Siva Samhita 4

 

  1. Methods of liberation and philosophical standpoints
  2. Nadis, internal fire, and working of the jiva
  3. Winds in the body, importance of the guru, the four stages of Yoga, the five elemental visualizations and four asanas
  4. Eleven mudras and yogic attainments
  5. Obstacles to liberation, the four types of aspirants, technique of shadow gazing, internal sound, esoteric centers and energies, the seven lotuses, the "king of kings of yogas", and a global mantra

 

Yoni-Mudra. The Sacred Drink of the Kaulas.

1 . First with a strong inspiration fix the mind in the adhar lotus. Then engage in contracting the Yoni, which is situated in the perineal space.

2. There let him contemplate that the God of love resides in that Brahma Yoni and that he is beautiful like Bandhuk flower (Pentapetes pheanicia)— brilliant as tens of millions of suns, and cool as tens of millions of moons. Above this {Yoni) is a small and subtle flame, whose form is intelligence. Then let him imagine that a union takes place there between himself and that flame (the Siva and Sakti).

3. (Then imagine that) - There go up through the sushumna vessel, three bodies in their due order (i.e., the etheric, the astral and the mental bodies). There is emitted in every chakra the nectar, the characteristic of which is great bliss. Its colour is whitish rosey (pink), full of splendor, showering down in jets the immortal fluid. Let him drink this wine of immortality which is divine, and then again enter the Kula {i.e., perineal space.)
Note. While these subtle bodies go up, they drink at every stage this nectar, called Kulamrita.

4. Then let him go again to the Kula through the practice of mantrayoga {i.e., pranayama). This Yoni has been called by me in the Tantras as equal to life.

5. Again let him be absorbed in that Yoni, where dwells the fire of death - the nature of Shiva, &c. Thus has been described by me the method of practicing the great Yoni-mudra. From success in its practice, there is nothing which cannot be accomplished.

6. Even those mantras which are deformed {chhinna) or paralyzed {Kilita), scorched {stambhita) by fire, or whose flame has become attenuated, or are dark, and ought to be abandoned, or which are evil, or too old, or which are proud of their budding youth, or have gone over to the side of the enemy, or weak and essenceless without vitality; or which have been divided into hundreds of parts, even they become fertile through time and method. All these can give powers and emancipation when properly given to the disciple by the Guru, after having initiated him according to proper rites, and bathed him a thousand times. This Yoni-mudra has been described, in order that the student may deserve (to be initiated into the mysteries of) and receive the mantras.

7. He who practices Yoni-Mudra is not polluted by sin, were he to murder a thousand Brahmanas or kill all the inhabitants of the three worlds —
8. Were he to kill his teacher or drink wine or commit theft, or violate the bed of his preceptor, he is not stained by these sins also, by virtue of this mudra.

9. Therefore, those who wish for emancipation should practice this daily. Through practice {abhyasa), success is obtained; through practice one gains liberation.

10. Perfect consciousness is gained through practice. Yoga is attained through practice; success in Mudra comes by practice; through practice is gained success in pranayama. Death can be cheated of its prey through practice, and man becomes the conqueror of death by practice.

11. Through practice one gets the power of vach (prophecy), and the power of going everywhere, through mere exertion of will. This Yoni-mudra should be kept in great secrecy, and not be given to everybody. Even when threatened with death, it should not be revealed or given to others.

The Awakening of Kundalini.

12. Now I shall tell you the best means of attaining success in Yoga. The practitioners should keep it secret. It is the most inaccessible Yoga.

13. When the sleeping goddess Kundalini is awakened, through the grace of Guru, when all the lotuses and the bonds are readily pierced through and through.

14. Therefore, in order that the goddess, who is asleep in the mouth of the Brahmarandhra (the innermost hollow of sushumna) be awakened, the mudras should be practiced with the greatest care.

15. Out of the many mudras, the following ten are the best: (1) Mahamudra, (2) Mahabandha, (3) Mahavedha, (4) Khechari, (5) Jalandhar, (6) Mulabandha, (7) Viparitkarana, (8) Uddana, (9) Vajrondi, and (10) Shaktichalana.

16. My dearest, I shall now describe to you the Mahamudra, from whose knowledge the ancient sages Kapila and others obtained success in Yoga.

(1) Mahamudra.

17. In accordance with the instructions of the Guru, press gently the perineum with the heel of the left foot.
Stretching the right foot out, hold it fast by the two hands. Having closed the nine gates (of the body), place the chin on the chest. Then concentrate the vibrations of the mind and inspire air and retain it by kumbhaka (so long as one can comfortably keep it). This is the Mahamudra, held secret in all the Tantras. The steady-minded Yogi, having practiced it on the left side should then practice it on the right side; and in all cases must be firm in pranayama - the regulation of his breath.

18. In this way, even the most unfortunate Yogi might obtain success. By this means all the vessels of the body are roused and stirred into activity; the life is increased and its decay is checked, and all sins are destroyed.
All diseases are healed, and the gastric fire is increased. It gives faultless beauty to the body, and destroys decay and death. All fruits of desire and pleasure are obtained, and the senses are conquered. The Yogi fixed in meditation acquires all the above-mentioned things, through practice. There should be no hesitation in doing so.

19. O ye worshipped of the gods! know that this mudra is to be kept secret with the greatest care. Obtaining this, the Yogi crosses the ocean of the world.

20. This Mudra, described by me, is the giver of all desires to the practitioner; it should be practiced in secrecy, and ought never to be given to everybody.

(2) Maha-Bandha.

21. Then (after Mahamudra), having extended the (right) foot, place it on the (left) thigh; contract the perineum, and draw the apana vayu upwards and join it with the samana vayu; bend the prana vayu down- wards, and then let the wise Yogi bind them in trinity in the navel (i.e. the prana and the apana should be joined with the Samana in the navel. I have told you how the Mahabandha, which shows the way to emancipation. By this, all the fluids in the vessels of the body of the Yogi are propelled towards the head.
This should be practiced with great care, alternately with both feet.

22. Through this practice, the wind enters the middle channel of Sushumna, the body is invigorated by it, the bones are firmly knitted, the heart of the Yogi becomes full (of cheerfulness). By this Bandha, the great Yogi accomplishes all his desires.

(3) Maha-Vedha.

23. O goddess of the three worlds! when the Yogi, while performing the Mahabandha, causes the union of the prana and apana vayus and filling in the viscera with air drives it slowly towards the nates, it is called Mahavedha.

24. The best of the Yogis having, through the help of the vayu, pierced with this perforator the knot which is in the path of sushumna, should then pierce the knot of Brahma.

25. He who practices this Mahavedha with great secrecy, obtains vayu-siddhi (success over the wind). It destroys decay and death.

26. The gods residing in the chakras tremble owing to the gentle influx and efflux of air in pranayama; the great goddess, Kunali Maha Maya, is also absorbed in the mount Kailasa.

27. The Mahamudra and Mahabandha become fruitless if they are not followed by Mahavedha; therefore, the Yogi should practices all these three successively with great care.

28. He who practices these three daily four times with great care, undoubtedly conquers death within six months.

29. Only the siddha knows the importance of these three and no one else; knowing these, the practitioner obtains all success.

30. This should be kept in great secrecy by the practitioner desirous of obtaining power; otherwise, it is certain that the coveted powers can never be obtained through the practice of Mudras.

(4) Khechari.

31 . The wise Yogi, sitting in vajrasana posture, in a place free from all disturbance, should firmly fix his gaze on the spot in the middle of the two eyebrows; and reversing the tongue backwards, fix it in the hollow under the epi-glottis, placing it with great care on the mouth of the well of nectar, {i.e. closing up the air passage). This mudra, described by me at the request of my devotees, is the Khecharimudra.

32. O, my beloved! know this to be the source of all success, always practicing it let him drink the ambrosia daily. By this he obtains vigraha-siddhi (power over the microcosm), even as a lion over the elephant of death.

33. Whether pure or impure, in whatever condition one may be, if success be obtained in Khechari, he becomes pure. There is no doubt of it.

34. He who practices it even for a moment crosses the great ocean of sins, and having enjoyed the pleasures of Deva-world is born into a noble family.

35. He who practices this Khecharimudra calmly and without laziness counts as seconds the period of hundred Brahmas.

36. He who knows this Khecharimudra according to the instructions of his Guru, obtains the highest end, though immersed in great sins.

37. O, ye adored of gods! this mudra, dear as life, should not be given to everybody; it should be kept concealed with great care.

(5) Jalandhara.

38. Having contracted the muscles of the throat press the chin on the breast. This is said to be the Jalandhara- Mudra. Even gods reckon it as inestimable. The fire in the region of the navel (i.e., the gastric juice) drinks the nectar which exudes out of the thousand-petalled lotus. (In order to prevent the nectar to be thus consumed), he should practice this bandha.

39. Through this bandha, the wise Yogi himself drinks the nectar, and, obtaining immortality, enjoys the three worlds.

40. This Jalandhara-bandha is the giver of success to the practitioner; the Yogi desirous of success should practice it daily.

(6) Mula-bandha.

41. Pressing well the anus with the heel, forcibly draw upwards the apana vayu slowly by practice. This is described as the Mula-bandha - the destroyer of decay and death.

42. If, in the course of the practice of this mudra, the Yogi can unite the apana with the prana vayu, then it becomes of course the Yoni-mudra.

43. He who has accomplished Yoni-mudra, what can he not accomplish in this world. Sitting in the padmas ana posture, free from idleness, the Yogi, leaving the ground, moves through the air, by the virtue of this mudra.

44. If the wise Yogi is desirous of crossing the ocean of the world, let him practice this bandha in secret, in a retired place.

(7) Viparit-karana.

45. Putting the head on the ground, let him stretch out his legs upwards, moving them round and round. This is Viparit-karana, kept secret in all the Tantras.

46. The Yogi who practices it daily for three hours, conquers death, and is not destroyed even in the pralaya.

47. He who drinks nectar becomes equal to Siddhas; he who practices this bandha becomes an adept among creatures.

(8) Uddana-bandha.

48. When the intestines above and below the navel are brought to the left side, it is called Uddana-bandha - the destroyer of all sins and sorrows. The left side viscera of the abdominal cavity should be brought above the navel. This Uddana-bandha, the lion of the elephant of death.

49. The Yogi, who practices it four times a day, purifies thereby his navel, through which the winds are purified.

50. By practicing it for six months, the Yogi certainly conquers death; the gastric fire is kindled, and there takes place an increase of the fluids of the body.

5 1 . Through this, consequently, the vigrahasiddhi is also obtained. All the diseases of the Yogi are certainly destroyed by it.

52. Having the method from the Guru, the wise Yogi should practice it with great care. This most inaccessible Mudra should be practiced in a retired and undisturbed place.

(9) Vajrondi-mudra.

53. Actuated by mercy for my devotees, I shall now explain the Vajrondi-mudra, the destroyer of the darkness of the world, the most secret among all secrets.

54. Even while following all his desires, and without conforming to the regulations of Yoga, a householder can become emancipated, if he practices the Vajrondi-mudra.

55. This Vajroliyoga practice gives emancipation even when one is immersed in sensuality; therefore it should be practiced by the Yogi with great care.

56. First let the talented practitioner introduce into his own body, according to the proper methods, the germ- cells from the female organ of generation, by suction up through the tube of the urethra; restraining his own semen, let him practice copulation. If by chance the semen begins to move, let him stop its emission by the practice of the Yoni-mudra. Let him place the semen on the left hand duct, and stop further intercourse.
After a while, let him continue it again. In accordance with the instruction of his preceptors and by uttering the sound hum, let him forcibly draw up through the contraction of the Apana Vayu the germ-cells from the uterus.

57. The Yogi, worshipper of the lotus-feet of his Guru, should in order to obtain quick success in Yoga drink milk or nectar in this way.

58. Know semen to be moon-like, and the germ-cells the emblem of sun; let the Yogi make their union in his own body with great care.

59. I am the semen, Sakti is the germ fluid; when they both are combined, then the Yogi reaches the state of success, and his body becomes brilliant and divine.

60. Ejaculation of semen is death, preserving it within is life; therefore, let the Yogi preserve his semen with great care.

61. Verily, verily, men are born and die through semen; knowing this, let the Yogi always practice to preserve his semen.

62. When through great efforts success in the preservation of the semen is obtained, what then cannot be achieved in this world? Through the greatness of its preservation one becomes like me in glory.

63. The vindu (semen) causes the pleasure and pain of all creatures living in this world, who are infatuated, and are subject to death and decay. For the Yogi, this preservation of semen is the best of all Yogas, and it is the giver of happiness.

64. Though immersed in enjoyments, men get powers through its practice. Through the force of his practice, he becomes an adept in due season, in his present life.

65. The Yogi certainly obtains through this practice all kinds of powers, at the same time enjoying all the innumerable enjoyments of the world.

66. This Yoga can be practiced along with much enjoyment; therefore the Yogi should practice it.

67. There are two modifications of the Vajrondi, called Sahajoni and Amarani. By all means let the Yogi preserve the semen.

68. If at the time of copulation the vindu is forcibly emitted, and there takes place an union of the sun and the moon, then let him absorb this mixture through the tube of the male organ [urethra]. This is Amarani.

69. The method by which the vindu on the point of emission can be withheld through Yoni-mudra is called Sahajoni. It is kept secret in all the Tantras.

70. Though ultimately the action of them {Amarani and Sahajoni) is the same, there are arisen differences owing to the difference of nomenclature. Let the Yogi practice them with the greatest care and perseverance.

71. Through love for my devotees, I have revealed this Yoga; it should be kept secret with the greatest care, and not be given to everybody.

72. It is the most secret of all secrets that ever were or shall be; therefore let the prudent Yogi keep it with the greatest secrecy possible.

73. When at the time of voiding urine the Yogi draws it up forcibly through the Apana- Vayu, and keeping it up, discharges it slowly and slowly; and practices this daily according to the instructions of his Guru, he obtains the vindu-siddhi (power over semen) that gives great powers.

74. He who practices this daily according to the instructions of his Guru does not lose his semen, were he to enjoy a hundred women at a time.

75. O Parvati! When vindu-siddhi is obtained, what else cannot be accomplished? Even the inaccessible glory of my godhead can be attained through it.

(10) Shakti-chalan.

76. Let the wise Yogi forcibly and firmly draw up the goddess Kundali sleeping in the adhar lotus, by means of the apana vayu. This is Shakti-chalan mudra, the giver of all powers.

77. He who practices this Shakti-chalan daily, gets increase of life and destruction of diseases.

78. Leaving sleep, the serpent (i.e. the Kundalini) herself goes up; therefore let the Yogi desirous of power practice this.

79. He who practices always this best Shakti-chalan according to the instructions of his Guru, obtains the vigraha-siddhi, which gives the powers of anima, etc., and has no fear of death.

80. He who practices the Shakti-chalan properly for two seconds, and with care, is very near to success. This mudra should be practiced by the Yogi in the proper posture.

81 . These are the ten mudras whose equal there never was nor ever shall be: through the practice of any one of them, a person becomes a siddha and obtains success.