7.3 Gheranda Samhita: Saptanga Yoga & Shatkarmas

7.3 Gheranda Samhita: Saptanga Yoga & Shatkarmas

The Gheranda Samhita (घेरण्डसंहिता), composed around the late 17th century CE, is one of the three foundational manuals of Hatha Yoga (alongside Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Shiva Samhita). Framed as a dialogue between the revered Sage Gheranda and his disciple King Chanda Kapali, the text presents a unique 7-fold path termed Ghatastha Yoga (Physiological/Physical Vessel Yoga). The human body is compared to an unbaked clay pot (Ghata) that dissolves in water unless tempered by the fire of yogic discipline.

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Saptanga Yoga: The 7 Limbs of Ghatastha Yoga

Unlike Maharshi Patanjali's 8-limbed Ashtanga Yoga or Swatmarama's 4-limbed Chatushpanga Yoga, Sage Gheranda formulates a 7-fold path (Saptanga Yoga). Each limb yields a specific, indispensable physiological and spiritual outcome.

"शोधनं दृढता चैव स्थैर्यं धैर्यं च लाघवम्। प्रत्यक्षं च निर्लिप्तं च घटस्थस्य हेतवः॥"
(Gheranda Samhita 1.9)

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The 6 Shatkarmas (Purification Practices in Chapter 1)

Sage Gheranda places Shatkarma at the very beginning of practice. Without inner cleanliness (Shodhana), higher practices of Asana and Pranayama can trigger energetic imbalances.

                          ┌── 1. Antardhauti (Vatasara, Varisara, Vahnisara, Bahiskrita)
                          ├── 2. Dantadhauti (Danta, Jihva, Karna, Kapalarandhra)
         ┌── 1. DHAUTI ───┼── 3. Hrid-dhauti (Danda, Vamana, Vastra)
         │                └── 4. Mula-shodhana (Cleansing rectum with turmeric/water)
         │
         ├── 2. BASTI ────┬── 1. Jala Basti (Water colonic in Utkatasana)
         │                └── 2. Shushka / Sthala Basti (Dry colonic with Nauli/Ashvini)
         │
SHATKARMA ├── 3. NETI ─────┬── Sutra Neti (thread through nostril, out of the mouth) - Gheranda's form
         │                └── Jala Neti (saline nasal wash) - later form, in the YCB practical
         │
         ├── 4. LAULIKI ──> Abdominal isolation & churning (Nauli in HYP)
         │
         ├── 5. TRATAKA ──> Gazing steadily at small target without blinking until tears flow
         │
         └── 6. KAPALABHATI ┬── 1. Vatakrama (Bellows breathing - like HYP)
                            ├── 2. Vyutkrama (Sniffing water through nose, expelling via mouth)
                            └── 3. Sheetkrama (Sucking water through mouth, expelling via nose)

Detailed Breakdown of the Shatkarmas

1. Dhauti (Cleansing): Divided into 4 major sub-categories:

   • Antardhauti: Internal cleansing — Vatasara (air suction), Varisara (Sankhaprakshalana / full intestinal water wash), Vahnisara/Agnisara (pumping navel 100 times to ignite Agni), and Bahiskrita (swallowing air, holding in belly, expelling rectum for washing).
   • Dantadhauti: Cleansing teeth, root of tongue (Jihva-shodhana), ears, and cranial depression (Kapalarandhra).
   • Hrid-dhauti: Cardiac/throat wash via Danda (banana stalk), Vamana (vomiting salty water), or Vastra (swallowing 20-foot cotton cloth strip).
   • Mula-shodhana: Rectal cleansing using a turmeric root or middle finger with water.

2. Basti (Yogic Enema):

   • Jala Basti: Drawing water into the colon through a catheter while squatting in water in Utkatasana, using Uddiyana and Nauli to flush the bowels.
   • Shushka/Sthala Basti: Dry colonic cleansing by drawing air into colon using Ashvini Mudra.

3. Neti (Nasal Cleansing): Gheranda Samhita 1.50–1.51 describes only the thread form (Sutra Neti)—a fine thread passed through the nostril and drawn out of the mouth. The water form (Jala Neti) entered the tradition later; the YCB Level 3 practical syllabus prescribes both Sutra Neti and Jala Neti.

4. Lauliki (Abdominal Churning): Rotating abdominal rectus muscles rapidly left and right (identical to Nauli in HYP).

5. Trataka (Steady Gazing): Staring without blinking at a minute object (candle flame or dot) until tears flow; cures eye diseases and unlocks divine sight (Divya-drishti).

6. Kapalabhati (Skull Cleansing): Divided into 3 unique sub-types:

   • Vatakrama: Standard expelling of air rapidly through nostrils.
   • Vyutkrama: Drawing warm water up through nostrils and expelling it out of mouth.
   • Sheetkrama: Sucking water in through mouth with a 'sheet' sound and expelling it out of nostrils.

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32 Asanas in Gheranda Samhita (Chapter 2)

Sage Gheranda notes that there are 8.4 million (84 Lakhs) Asanas spoken by Shiva, matching the species of living beings. Out of these, 84 are prominent, and 32 are select postures declared useful for human beings on earth:

1. Siddhasana 2. Padmasana 3. Bhadrasana 4. Muktasana 5. Vajrasana 6. Swastikasana 7. Simhasana 8. Gomukhasana 9. Virasana 10. Dhanurasana 11. Mrtasana (Shavasana) 12. Gupta 13. Matsyasana 14. Matsyendrasana 15. Gorakshasana 16. Paschimottanasana 17. Utkatasana 18. Samkatasana 19. Mayurasana 20. Kukkutasana 21. Kurmasana 22. Uttana Kurmasana 23. Uttana Mandukasana 24. Vrikshasana 25. Mandukasana 26. Garudasana 27. Vrishabhasana 28. Shalabhasana 29. Makarasana 30. Ustrasana 31. Bhujangasana 32. Yogasana.

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25 Mudras & Pancha Dharana (Chapter 3)

Gheranda Samhita describes 25 Mudras (including Bandhas). Most notably, it incorporates the Pancha Dharana Mudras (5 Elemental Concentration Gestures) to master the five Mahabhutas:

1. Parthivi Dharana (Earth Element): Focus on Yellow Earth element at Mooladhara with Prithvi Beeja LAM; bestows stability and ground mastery.
2. Ambhasi Dharana (Water Element): Focus on White Water element at Swadhisthana with Varuna Beeja VAM; destroys fear of drowning.
3. Tejasi / Vaishnavani Dharana (Fire Element): Focus on Red Fire element at Manipura with Agni Beeja RAM; conquers fear of fire.
4. Vayavi Dharana (Air Element): Focus on Smoky Air element at Anahata with Vayu Beeja YAM; allows practitioner to move through air.
5. Akashi Dharana (Ether Element): Focus on Space element at Vishuddhi with Akasha Beeja HAM; unlocks door to liberation.

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Summary of Key Exam Points

• Text & Author: Gheranda Samhita; Dialogue between Sage Gheranda & King Chanda Kapali.
• System Name: Ghatastha Yoga / Saptanga Yoga (7-fold path).
• 7 Limbs & Results: Shatkarma (Shodhana), Asana (Dridhta), Mudra (Sthirata), Pratyahara (Dhairya), Pranayama (Laghava), Dhyana (Pratyakshata), Samadhi (Nirliptata).
• 6 Shatkarmas: Dhauti (4 types), Basti (2 types), Neti (Sutra Neti in Gheranda; Jala Neti added later), Lauliki, Trataka, Kapalabhati (Vatakrama, Vyutkrama, Sheetkrama).
• Asanas: 32 select postures described out of 84 lakhs.
• Mudras: 25 described, featuring 5 Pancha Dharana Mudras (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether).