Bandhas: Powers of the ‘Inner World’ - Bandhas
-By Yogi Ashwini ji of Dhyan Foundation

This series of articles on the power and ability of the “Inner World”tells you how to attain a glow without artificial aids and develop self confidence and emotional stability.

The proper practice of the Bandhas under a Guru’s guidance has the effect of bringing a youthful glow to the practitioners, it brings Sthirta to oneself and a strong self confidence is developed. Basic imbalances which are a cause of most diseases disappear and one feels happy and youthful at all times.

There are two kinds of worlds, one the outer or the manifested, the second, the inner or the unmanifested. This unmanifested has the ability and power to manifest at will. Its potential is unlimited. What has been manifested is only a fraction of what is possible. This is what our Rishis of the Vedic era discussed and passed down to us to benefit from.

Is it not so true that whenever we have to find the solution to a major problem we always go inwards and ponder? Is it not also true that to become a Buddha ( Master of the Buddhi, here implying the mastery over five senses of touch, taste, hearing, seeing, smell) one has to close one’s eyes and look inwards for ages?

Is it not true that before the atomic bomb was made, the thought first came in the inner world and that is what was eventually manifested in the physical? It is doubtless that the “Inner World” is real and the physical only a fraction of its reflection.

It is most unfortunate that in the modern day world Yoga is synonymous with asanas which are further synonymous with exercises. Exercises work from the outer to the inner world, which is not what our Rishis intended. The manifested world is too weak; it’s too fragile and limited. Its effects are too short lived.

A Yogi remains healthy and glowing till his death. Paramhansa Yogananda was glowing even till a week before leaving his body. This is not achieved by doing complicated asanas and exercises. It is done by practices which are internal, whilst otheir effects manifest themselves externally. The Mahabandha is one such practice.

We will now explain the four bandhas i.e Jalandhara Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha, Mool Bandha, and the Mahabandha.

Caution:

All bandhas should be done when the body is free of any disease, abnormality or injury, and under the guidance of a Guru.
Practice of Mahabandha awakens the kundalini, the symptoms of which only a Guru can control.
The excessive energy produced by Mahabandha should be directed towards good causes.
The glow and stability which a practitioner acquires should never be used to show someone else down.

# Initially all four bandhas have to be done for 10 seconds each. Then gradually increased to one minute. If any discomfort is felt then consult a Guru.
# Spine has to remain erect in all four Bandhas.

Mool Bandha

Sitting in siddha asana, keep your awareness at the perineum, the point between the anus and the genitals. Now contract the perennial muscle lifting it up towards the navel. This Bandha opens the Brahma Granthi.

Uddiyana Bandha

It is used to open up the Vishnu Granthi. Sitting in siddha asana exhale completely, by pulling the abdominal region towards the spine and then lifting it upwards towards the diaphragm, thus creating the bandha. (if you have strong stomach muscles then to an observer the stomach might not seem to have gone inside”.)

Jalandhara Bandha

Sitting in Vajra Asana and keeping the back erect slowly push your chin down towards the throat pit forming a lock without putting pressure on the nape and without curving the spine. It helps open the Rudra Granthi.

Mahabandha

Sit in Vajra Asana keeping the back straight. Mahabandha is when we do all three bandhas together starting from the Mool bandha going to the Uddiyanabandha and then doing the Jalandhara bandha. When we release the bandha we start in the reverse order releasing the Jalandhara first then the Uddiyana and then the Mool bandha.

Bandhas generate the heat inside which is essential for opening the Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra Granthis causing the Kundalini to rise up the sushumna nadi which is essential for evolution.