sub-divided into four parts: - VataBllra
(wind purification), Vurisu.:-a(water purification), Vahniaara (fire purifica
tion), and Bahiakrita,
THE GHERANDA SAMHI1iA.
ft 4Id'9l(& I
I
'liT1lfi1ffS~R:ir.r ~. ~ "":
m..t:
~~ qraqfilin IIt'-\ •
(111) vl.TASARA-DBAUTI.
15. Contract the mouth like the beak of a crow and drink air
slowly, and filliDg the stomach slowly with it, moveit therein, and then
slowlyforce it out through the lower passage.
Eiid91( ~ ~ _~."1<4Il1
~ Q:1"i\lSfq".~1fiI{II t, II
16. The VA.tasarais a very secret process, it caUQ6Qthe purification
01the body, it destroys all diseases and increases the gastric-fire.
VQ qlltih<: I
Ff."-I
~ '{(qadi: 11ft". .. I
'lIiiq!i«'- '1,,<li.4i(litl II t\l I
(a') V.1RIBAJu-DRAUTI.
11. Fill the mouth with water down to the throat, and then drink
it slowly; and then moveit through the stomach, forcing it downwards
expelling itthrough the rectum.
qlltEci( ~ ~. "flti4.'ii'~ I
srm
'9,,,,4't1CUqj.. ~ U( •
]8. This process should be kept very secret. It purifies the body.
And by practising it with care, one gets a luminous or sbining body.
!!;thli q{t ~. et"4'Q1Q'QRlI
~ Q)Nfq~1 ~ ~ U ~~ •
19. The VarisAra is the highest Dhauti. He whopractises itwith
ease,purifies his filthy body and turns it into a shining one.
'1M 'lIIi1aQI<s I
~ ~ "I!",,,SC ~ I
"IIftI",<"""
~rtmIt q,.rlt:tf.ili(1.~ ••
(a') AGNIBARA OR FIRE PURIFICATION.
20. Press in the naval knot or intestiuea towarda the spine lor one
hundred times. This is Agnisara 01'fireprocess. This gives SUCCetlB in
the practice of Yoga,it cures all the diseases of thestomach (gastric juice)
and increases the internal fire.
~~~q:a~&;<M1q~,~R~tftf_~q~,.,nt~ I
Fhn,
~ ~mQ ~ ~t •
~DJ'fJI1i
LESSON FIRST. 5
21. This form of Dhauti should be kept very secret, and it.is
hardly to be attained even by the gods. By this Dhauti alone one
aertainly gets aluminous body.
""1id'lftI: I
'Glf
lWiNftUS(1 ~q~"'1 ~W· Q( I
ql~q:i~ ~~I
I('iI1'~, 'RI~'12t1" Sf~ ~ • ~~ I
(0') BAHISKRITA-nHAUTI.
22. By Kakachanchu or crow-bill Mudra.fillthe stomach with air,
hold i,there for onehour and a.half. and then force it down towards the
intestines. This Dhauti must bo kept a great secret, and must Dotbe
reveaJed to anybody.
.. ",,1&5"1( I
...~r ~ ft!rRr Uf,)sii,¥t fQriiR{ I
~ 1Q1l!5~"lci~1I~riont
i
outrs.. ~ _~~:
dliiidCl(t'~ U~\ N
23. 'fher. standing in navel-deep water, draw out the Saktinadl
(long intestines), washthe Nadi with hand, a~nd 80l~ong asIitsIfil~th is ~not .
all washed away, wash it, with care, and then draw it in again into the
abdomen.
~ SI\1IiriI ~~ ~fq ~ I
~. ~ftnn'5l""tU~",
24. This process should be kept secret. It is not easily to be
attained evenby the gods. Simply by this Dhauti one gets Deva-dehs
<Godlike body.)
" ifft~{1'lilStQI'j: I
~ \1roJJt ~ tmAr 91...~"(J I
..".'tid JUs:itfthdIEl.... ;r ~ II ~~ II
25. As long as a person bas not thepower ofretaining the breath
for an hour lind ahalf (orretaining wind in the stomach for that period),
so long he cannot achieve this grand Dhauti or purification, known as
Bahiskritadhauti.
1N~~: I
~. ~~. ~ rigtqq(:
~~ ~ ~ "'i:lT~ I
II,~ "
(b).-DANTA-nHAU'fl, OR TEETH PURII!'ICATION.
26. Denta-Dhauti is of fivekinds: purification ofthe teeth, ofthe
root ofthe tongue, of the twoholesof the ear. and of the frontal-siauses.
