Bandhas

Bandhas were classified as part of Mudras, and were handed down by word of mouth from Guru to disciple. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika deals with Bandhas and Mudras together and the ancient Tantric texts also make no distinction between the two. Bandhas are extensively incorporated in Mudra as well as Pranayama techniques. The Sanskrit word Bandha means to ‘Hold’ ‘Tighten’ or ‘Lock’. These definitions precisely describe the physical action involved in the Bandha practices and their effect on the Pranic body. The Bandhas aim to lock the Pranas in particular areas and redirect their flow into Sushumna Nadi for the purpose of spiritual awakening.  Bandhas may be practiced individually or incorporated with Mudra and Pranayama practices. When combined in this way, they awaken the psychic faculties and form an adjunct to higher yogic practices.

There are four Bandhas: Jalandhara, Moola, Uddiyana and Maha. The last of these is a combination of the first three. These three Bandhas directly act in the three psychic knots. Moola Bandha is associated with Brahma Granthi, Uddiyana Bandha with Vishnu Granthi and Jalandhara Bandha with Rudra Granthi. The Granthis prevent the free flow of Prana along Sushumna Nadi and thus impede the awakening of the Chakras and the rising of Kundalini.

Brahma Granthi is the first knot and it is associated with Mooladhara and Swadhisthana Chakras.It is linked with the survival instinct, the urge to procreate and with deep, instinctive knowledge, awareness and desire. When Brahma Granthi is transcended, the Kundalini or primal energy is able to rise beyond Mooladhara and Swadhisthana without being pulled back down by the attractions and instinctual patterns of the personality.   The second knot is Vishnu Granthi, associated with Manipura and Anahata Chakras. These two Chakras are associated with the physical, emotional and mental aspects of human existence. Manipura sustains Annamaya Kosha, the physical body, governing the digestion and metabolism of food. Anahata sustains Manomaya Kosha, the mental body and Pranamaya Kosha, and the energy body. Once Vishnu Granthi is transcended energy is drawn from the universe and not from the localized centers within the human being. The final Knot is Rudra Granthi, which is associated with Vishuddhi and Ajna Chakras. Vishuddhi and Ajna sustain Vijanamaya Kosha, the intuitive or higher mental body, and represent the transformation of an existing form, idea or concept into its universal aspect. When Rudra Granthi is pierced, individuality is dropped, the old ego awareness is left behind and the experience of unmanifest consciousness emerges beyond Ajna Chakra at Sahasrar.

The word bhanda means “to hold, lock, or embrace.” These potent practices train you to direct your prana or vital energy to different centers of your body. Bhandas provide direct demonstration of the Law of Dharma as you witness the immediate reactions in your body in accordance to specific actions you take. The basic principle with each bandha is to first accumulate energy in an area of your physiology, and to then release it. This process of building a force and then unleashing it discharges obstacles from the pathways of energy circulation. Like Traditional Chinese Medicine, yoga envisions the body/mind as a network of energetic channels, through which life force flows. These pathways are known as srotas and nadis. Srotas are circulatory channels in the physical body, whereas nadis exist in the subtle body. Health and vitality are dependent upon life energy flowing freely through the physical and subtle biological passageways.

Bandhas

• The word bandha means to “hold, lock, or embrace”
• The principle of each bandha is to first accumulate energy in an area of your physiology and then to release it.
• Jalandhara is designed to stimulate the network of nerves and energy channels in the throat