Surya Kumbhaka

On breathing techniques: Surya Bedha - The Disease Killer

Benefit

Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Source: Yoga-Sikhopanishad 91-92

Original Verse:

"सूर्यनाड्या समाकृष्य वायुमभ्यासयोगिना ।

विधिवत् कुम्भकं कृत्वा रेचयेच्छीतरश्मिना ॥ ९१ ॥

उदरे बहुरोगघ्नं क्रिमिदोषं निहन्ति च ।

मुहुर्मुहुरिदं कार्यं सूर्यभेदमुदाहृतम् ॥ ९२ ॥ "

Transliteration:

"sūryanāḍyā samākṛṣya vāyumabhyāsaYoginā |

vidhivat Kumbhakaṃ kṛtvā recayecchītaraśminā ॥ 91 ॥

udare bahurogaghnaṃ krimidoṣaṃ nihanti ca |

muhurmuhuridaṃ kāryaṃ sūryabhedamudāhṛtam ॥ 92 ॥ "

Translation:

"By the practicing Yogin should be drawn in the vital air through the Solar Nadi. After performing Kumbhaka as prescribed in the rule, he should expel (it) through the lunar (Nadi). This, which kills many a disease of the belly and extirpates the malignant influence due to (intestinal) worms, should often and often be performed and is known as Surya-bheda (breaking through the Solar Nadi). "

The Surya Kumbhaka - A Powerful Purifying Technique

Technique

Pramana: Śāstra Pramāṇa - शास्त्र प्रमाण

Source: Yoga Kundali-Upanishad I 22-26

Original Verse:

"पवित्रे निर्जने देशे शर्करादिविवर्जिते ।

धनुःप्रमाणपर्यन्ते शीताग्निजलवर्जिते ॥ २२ ॥

पवित्रे नात्युच्चनीचे ह्यासने सुखदे सुखे ।

बद्धपद्मासनं कृत्वा सरस्वत्यास्तु चालनम् ॥ २३ ॥

दक्षनाड्या समाकृष्य बहिष्ठं पवनं शन्ऐः ।

यथेष्टं पूरयेद्वायुं रेचयेदिडया ततः ॥ २४ ॥

कपालशोधने वापि रेचयेत् पवनं शन्ऐः ।

चतुष्कं वातदोषं तु कृमिदोषं निहन्ति च ॥ २५ ॥

पुनः पुनरिदं कार्यं सूर्यभेदमुदाहृतम् ।"

Transliteration:

"pavitre nirjane deśe śarkarādivivarjite |

dhanuḥpramāṇaparyante śītāgnijalavarjite ॥ 22 ॥

pavitre nātyuccanīce hyāsane sukhade sukhe |

baddhapadmāsanaṃ kṛtvā sarasvatyāstu cālanam ॥ 23 ॥

dakṣanāḍyā samākṛṣya bahiṣṭhaṃ pavanaṃ śanaiḥ |

yatheṣṭaṃ pūrayedvāyuṃ recayediḍayā tataḥ ॥ 24 ॥

kapālaśodhane vāpi recayet pavanaṃ śanaiḥ |

catuṣkaṃ vātadoṣaṃ tu kṛmidoṣaṃ nihanti ca ॥ 25 ॥

punaḥ punaridaṃ kāryaṃ sūryabhedamudāhṛtam | "

Translation:

In a hallowed and secluded spot devoid of pebbles and the like, which is within the ambit of a bow (in extent), devoid of chillness, fire and water, sacred, on a seat neither high nor low, which gives comfort and is easy to take, assuming the baddha-padmasana posture, and with the rousing of the Sarasvati, slowly drawing in the external air through the right Nadi one should fill-in the air as much as could be desired and then expel it through the Ida or drive up the air slowly for purifying the skull. This destroys the four kinds of disorders arising out of Vata and also intestinal worms. This should be practiced again and again and is known as the Surya variety.