Full Moon Yoga, why bother?

-by
Kirti Tarang Pande
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Science says that moon is our planet's satellite. As bright as it may seem, it's merely a reflection of sun. Poor thing doesn't even have its own light. This makes one wonder why in spirituality so much importance is attached to moon? Why the yogis and sufis spend nights meditating on moon? Why tantrics schedule their powerful practices for full moon and new moon? Why Buddhist monks keep precepts?

For a moment, let's set aside what science tells us and connect with what we experience. Have you ever felt intense delight when looking at a full moon, or suddenly felt love rising in you, a sudden urge of passion? Has it ever been that you were feeling lonely or sad for no apparent reason and when you peeped out of the window, it was full moon?

In a month, there are two full moons. Once dedicate a month to connect with not what you have told but what you feel on Full Moons. Simply observe your thoughts and emotions. After all, yogis are not followers but investigator. 

Upon conducting this investigation, you will find that the moon doesn't give or take anything. It simply elevates what we already have. If you're joyful, it makes you ecstatic. If you're sad, it will make you depressed. If you're meditative, it will deepen your spiritual practice. Siddartha became Buddha on a full moon night, didn't he?

Therefore, it's only common sense to mark this day in calendar. So that, on this day we can consciously connect with the qualities that we desire in us. If something has to heightened, it might as well be the thing that brings forth our well-being.    

On contrary, if we carry on with our day with usual absent mindedness we end up strengthening the shackles of our compulsiveness.

It is for this reason, you will find that in both yogic and Buddhist cultures fasts are kept to purify the body on Full Moon days. Precepts of love, compassion and kindness are kept. Spending time on primping the body is avoided and day is spent culturing the emotions.

It is common for yogis to capitalize on the power of this day. In fact, most yoga teachers don't teach on this day. They keep this day to go deeper in their personal practice. At Home Yogis' Home, we feel differently though. We take extra sessions. It is my personal belief that utilizing the power of this day to benefit others is more meaningful than serving my own cause.

Fuil moon is the night when oceans rise. We are 70% water, we too have potential to rise. If only we are aware and we are willing to go through a process for this.

The Process: Full Moon Yoga Flow

Step 1: Chandra Namaskar

(2, 11, 20 or 29 rounds)

 Namaskar Mudra- Exhale- Eyes Closed

1.Tadasana- Inhale- Antar Drishti

2.Ardha Kati Chakrasana-  Exhale- Hastargra Drishti

3. Tadasana- Inhale- Nasagra Drishti

4. Uthita Trikonasana- Exhale- Hasthagra Drishti

5. Ardh Chandrasana- Exhale- Hastagra Drishti

6. Ashwasanchalan- Inhale- Nasagra Drishti

7. Ajneyasana- Inhale- Antar Drishti

8. Malasana- Exhale- Nasagra Drishti

9. Ajneyasana

10. Ashwasanchaln

11..Ardha Chandrasana

12. Uthita Trikonasana

13. Tadasana

14. Ardha Kati Chakrasana

15. Tadasana

Namaskar

Since in yogic wisdom sound is a source of creation, music becomes a medium to align with the rhythm of the cosmos. Following this tradition, Raga Abhogi is the music assigned to Chandra Namaskar. So, if you want to practice the sequence of Chandra Namaskar with music, pick any rendition of Raga Abhogi.

Step 2: Chandra Pranayams

"All that exists in the three heavens rest in control of Prana"
- Prashna Upnishad II.3

Prana is our primal life force. It moves in our being through a system of energy channels. These energy channels are called Nadis in yogic terminology. These nadis exist in our subtle body, which is our mind-prana field. There are seventy two thousand nadis in our mind-body field.

Lunar nadi is one such nadi that determines the flow of our primal energy. This Lunar nadi is called Ida in yogic vocabulary. It has feminine and cooling energy. This implies that it's the functioning of this nadi which makes us intuitive, creative, visionary and open our hearts to love.

It is this love that provides the fuel that sustains our spiritual fire.

So, chandra pranayams are the techniques that open our love window. No body puts it more beautifully than Rumi:

"Close the language door
and open the love window.
The moon won't use the door,
only the window."

The two Chandra Pranayams are

a. Chandra Anoloum
Close the right nostril. Breathe in and out through left.

b. Chandra Bhedan
Breathe in through left, breathe out through right

Practice 11 rounds of each. During this process allow your awareness to rest on the left side of the body, the lunar side- wherever the awareness goes, prana follows.

Step 3: Shrim Chanting

Sit in cross legged position.
Hands in Kamala mudra.
Close your eyes.
Behind the closed curtains of your eyelids there's a vast space called Chiddakash. Visualize bright moon here.

Recite 11 times with exhalation:

"Om Shrim Namah"
Shrim is a mantra with very pleasing lunar quality.
It is a mantra that floods our senses with love, devotion, beauty, delight and divine grace. It gives us the good things of life, including health to our body, fertility, rejuvenation and steadiness to our mind and emotions. However, the best part is that it is one of the softest and safest mantra to use. Just keep one thing in mind that since it is a lunar mantra it lowers our body temperature. For this reason, I strongly recommend that stick to 11 repetitions, don't overdo.

Step 4: Chakra Meditation

Even you don't have a conducive settings or guidance to undergo this process, don't fret. Simply spend the day consciously cultivating loving kindness first towards yourself and then with everyone you come in contact with.

Happy Poornima :)


Further Reading:

Lunar Eclipse and Yoga

How can we use the gravitational effects of Guru Poornima & Lunar Eclipse for our benefit?

-by
Kirti Tarang Pande
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Today, on July 27, 2018, we are experiencing the longest eclipse of 21st century. In India, the eclipse will begin at 44 minutes past 10 tonight and will continue till 58 minutes past 4, tomorrow morning. It will be at its peak from 1 am to 2:45 am of July 28, 2018. Tonight is also a night when Mars will be closest to earth in 15 years. It's going to be an astronomical spectacle. Luckily, Pune, where I am today, is has a skyline covered with clouds. I am saying 'luckily' because for a stargazer like me, it would  have been difficult for me  to tear my eyes off the sky and look inwards. However, this is how we reap the benefits of this day, by turning inwards.

Before, I tell you how, I am going to share the significance of the two phenomena to empower you to carve your own path of how max out on spiritual benefits of the day.

Significance of Guru Poornima:

This is the day we celebrate the birth of Veda Vyasa. We all know him as the writer of Mahabharata. Now, contrary to popular belief, Veda Vyasa isn't a person. It's a title given to someone who has gained the wisdom of all the Vedas and the ability to share with masses in a way they can understand, assimilate and imply it in their life and its situations.

So far, there have been eight Veda Vyasa. They all became worthy of the title on this day. My tantra teacher, an unnamed Aghori, told me that the gravitational pull of the planetary movements on this day creates an energy field which is highly conducive to a spiritual practice. So, whatever you results you reap in any other day throw practice, today they will be multiplied. 

So, this day not only multiplies effect of our actions but also has the right settings for unlocking our highest potential. 

How can we benefit from this?

Lets, recap there are two things that Guru Poornima can do:

1. Multiply the effects of our actions

2. Unlock our highest potential

For point no. 1, its simple do the right thing. Don't react but act. Before reacting to any situation, pause, just for a second, contemplate the best response to the situation and then act on it. 

Now, the question arises, how to find the best response. I will share a trick that I follow. I visualize myself in this world as a hamster on a wheel. The wheel is there to exercise the hamster so that it stays healthy. All the situations that arise in my life is just to exercise my mind so that it can be healthy. So,  whenever I encounter a seemingly unpleasant situation, I always ask myself- How can I get maximum exercise from this. When someone is shouting at us it is so easy to shout back. We can do it as reflex, without involving our mind. On the other hand, if we try to practice compassion for someone yelling at us, that's when we are exercising our mind, strengthening it. If we do this today, the strength derived is multiplied.

As for point no. 2, it's easy. Sit back, close to your eyes. Calm your mind by turning the focus on breathe. Once the ripples of mind are gone embark on a journey of 'Atmashakshatkar'- who am I?

Lunar Eclipse

Simplest way to understand its effect on us is by looking at the moon. The Lunar Cycle, for which a moon takes 28 days, its journey from full moon to no moon and back to full moon, on an eclipse it happens in a matter of couple of hours. 

In chemistry lab, to fasten an experiment we would add a catalyst. Lunar eclipse it that catalyst. It fasten and accelerate things. That's why your grand ma asks you not to eat during the eclipse. The process of decomposition of food fastens. It rots before our body can throw it out. Eating food during eclipse won't kill you, or bring bad luck, it will just have the same effects on your body mind and emotions as eating rotten food will have.

I am not a fan of treating my body like a dustbin, so I usually stop eating four hours before an eclipse. Fortunately, today the eclipse starts at 22:44, so if I close my plate at 6pm, I am good.

How can we benefit from this?

By slowing down. Since, the eclipse accelerates , heightens everything, it includes the loss of our physical and pranic energy. The best way to counter is to sit down, turn the awareness inwards because where ever the awareness goes, the pran follows.

 Caution:

Emotions is one the many things that both Guru Poornima and Lunar Eclipse heighten and cause to overflow. So whatever you have been feeling yesterday, joy or anger will be more intense today. I recommend, take a break. Whatever emotion you feel today, tell yourself- "Very well, this is not real. I will revisit it tomorrow. If I feel the same way about it, I will then take an action on it."

All the best :)

Yoga for Vertigo

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It's important to understand that Vertigo isn't a disease a but symptom of certain imbalances in our Central Nervous System. This imbalance can happen due to any factor;
Problems with inner ear
Problem in visual focus
Poor blood circulation
Injury
Neurological disease

When we are looking at healing, we simply need to focus on balancing central nervous system.

As always, we will approach this using Panchkosa model:

1. At the level of Annamayakosa

Asanas:

Eye rotation
Neck rotation
Tadasana
Vrikshasana
Padangustan asana
Garudasana
Ardhmatsyendra Asana
Paschimottanasana
Supta Badhkonasana
Sarvangasana
Halsana
Shavasana
Jyoti Tratak (Preferably at rising sun otherwise ghee lamp or candle flame)

Diet:
Restrict salt to lunch time
High protein and Vitamin foods
No tea, coffee or chocolate
No alcohol
No tobbacco
Allow body to soak in morning sun

2. At the level of Pranamayakosa

Nadishodhan Pranayam - 4 times a day; before breakfast, lunch, dinner & bedtime

Shankhmukha Mudra

3. At the level of Manomayakosa

According to Atharva Veda, following adhis (negative emotions) arise the vyadhi of vertigo in our body:

a. Fickle mind, scattered thoughts

b. Inner turmoil, anger, refusal to listen to certain viewpoints

c. Not 'looking' at one self

It is important that we transform the above mentioned negative emotions. The easiest solution is to repeat following affirmations with feeling and meaning at bed-time and the minute one wakes up:

a. I am peacefully and joyfully centered in life.

b. I am safe.

c. Whatever I hear, I listen with love.

d. When I look at mirror, I rejoice in my magnificence.

e. I love and approve myself.

f. I know that universe brings only good in my life. 

Happy Healing :)

For online Yoga Therapy sessions, write to us at homeyogishome@gmail.com

Suggested Reading

1. Panchkosa & Karmic Cycle

2. How Yoga can break the cage of negative karma?

Yogic Antidote to Anger & Other Afflictions

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Yesterday, in our Online Meditation Session, a student asked me, "If we suppress our anger, will that count as negative karma too?"

It has become very common these days. Most  of us feel that when it comes to anger, or any other negative emotion, there are only two ways out: Expression or Suppression.

If we express we hurt others and if we suppress we hurt ourselves. This is such an unnecessary 'Avoidance-Avoidance' conflict. Unnecessary, because yoga has a third solution to this conflict. The right solution- Transform our negative emotion into positive one. Aha! Simple.

In yogic darshan (philosophy), negative emotions are considered as adhis (afflictions) of our manomaya kosa  (seat of our mind), if they go untreated, they penetrate our pranic body (seat of our life force) and create vyadhis (diseases) in our physical body.

Therefore, for the well-being of our physical organism it is important that we don't suppress our negative emotions but transform them into a positive one.

For this purpose, Yogis Wisdom gives a list of opposites, a list of positive emotions that act as antidote to our afflictions.  Here's the list :)

Antidote to Anger

Patience.

Yoga recommends that we look at our trigger for anger as our trigger for practicing patience. In spirituality, there's lot of merit/ good karma attached to the practice of patience. So, next time when you notice anger rising in you:

1. Smile, because you have noticed it. It's step one in breaking the cycle.

2. Look at your trigger for anger with gratitude because it is giving you a chance to accumulate good karma by practicing patience.

3. Remind yourself of kshan bhangurata, every moment is here to pass away. So, keeping your energies directed towards patience. Watch the moment pass by.

Antidote to Attachment

Anitya- Impermanence

First of all, let's not mistake attachment for love. Love is good, attachment is the root of our miseries. Attachment is sticky. It's tamasic. An easy example to understand this is:

One of my cousins loves, tamarind chutney. We were little kids, I was perhaps seven & she was two years of age and we were sharing a bowl of tamarind chutney. As a natural course of action, we polished it off. The minute that happened, she started to cry. Oh my god, she was howling so loudly that we had to shut doors and windows of the house, so that are neighbors don't get worked up.

Moral of the story is: Loving tamarind chutney is okay. There's nothing wrong in enjoying it. However, feeling miserable when it is taken away, that's an affliction, an attachment. It needs to because it clearly causes suffering.  

Therefore, yogic texts prescribe the wisdom of Anitya, impermanence as antidote to attachment. One must acknowledge that everything that comes into existence will go out of existence one day. So relish it immensely, but not to fall in the trap that this particular thing is source of all my joys. It's not. My mind is the source of all my joys & miseries.

In Vedic culture we have two very interesting practices to learn the art of detachment.

1. Rangoli: We wake up early morning. Take a cold shower. Wash the floor and then spend hours creating beautiful designs on floor using color powder. Then, next day, we take a broom and sweep that work of art off the floor. Once again, sitting down to create a new design. This engraves in our minds that all creation is will be swept off but it will be replaced by something new.

2. Ganpati: Every year, we take clay from our gardens and make beautiful Ganesha idol with our hands. For eleven days we celebrate it, rejoice it, and treat that idol with all the comforts & luxuries we can offer. On the eleventh day, we take out a procession and with same joy & festivity we submerge that idol ourselves. Smiling, singing & dancing all the while, because we know next year this cycle is going to be repeated.

In our modern lifestyles, we can practice detachment daily at small levels. So that when that big testing moment arrives, we are ready.  For instance, yesterday, a friend of mine was asking, "How do you fall asleep just like that, I need my side of the bed, always." For her, a good place to start will be 'her side of bed'. 

Antidote to being Arrogance

Positive Potential of others.

Many of us think we are not arrogant and yet we are motivated by the desire to be praised by other. Whenever we notice this happening, a craving to be praised by others. That's when we should stop for a moment and reflect:

1. Of course my talented is unique and that's the most common thing about it. Nature has given everyone a unique talent.

2. I am grateful though that I could identify my talent and had the will & situations to nurture it.

3. My talent has lot of positive potential to bring well-being to others & I must look at creative ways in which I can use my talent to benefit others.

Antidote to need for Approval

Love and compassion for our-self.

Antidote to jealousy

Empathetic joy.

I was a jealous person. It once costed me a friendship with a dear friend of mine. That's when I realized what an idiot I was. I lost a friend and in the process didn't gain the quality I was jealous of it still rests with that person. Who's the loser here. So, I started practicing empathetic joy. Whenever I would find myself getting jealous. I would:

1. Tell myself- this is stupid. Me getting jealous will not change the reality.

2. Then I would try to rejoice in the other person having my object of desire.

Earlier, this rejoicing meant me faking a smile to myself & then telling myself, "I am so happy this person has xyz, may this object brings lot of joy and happiness to this person." Slowly, my fake smile became genuine and instead of saying above words, I actually started feeling them. The situations that made me jealous earlier, now started making me joyful.

Isn't it wonderful? That's what transformation of negative emotions do, it sows seeds for positive emotions in future. The same trigger of anger becomes a trigger for patience & kindness.

You must have noticed, that application of these antidotes require practice of watching one's mind & thoughts. Therefore in our Online Meditation Course , we not only conduct sessions on the 'art of watching our mind', but we also conduct sessions on training our minds to apply the antidote of transformation, each time an affliction arises. Yes, we do take all the above mentioned afflictions individually :)

To register for our coming batch of online meditation course, please write to us at homeyogishome@gmail.com 

Easy 5 Step Yoga Routine for better sleep

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Easy Bedtime Routine For Insomniacs

Step 1: 

Wash your hands and legs nicely. Rinse your eyes (preferably using an eye-cup).

Step 2:

Put ghee in your nostrils and inhale deeply. In winters, replace ghee with almond oil. Rub ghee/ almond oil on backbone, head & soles of the feet.

Step 3:

Practice Sarvangasana. Start with holding the final pose for 2 minutes & slowly build it to 8 minutes. If you find Sarvangasana challenging you can do Viprit Karni- legs up the wall pose.

Step 4:

Bhramari 5 rounds

Step 5:

Lie on your bed in Shavasana, fingers in Pran Mudra, take 16 deep and slow inhales & relaxing exhales. Then turn to your right side 32 deep inhales & relaxing exhales. Turn to your left side 64 deep inhales & exhales.

For online Yoga and Meditation Sessions, write to us at homeyogishome@gmail.com

Suggested Reading:

Easy yoga trick to wake up fresh & energized

Yoga for Migraine

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Therapeutic branch of Yoga comes from the Panchkosa concept of Taittiriya Upnishad. The most important take away from there is:
Healing happens at four levels:
1. At the level of our body: Annamayakosa
2. At the level of our life force: Pranamayakosa
3. At the level of our mind: Manomayakosa
4. At the level of wisdom & clarity: Vijanamayakosa

At the level of our body: Annamayakosa

This again is sub categorized into three levels-

The 'anna':

1. Have hot ginger water at the onset of pain 

Ginger blocks prostaglandins, which stimulate muscle contractions, control inflammation in the blood vessels, and impact some hormones. Drinking ginger water stifles prostaglandins to block the unbearable pain, and stop the associated nausea and dizziness.

2. At bedtime use your little finger to put some ghee (in summer) or badam oil (in winters) in your nostrils.

3. Eat light and easy to digest food.Avoid milk products & gluten for three days when headache strikes.

The asanas:

Morning Practice

1. Suryanamaskar

2. Shashankasana

3. Pachimottanasana

4. Matsyasana

5. Bhujangasana

6. Pawanmuktasana

7. Sarwangasana

8. Halasana

Bedtime Practice

Sarwangasana

Halasana

At the level of Life Force: Pranamayakosa

In the morning:

Kapalbhati Kriya: 5 breathes

Nadishodhan Pranayam: 10 minutes

Apan Vayu Mudra: 20 minutes

At bedtime:

Chandra Anolum Vilom: 27 breathes

Apanvayu Mudra: 20 minutes

At the level of mind: Manomayakosa

In the morning:

A-U-M chant: 5 rounds

At bedtime:

Yognidra

At the level of Wisdom & Clarity: Vijanamayakosa

Panchkosa model says that every vyadhi (disease) in this body is a creation of a mental adhi (affliction) that remained untreated.

The adhis that leads to migraine are:

1. Sexual fears

2. Fear of intimacy

3. Feeling of being pressurized by someone or something.

Working on these feelings through relaxation and trusting the process of life helps.

For Online Sessions on Yoga Therapy, write to us at homeyogishome@gmail.com

Suggested Reading:

Panchkosa & Karmic Cycle

This Easy Yoga Trick Is Better Than Coffee When It Comes To Kick-starting Mornings

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Is getting up in the morning a pain for you?
Do feel sleepy despite having a good night's sleep?
Do you feel drowsy in the morning?
Are you not a morning person & feel fatigue when you wake up?

If your answer is 'yes' to any or many then this post is for you.

What to do to Kick-Start in your mornings?

Stay in bed don't move!

It's not a joke, I mean it. The mistake that we make is, we try to move our body before waking up our brain. Trying to stimulate the body before stimulating the brain is something against common sense. Isn't it? Yet, we do it. Don't we?

So, here's what we need to do before we leave bed, to wake up our brain before body. It's a two-step yogic technique called Palming

Step 1: Rub your palms vigorously.

According to Samkhya Darshan ( Philosophy that gave birth to Yoga & Ayurveda), there is a heavy concentration of nerve endings in our palms. When we rub our palms together, the nerve endings are activated, there's an immediate awakening of our brain which in turn leads to waking up our system.

Step 2: Cup your face with your palms

When we do this, in that instance, a whole range of nerves connected with our eyes and other senses are awakened. Before you even move your body, the body & brain both are ready, energized and active.

So, instead of getting up absent minded and groggy, you wake up to a mindful awakening.

Benefits of Palming:

1. Releases mental strain.

2. Wakes up our body and mind in calm abiding fashion.

3. Promotes extreme relaxation of body & mind

4. Removes fatique

5. According to Dr. Bates, MD, Palming is a powerful and simple method for relaxing the eyes and the vision system.

Why it's better way to wake up than drinking coffee (or tea or even green tea)?

Coffee, tea, green tea, chocolate has caffeine in it. Caffeine doesn't wake us up by energizing but according to researches, it does so by making us restless, anxious and increasing our heart beats. Again, any person with common sense knows that this promotes negative health of body & mind.

So far, we discussed Palming with respect to body and mind. For most us, two- step palming method   as shown above is good enough. However, if a practitioner wants to go deeper into practice, here are Mantras of Palming.

Mantras:

In tantric cult, we called human body 'Mantra Purush', made of mantras. Therefore, it is known to add mantra recitation to yoga practices to increase the effect.

The above mentioned palming is effective on its own, however, my father taught this to me along with mantras. So, it is my responsibility that in order to continue the lineage & preserve knowledge I must share the mantras too. Please note, I am just sharing the mantras here and this is not a transmission of them.

Mantra when you look at your palms:

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मिः करमध्ये सरस्वति ।
करमूले तु गोविन्दः प्रभाते करदर्शनम् ॥Karaagre Vasate Lakssmih Karamadhye Sarasvati |
Karamuule Tu Govindah Prabhaate Karadarshanam ||

Literally it means, Laxmi dwells at the top of my palm, in the middle there's Saraswati, at the base there's Govinda, therefore, I look at my hands and contemplate on them every morning.

This doesn't mean that the two Goddess and Govinda are literally sitting on your hands. The Gods & Goddesses of Hindu mythology are mere metaphors. Vedic wisdom tells as that there is one Supreme Consciousness- the Brahman, and it dwells in all sentient beings (plants included) as Atman. The multitude of the gods, goddesses and everything divine in Vedic Wisdom is just an outer manifestation of certain inner qualities.

Laxmi represents divine beauty, grace, health and prosperity. Saraswati manifests gyan- wisdom of combining knowledge with compassion and clarity. Givinda is a Paran Yogi who excelled the art of applying yogic wisdom in relishing the comforts of material world without hurting spiritual growth and bringing greater good to society.

When we reciete this mantra in the morning that's what we remind ourselves. That's the first thought that we have- This is my true potential and it's in my hands. Everything that I desire is in ,y hands- beauty, grace, health, prosperity, wisdom, knowledge, compassion and clarity. I have it in me to have the joyful life that I deserve and transform this world into a joyful place.

Mantra to recite while rubbing your palms:

मङ्गलम् भगवान विष्णुः, मङ्गलम् गरुणध्वजः। 

मङ्गलम् पुण्डरी काक्षः, मङ्गलाय तनो हरिः॥

Mangalam Bhagwan Vishnuh, Mangalam Garunadhwajah। 

Mangalam Pundari Kakshah, Mangalaya Tano Harih॥

This mantra translates as, all auspiciousness to Lord Vishnu, all auspiciousness to one who has Garuda as His flag. All auspiciousness to One who has eyes like the lotus flowers, and auspiciousness to Hari.

In essence, after reminding ourselves of our true nature, we offer ourselves to Vishnu- manifestation of the Brahman as the caretaker of this multiverse. This way, all our actions become his actions and we can involve our daily activities as Karma Yoga (detachment with the fruits of our work). Hence, breaking through the Karmic Cycle.

Mantra to recite while cupping the face:

ब्रह्मा मुरारी त्रिपुरांतकारी भानु: शशि भूमि सुतो बुधश्च।
 गुरुश्च शुक्र शनि राहु केतव सर्वे ग्रहा शांति करा भवंतु।

Brahmaa Muraaris-Tripuraantakaarii

Bhaanuh Shashii Bhuumisuto Budhash-Ca |

Gurush-Ca Shukrah Shani-Raahu-Ketavah

Kurvantu Sarve Mama Suprabhaatam ||

(In the early morning I remember) The Devas Brahma, Murari (The enemy of demon Mura, refers to Sri Krishna or Vishnu) and Tripurantakari (The One Who has brought an end to Tripurasuras, refers to Sri Shiva), The Planets Bhanu (The Sun), Shashi (The Moon), Bumisuta (Mars) and Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu, May all of them make my Morning Auspicious.

Basically, you cover your body and mind with a good luck charm.

Rama & Sita- Valmiki's Yogic Metaphors

-Kirti Tarang Pande

Official Website, Instagram, Twitter

Originally Published in Daily Bhaskar

The most interesting thing about Rama is that everyone feels strongly about him, because he is different to different people- with scientists finding evidence of ‘Ram-Setu’ a historian may look at Rama differently from a mythologists’ point of view. Those with romantic hearts see him as a passionate lover who walked across jungles all the way to Sri Lanka for Sita. A feminist may look at him as the man who disowned his wife. In present India, your views on Rama maybe decided upon by your political allegiance or vice-versa. Do you know why it is so? You may love him or hate him, but why you can’t ignore him?

Who is Rama?

As always, the simplest answer lies in Yoga. Sankhya Darshan, the philosophy from which Yoga & Ayurveda have emerged, uses Rama as a metaphor for Self Realization. Goswami Tulsidas has said,

“Ja ki rahi bhawana jaisi,

Prabhu moorat dikhe tin waisi”

Everyone paints Rama with their own brush

At Home Yogis’ Home, we initiate our students in Self-Realization meditation, where they discover themselves through their version of Rama.

How is finding Rama relevant to everyday life?

If we are in bondage of Maya, we can never find Rama. Bondage of Maya means limitation of perception. Only the things that we see through our senses come in our experiential field. Our experience forms our memory. Our memory tells us what we can do and what we can’t. This is what cages our true potential. Imagine, how our story would have turned out if our monkey ancestors would have been caged by their perceptions?

They would have thought, “We have never seen an ape on two legs? In our memory we can’t recall a monkey that ever walked on twos. We can never walk on twos”.

Thankfully, they didn’t allow themselves to be caged by perceptions and we evolved into bipeds.

Literally, monkeys can evolve if they break-up from Maya (limitations of perceptions) and take refuge in Rama (become self-relized). Just visualize what benefits we can draw from it as humans!

But how to find Rama?

Rama can only be discovered through Sita.

Valmiki through his Ramayana, shares the yogic path of self- realization in a poetic way. So, instead of clear philosophical reasoning we get visual metaphors.

Rama is self realization & so is Sita. Rama is the ‘action’ aspect of the consciousness while Sita is the ‘bliss’.

 Laxman guarding them is our ‘buddhi’- ability to discriminate . Bhrittrhari in Niti Satakam says;

“Aharanidrabhyamaithunam ca samanyametat pasubhirnaranam|

Buddhirhi tesam adhiko viseso buddhirvihinah pasubhih samana||”

Meaning, it is the Buddhi, the discriminating power, and it is the freedom of choice that characterizes us as human beings. Otherwise, food, sleep, fear & sex are the attributes of animals too.

Till now we have got our ‘self’ that’s pure consciousness comprising of action & bliss, which guarded by our discriminatory power. The minute we let down our discriminatory power, the bliss is gone. The minute Laxman leaves Sita, she is abducted by Ravana. Ravana is Sankhya Darshan, a metaphor for Maya and ego. When we are trapped by the limitations of our perceptions, how can we achieve our goals? How can we find bliss- Sita?

That’s when Rama takes help of Vayu putra Hanuman. Hanuman represents our Prana-the life force. The Vayu within us, the oxygen that we take in is our life-force. We can’t live a minute without it. It’s when we devote our life-force to self-realization, as Hanuman is devoted to Rama we can find our true potential, our bliss.

How to channelize our life-force?

Swami Vivekananda has given us four paths to it:

1. Bhakti Yoga: We surrender to Hanuman and focus our senses to devotion of Hanuman.

2. Raja Yoga: By practicing pranayams, keeping our awareness fixed at the breath.

3. Janana Yoga: Reading & understanding the essence of Ramayana with respect to the metaphors that it contains. Then, transferring that wisdom from the realm of intellect to the realm of action.

4. Karma Yoga: Staying in the present all the time, guarding our actions, thoughts & speech with discrimination and freedom of choice.

Meeting Durga Through The Path Of Rumi: A Journey From To Goal

-Kirti Tarang Pande

Official website, Instagram, Twitter

Originally Published in Daily Bhaskar

“Why should I seek more?

I am the same as he.

His essence speaks through me.

I have been looking for myself.”

- Rumi

Rumi used these words to define his meeting point with Allah, students of Home Yogis’ Home, a Nanded City, Pune based yoga centre, used the same thought to reach Durga this Navratri.

Shunning all the orthodox snobbery, they met daily at Home Yogis’ Home to connect with the Cosmic Mother through an amalgamation of Bhakti Yoga & Shakti Yoga. Coming from different walks of life, some are IT professionals, some are home-makers, some are business leaders & some belong to the Indian Airforce fraternity; yet, every morning at 6:30 am, they all are unified as yoga sadhaks in pursuit of awakening the inner Shakti.

“Channelizing inner Shakti is a sadhna & like every form of devotion it takes its own time. However, such group practices are an integral part of Home Yogis’ Home, as they instantly transcend us to our Anandmayakosa- seat of bliss”, explains, Pankaj Pandey, director Home Yogis’ Home.

The culmination of this ‘blissed out’ path of reaching Durga happened on Ramnavani, April 04, 2017.

Dressed in black & green to represent the control on inner Tamas (inertia)through inner healing, the students invoked inner Shakti via a yogic dance on the tunes of ‘Aigiri Nandini’.

“When our teachers initiated us into the practice, it sounded like just another of those fun things we do as a group. It started with us putting our heads into it. In no time our souls were involved too. We had no worries in our heads just a dedication towards inner awakening,” shares Rupa Pillai, student Home Yogis’ Home.

However, that’s not it. Kirti Tarang Pande, founder Home Yogis’ Home, explains the utilitarian aspect of it, “When we come together as a group for invoking the inner power, the sadhana converts into an anandmela.”

She further adds that by feeding upon the group energy, this practice expresses the divinity within, removes introversion & brings out hidden talents. She explains that this not only transforms us into leaders but works upon the five sheath existence of the human body:

1. At muscular level it brings deep relaxation

2. At pranic level it slows down breathing, enhances balancing & leads to increased life-span

3. At mental level it increases creative & will powers

4. At emotional level it enhances happiness in life & equipoise.

5. At intellectual level it sharpens intellect & calms down the mind.

Pankaj Pandey takes the discussion further by mentioning the four fold effects of this practice on the development of consciousness:

1. It imparts civic sense

2. Inculcates zeal for service

3. Instill a patriotic urge

4. Invokes a spiritual yearning.

“For me the benefit is simple, it kept in the present, so now I know that I am on the right path”, concludes Ms. Pillai with a smile.  

THIS NAVRATRI CHANNELIZE THE INNER ‘SHAKTI’ IN THREE BREATHES

-Kirti Tarang Pande

Official website, Instagram, Twitter

Originally Published in Daily Bhaskar

Yesterday, we discussed Tantra, what it is and what it is not. Today, let’s kick-in Navratri by preparing our bodies for Tantra. Just to refresh, yesterday we talked about how Tantra is a technique of goal achievement by harnessing & focusing our inner power.

This is where Navratri comes in. Tenth Mandal of Riga Veda considers Navratris to be the auspicious time to invoke, channelize and harness the Shakti within.

Yogic concept of ‘Shakti’

This Shakti is ‘Mooladhar Nivasini’, that is, she resides in Mooladhar Chakra- the root chakra. Mooladhar Chakra is responsible for grounding us with this material plane- Khshiti, meaning the earth element.

Kshiti is considered to Tamasic in nature in the practice of Tantra. Tamas brings inertia. Therefore, Shakti by virtue of residing here becomes inert in nature.

In other words, we have an innate power but it is sleep mode. The only time we unconsciously turn it on, is during sex. That’s why it’s common mistake to equate Tantric practice with sex.

We are not aware that we doing it or how we are doing it, so we can’t harness it at our own will. However, the worst part here is that we dispel & just disintegrating the ‘Shakti’ outside our body. This implies that we are not even using it!

How to awaken this ‘Shakti’

Yogataravali Sutra in its 5,6 and 8 sholkas  mentions Bandha as the method to do this. It says:

By the practice of the bandha the dormant Shakti awakens and enters into sushumna nadi. The breath becomes kumbhaka (still), the rechaka (exhalation) and pooraka (inhalation) cease to function. Senses are purified and kevala (enlightenment) takes place.

In fact, Acaranga Sutra of Jainisim cites Mahavir Jain attaining enlightenment through Mula Bandha.

How to practice Mool Bandha?

Basic underlying principle of bandhas is that by locking certain physical muscles, we initiate an unlocking at mental & pranic levels.

Following this principle, we lock the physical muscles around Mooldhar Chakra, to unlock our Mooladhar Nivasini, our Shakti. There are two techniques to do this:

1. Antar & Bahir Kumbhak

2. Maha Mudra Khumbhak

At beginners’ level, one should practice Antar & Bahir Kumbhak.

Step 1 Finding the right muscles:

Now, to find these muscles, in my personal practice it follow a simple method. I imagine that I am stuck in crazy Mumbai traffic & my bladder is bursting. I really have to pee; instinctively my body contracts certain muscles. That’s it; those are the muscles (perineal muscles) we are working upon here.

There’s another way to understand this, where I put out pictures of our anatomy & mention different sets of muscles for men & women. As an instructor, I’ve learnt it the harder way that it just confuses the students.

Step 2 Preparing for the locking

Before locking, we must check if we are in sync with the first Niyam (Dos) of Yoga- Sauch (Inner & outer cleanliness). Our bladder must be empty for this practice.

You can start with sitting in Padmasana. Take a Pooraka (inhale), observe Kumbhak (hold the breathe in), let out Rechaka (exhale) observe Kumbhak. Do this three times to ease your body into Kumbhak.

Step 3 The lock

·         Sit comfortably in Padmasana and bring all your awareness to mooladhar chakra.

·         Breathe in deeply & hold your breathe.

·         Mentally contract the mooladhar chakra by contracting your perineal muscles. Visualize that mooladar chakra is being massaged with your thumb.

·         Chant the beej mantra- lam mentally & visualize the Shakti awakening at the Mooldhar Chakra

·         When it’s no longer comfortable to hold the breathe. Exhale.

·         Before you inhale again, hold the breathe.

·         Mentally contract the mooladhar chakra by contracting your perineal muscles. Visualize that mooladar chakra is being massaged with your thumb.

·         Chant the beej mantra- lam mentally & visualize the Shakti awakening at the Mooldhar Chakra

This is one round. You can start with three rounds & as your practice improves, you can take it up to 12 rounds.

Bonus: A cheat trick

To increase the time of breathe retention you can hold your fingers in Shakti Dharana Mundra- press the breathe base of the thumb with index finger. By doing so you will observe that your capacity of comfortably retaining breathe has doubled.

Caution:

1. It’s not advisable to practice this if one is suffering from irregular periods.

2. Shiv Samhita in Chapter 4 insists that this bandha should only be practiced in isolation.

3. In Vedic Yoga, bandhas are esoteric practices and should only be practiced under the guidance of a Guru. You can use this write up increase to discuss your initiation into Bandhas with your Yoga teacher; but don’t use this write up for practice (especially as a beginner).

In case, you’re a beginner and don’t have a good teacher, keep watching this space; soon I will be sharing how to prepare our bodies for Tantra without a Guru.

Watch out! Everything You Know About Chakras Could Be Wrong!

-by Kirti Tarang Pande

Official Website, Instagram, Twitter

Originally published in Daily Bhaskar

These days, you may or may not find a sea shell in Goa, but what you will find is a Chakra Healer, in every lane! Why single out Goa? The scene is same everywhere-  Bombay, Delhi, Himachal, internet. You landed up on this article, didn’t you? Even in my yoga classes, I have people enquiring,  “Do you teach Chakra Yoga?”, “Do you do Chakra healing?” One lady even asked, “Do you fill your Chakras?”  I don’t  know how to answer  to this. Mostly, because there’s no ‘Yes’ or  ‘No’  reply.  If you’re genuinely interested in Chakra  Healing, this is the answer that you deserve:

 CHAKRA MYTHS BUSTED

Myth 1: There are seven chakras in our body

Shiva Samhitha talks about 72000 nadis in our Pranic System. These are the vessels that carry our Pranic Energy, having 114 junction points (not seven) that we call Chakras.

Myth 2: Every Chakra has a corresponding physical organ

According to Shandilya Upnishad, Chapter I,  Maya-sakti  is embodied in human physiology as subtle centers of expressions of Consciousness (Caitanya), that we call as Chakras. In simple words, Chakras are a part of Cosmic Energy, an energy system much higher than our physical body. Therefore, their functions are in correspondence with our Cosmic existence not our needs of this physical plane.

Now the question arises- if Chakras are there to serve a Cosmic Purpose, why are they such an integral part of Ayurvedic healing? The answer is provided by Dhyana-bindu Upnishad which defines Chakras as centers where Nadis are given their purification. Any form of Chakra Healing method used in Ayurveda, is merely a pump used to flush out the blockage in Nadi system, so as to ensure the free flow of Pranic Energy and not fixing the organ that happens to near the location of that Chakra.  This brings us to your next myth.

Myth 3: “I went for Chakra Healing & it worked wonders!”

You may have gone for a Chakra Healing, the practitioner may have called it a Chakra Healing but actually happened was Pranic Healing. According to Yogakundali Upnishad, Chapter III, Chakras can be opened through inner practices of pranayams, mantra and meditation.  The process can be aided with outer measures like diet & gems. This opening clears the path of nadis for Pranic Energy to move freely and do the necessary healing.

The keyword here is ‘opening’, we are not ‘activating’ the Chakra here.  There’s a difference.  Chakra opening paves path to Pranic Healing. Chakra activation will open the doors to enlightenment.

Myth 4: “I went for a Chakra meditation & now I can feel my Chakras being activated”

Once again, let’s refer to Yogakundali Upnishad.  According to the Upnishad, there are only two ways of Chakra activation- Antaranga & Bhiranga.

Antaranga way: This refers to the inner way through meditation. To activate the base Chakra, it requires double the amount energy required for a normal body & brain to function in a day! Only a sadhak whose body is prepared through asanas, sattvic diet of food and thought, & whose nadis are balanced through pranayams can create that much energy. Channelizing that in right direction is another game. This we are just talking about the base Chakra. As we move up, the requirement of energy doubles.  Keep in mind that there are 114 Chakras in body & do the maths.

Bahiranga way: This refers to the outer path of Chakra Awakening- our actions.  One must understand that Chakra awakening/ activation is a method of reversing the process of creation so that we can unify with the creator. Therefore for instance, if one wants to awaken the Muladhar chakra, then one must withdraw from the element of earth. This can be done by giving up the desire (and actions) of earthly possession & accumulation.

So, how can I get Chakra Healing?

You need to ask yourself- why I am looking for Chakra Healing? If the reason is anything but the desire to be a jnani & reach the state of enlightenment, I strongly recommend switching to Pranic Healing. As according to Prasnopnishad:

Pranasyedam vase saevam tridive yat pratisthitam

Mateva putran raksasva srisca prajnamsca videhi na eti

(Meaning: Whatever exists in three worlds is all under the control of Prana. Protecting us as a mother protects her sons; giving us affluence and intelligence.)

However, if you’re in pursuit of Moksha, then I recommend finding a siddha guru with right motivation and taking refuge in him. Please note: Chakra Activation is a tantric process and should only be done under tutelage of a Siddha guru.

 How can I find the right Pranic Healer?

You already have one- You! No one can channelize your Pranic Energy better than you. You just need to know how. At my shala Home Yogis’ Home we always teach our students (even the beginners) basic pranic healing techniques, you can request your yoga teacher to do the same. Happy healing!

Your 'Gratitude Thinking' May Not Be Good For Your Karma

-Kirti Tarang Pande

Official website, Instagram, Twitter

Originally Published in Daily Bhaskar

Incidence 1

Recollect- The Rangbhoomi scene of Mahabharata, unchallenged, unparalleled Arjuna had stolen the show, he was about to be declared warrior of the day & that’s when it happens- arrival of Karna.

He wants to take on Arjuna, but due to his low-birth it was forbidden to him.

Duryodhana saves the day for Karna, by crowning him the King of Anga. What does Karna do?

Veda Vyasa in Mahabharata writes-

“Karna sets his emotions free to flow, through his eyes, in the form of tears. He asks Duryodhana, “How may I be of service to you?””

Now think- What you would have done in similar situation- a man saves you from a national humiliation, makes you the king! What would you say?

I would say, “Thank you”, as a reflex. Karna didn’t. Note the choice of his words,”How may I be of service to you”, and not, “How can I repay you?”

Does it mean Karna was ungrateful?

Let’s look at it from the prism of another incidence-

Incidence 2

Recollect- When Hanuman meets Sita in Ashok Vatika, as a messenger of Rama. He shows her Rama’s ring & tells her that her husband will be here to rescue her. How did Sita respond?

Rishi Valmiki writes,

“Upon knowing that he is a messenger of Rama, she blesses him. With a heart overwhelmed with joy & grief, she says; “Give your master my Pranam (salutation)”

Now think- If you were trapped by the most feared person of our times & suddenly someone comes and says, “Rescue team is on its way.”  Wouldn’t you thank that person or at least send your gratitude to the rescue team?

Sita didn’t

.

Does it mean Sita was ungrateful?

Before judging further, let’s understand what gratitude means?

In today’s society it’s the ‘trending’ thing. Saying ‘thank you’ not only reflects our politeness & manners but practicing gratitude gives one the most ‘in’ label of being a ‘spiritual person’ these days.

However, for true yogis & advanced practitioners of ancient Vedic wisdom (like Karna & Sita), this is a sign of ignorance- this gratitude towards another human being because s/he was of service to us.

Why?

Answer is given by Krishna in Gita. While talking about Vedic concept of Janana Yoga (The path of wisdom), 

Krishna says;

Gatsangasya Muktasya Gyanavstitchetasah|

Yagyayachratah Karma Samagram Praviliyate||

-Gita 4.23

Beyond attachment, free & with a mind established in knowledge, when he performs action for a yajna alone, everything is destroyed.

It means that when we perform an action, with the attitude of performing a yajna (a Hindu purification ritual of making offerings to scared fire), surrendering our every action as a service of society, one gets freedom from the bondage of Karma. There’s no negative or positive Karma attached to such an act. This is the easiest path of ultimate liberation (knowledge, happiness & bliss). Since, our Atman takes a body to pay dues for negative Karma & reap benefits of positive Karma.

Conversely, when we say ‘thank you’ we form a Karmic alliance with that person. The alliance is formed out of our ignorance of cosmic law; which in Gita, Krishna describes as:

“Na Mam Karmani Limpanti Na Me Karmaphale Spraha|

Iti Mam Yobhijanati Karmabhi Nars Badhyate||

- Gita 4.1

In Bhavatakmak way, it means that Atman, our inner & true self, isn’t interested in the fruits of actions that we perform. Since our inner & true self has the awareness that by performing actions in this way, it can’t be tied in the chain of Karma.

Our conscious mind may not be aware of this process though, because over the years we have become aloof to our inner & true self. In this equation, when we add ‘Thank You’, we hurt the person in two ways:

1. We take the person further away from the inner-true self.

2. We tie the person in Karmic cycle of birth & rebirth.

Then what to do?

There are ways:

1. Follow Karna’s model: Gift the person the pleasure to witness the joy the action has brought to you, by expressing our emotions. Then connect with your heart in the wisdom- That the person in didn’t do a ‘favor’, but merely performed his dharma. You, in turn, perform yours.

2. Follow Sita’s model: Bless or offer salutations to that person, whatever comes naturally to you. Please note- the blessing/salutations should be seated in love & not in gratitude.

For example- When we get a glass of water to our grand-parents, they don’t say ‘thank you’, they say ‘Bhagwan bhala kare’ (May God Bless you), ‘jug jug jiyo’ (May you live long) etc

3. Use ‘Namaste’ instead- Namaste means I bow to the divine in you. This means that you’re acknowledging that the performed action was yagna & you are bowing to that.

For example- Remember our good old Kirane wale bhaiya( grocery man), he never thanked us for shopping with him, like billing guys in supermarket nor did our parents thanked him for assisting in shopping, like we say to the sales girls in stores. They would simple say ‘namaste’ to each other & would (knowingly/ unknowingly) transcend their materialistic transaction to spiritual level.

4. Path of least resistance- You may say ‘thank you’ with your mouth, but keep your heart & emotions firmly seated in any of the above mentioned options.

Namaste!