Swara Vigyan

Kabir in one of his famous writings, immortalised by legendary classical singer Shri Kumar Gandharva in his “ Nirgun-Nirbhaya” bhajan, gives essence of Swara Vigyan in following words :

इंगला-पिंगला-सुखमन नाड़ी.;  त्रिवेणी पे हां नहाऊंगा || (Ingila, Pingala and Sukhman are the Channels; I Will Bathe at the Confluence of the Three Rivers)

'Nirbhay Nirgun Gun Re' sings Pt. Kumar Gandharva - YouTube

Diving deep into concepts of Swara vigyan & Hatha Yoga, one comes across the concepts of Prana and Nadis. The Prana flows through our body through wire like channels known as Nadis, which are described to be 3,50,000 in number, as per Shiva Samhita (& differently in some other texts). The purpose of Hath Yoga was to cleanse these Nadis to keep the flow of energy smooth, through physical Aasanas and Pranayam. This was a preparation for the activation of eight Chakras and ultimately the Kundalini Shakti. Awakening of Kundalini with impure Nadis is considered a recipe for disaster. Thus, Hatha Yoga uses Prana as the key to expand awareness of consciousness and realise the self. On the other hand, various other Sanatan systems of Yoga may achieve the same by purifying the intellect and developing wisdom. 

In the Upanishads, prana vayu is also called as the Apana (In breath), Samana (the out breath) and Udana (Up breath). Similar terms are also used in Buddhist Vipassana meditation. Samana is related to Sushumna nadi and is linked to Kundalini  Activation. 

We do not always breathe through both the nostrils, usually one nostril is open and the other is partially or fully closed (Alternate Rhinitis). In Yoga, this is known as Swara. Breath alternates between Ida & Pinagala every hour which in turn is associated with activation of right & left hemispheres respectively. When the left Nostril is flowing, it means the Ida is active & the mind is dominant, When the right nostril is flowing it means the breath in Pingala is active and the pranas are predominating.

If the Ida is flowing and you are practicing meditation, you will go to sleep and your brain will produce delta waves. If the right nostril is flowing and you are trying to meditate, your brain will produce beta waves and your mind will be full of thoughts. 

When both nostrils are flowing equally that means Sushumna is flowing. Sushumna is conducive to meditation. Thus Sushumna activation is a prerequisite for Kundalini activation.

During flow of Ida one should do quiet tasks associated with mental creativity while during flow of Pingala, physical work should be done which require logic and systematic thinking. Sushumna flow is conducive to Yoga & dhyana.

Different Manifestaions of the three Nadis are tabulated as under:

Ida (Breath through Left Nostril is freely flowing)	Sushumna (Balanced & equal flow)	Pingala (Breath through Right nostril is flowing freely)
Feminine	Androgynous	Masculine
Night	Sunrise/Sunset	Day
Moon	Cosmic Light	Sun
Cold	temperate	Hot
Internal/Passive	Centred	External/Active
Ganga	Saraswati	Yamuna
Blue	Yellow	Red
Brahma	Rudra	Vishnu
Sattwa (Tamas after awakening)	Tamas (Sattwa after awakening)	Rajas
Chitta Shakti	Kundalini Shakti	Prana shakti
Intuition	Wisdom	Logic
Sub conscious Mind	Unconscious Mind	Conscious Mind
Parasympathetic nervous System	Sympathetic nervous System	Central nervous system
Prana vayu (In Breath)	Samana prana	Apana (Out Breath)

JOURNEY IS THE DESTINATION

On the spiritual path, a seeker often encounters phases where the mind wanders, and doubts arise if this (path) is worth it?

Is it too late, too little? When will the Guru appear? When will reality dawn? What is the end of this journey? 

“It’s not the destination, it’s the journey”

                            - Ralph Waldo Emerson 

If you are walking on a path and getting frustrated looking at some destination or final outcome in your mind, then you are on the wrong path. The right path is one which gives you peace and glimpses of divine bliss. Nothing is to be found. There is nothing waiting for you to achieve. Enjoy the journey of self-discovery. Remember- Journey is the destination. There is no destination. 

तलाश-ए-मंज़िल-ए-जाना इक बहाना था 

तमाम उम्र मैं अपनी तरफ़ रवाना था 

-अमजद इस्लाम अमजद 

[I was always in the process of self-discovery. The aimless wandering towards a destination was a mere excuse (for the world to see]. 

For ages one wanders here and there, as if something is to be found outside. This is a mistake. The outside world is endless. Your tools of exploration are so limited. Take a pause, look within. You will find what you seek inside you- in your breath, in your heartbeats. You will find it in your thoughts and even in that “no thought “zone. 

कस्तूरी कुंडल बसे मृग ढूंढे बन माहि। 

 ऐसे घटि घटि राम हैं दुनिया देखे नाही।। 

कबीरदास 

[ Just like a musk deer has the fragrance in his navel, but he keeps searching for the same throughout the forest, the same way, Rama (God) permeates each and every living and non-living part of Universe, but the world remains unaware of him.]

An Excerpt from Osho’s Krishna-  the man and his philosophy:

When at long last Gautam Siddhartha attained to enlightenment, when he became the Buddha, the awakened one, someone asked him, "What is it that you have achieved?" Buddha is reported to have said, "I achieved nothing. I only came to know what was already the case. I discovered what I already had with me. Earlier I did not know that it had been with me forever and ever; now I know it. It is nothing new that I have come upon, it has always been there. Even when I was unaware of it, it was very much there, not an iota less than it is now." 

What Buddha says in the last moment, Krishna will say at the very first. Krishna will tell you, "What is the point of going anywhere? You are already where you want to go. What you think to be a stopover on your journey is actually your destination – where you happen to be right now. Why run in any direction? You are already in that place you want to reach to after you have done your running. You have already arrived." 

Arjuna Durga Stuti in the Mahabharata

In the Srimad Bhagvad Gita Parva in Bhishma Parva of Mahabharata, a beautiful Durga Stotra is recited by Arjuna. Arjuna did so on the direction of Shri Krishna to seek blessings of Maa Durga in order to win over the opponents when the war was about to start. 

The Stotra goes like this: 

अर्जुन उवाच 

नमस्ते सिद्धसेनानि आर्ये मन्दरवासिनि ⁠। 

कुमारि कालि कापालि कपिले कृष्णपिङ्गले ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

भद्रकालि नमस्तुभ्यं महाकालि नमोऽस्तु ते ⁠। 

चण्डि चण्डे नमस्तुभ्यं तारिणि वरवर्णिनि ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

Arjuna Said:- Arye (Devi), you reside in Mandarachal and are the chief of the army of Siddhas. You are also known by the names- Kali, Kapali, Krishna Pingala, Bhadrakali and Mahakali. I bow down to you again and again. You are known as Chandi when you get angry on wicked and Tarini when you liberate Bhaktas. You are golden and beautiful. I bow down to you. 

कात्यायनि महाभागे करालि विजये जये ⁠। 

शिखिपिच्छध्वजधरे नानाभरणभूषिते ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

O the luckiest one, you only are the Katyayani- worthy of prayers and you only are the Kali- having a frightening form. You only are known as Jaya and Vijaya. Peacock feathers adorn your flag. You are adorned by a variety of jewelry. 

अट्टशूलप्रहरणे खड्‌गखेटकधारिणि ⁠। 

गोपेन्द्रस्यानुजे ज्येष्ठे नन्दगोपकुलोद्भवे ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

You hold dangerous weapons like Trishul, Kharag and Khteak. You took birth in the lineage of Nanda Gopa as younger sister of Shri Gopeshwar Shri Krishna. You are supreme in qualities and effects. 

महिषासृक्प्रिये नित्यं कौशिकि पीतवासिनि ⁠। 

अट्टहासे कोकमुखे नमस्तेऽस्तु रणप्रिये ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

⁠You were very happy to shed the blood of Mahishasura. You are also famous by the name Kaushiki because you incarnated in the Kaushika Gotra. You wear Pitambar. When you laugh at the sight of your enemies, your face is as agitated as a cyclone. War is very dear to you. I bow down to you again and again. 

उमे शाकम्भरि श्वेते कृष्णे कैटभनाशिनि ⁠। 

हिरण्याक्षि विरूपाक्षि सुधूम्राक्षि नमोऽस्तु ते ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

Goddess who bears the names Uma, Shakambhari, Shweta, Krishna, Kaitbhanashini, Hiranyakshi, Virupakshi and Sudhumrakshi!, I bow to you again and again. 

वेदश्रुति महापुण्ये ब्रह्मण्ये जातवेदसि ⁠। 

जम्बूकटकचैत्येषु नित्यं सन्निहितालये ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

You are the shruti of the Vedas, your form is very holy; The Vedas and the Brahmins are dear to you. You are the power of Jataveda Agni; You have a constant abode in Jambu, Cuttack and Chaitya trees. 

त्वं ब्रह्मविद्या विद्यानां महानिद्रा च देहिनाम् ⁠। 

स्कन्दमातर्भगवति दुर्गे कान्तारवासिनि ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

You are the Brahmavidyaamongst all knowledge, and the great sleep (Maha Nidra) of bodily beings. Bhagwati! You are the mother of Kartikeya. You are Durga, who resides in inaccessible places. 

स्वाहाकारः स्वधा चैव कला काष्ठा सरस्वती ⁠। 

सावित्रि वेदमाता च तथा वेदान्त उच्यते ⁠।⁠। 

Savitri! Swaha, Swadha, Kala, Kasta, Saraswati, Vedamata and Vedanta are all your names. 

स्तुतासि त्वं महादेवि विशुद्धेनान्तरात्मना ⁠। 

जयो भवतु मे नित्यं त्वत्प्रसादाद् रणाजिरे ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

Mahadevi! I have praised you with a sincere heart. By your grace may I always be victorious in this battle. 

कान्तारभयदुर्गेषु भक्तानां चालयेषु च ⁠। 

नित्यं वससि पाताले युद्धे जयसि दानवान् ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

Mother! You dwell eternally in the wilderness, in fearful, inaccessible places, in the homes of the devotees, and even in the Patal-Lok.You are the one who defeats demons in battle. 

त्वं जम्भनी मोहिनी च माया ह्रीः श्रीस्तथैव च ⁠। 

संध्या प्रभावती चैव सावित्री जननी तथा ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

You are Jambhani, Mohini, Maya, Hri, Shri, Sandhya, Prabhavati, Savitri and Janani. 

तुष्टिः पुष्टिर्धृतिर्दीप्तिश्चन्द्रादित्यविवर्धिनी ⁠। 

भूतिर्भूतिमतां सङ्ख्ये वीक्ष्यसे सिद्धचारणैः ⁠।⁠।⁠ 

You are also the one who gratifies, confirms, and radiates the illuminance of the sun and the moon. You are the glory of opulent. Siddhas and Charans see you on the battlefield. 

As a result of Arjuna’s prayer, benevolent Mother Goddess appeared before Shri Krishna and Arjuna. She blessed Arjuna and assured him victory in the impending battle.