More krishnamacharya's Yogasanagalu ; Bandhas.

See the ongoing Yogasangalu translation project for the translation so far.

Translation by Satya Murthy.

Follows on from the earlier post on breathing in the Second section of the book

In the section below Krishnamacharya is quoting Svatmarama's Hathayogaprapdika, Chapter III On the bandhas

Three Bandhas

1. Moolabandha 2. Uddiyanabandha and 3. Jaladarabandha.  Bandha means - binding, tying or confining.  When you are practicing the yoganga called pranayama, the central part of the body from the base of the reproductive parts to the neck region must be tied up on our own volition.  Without these three bandhas, full benefits of pranayama can not be achieved for sure.  Therefore, practitioners must do this carefully.

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1. Moolabhanda characteristics (in Hatahyogapradipika)

Procedure for binding

पार्श्णिभागेन संपीड्य योनिमाकुंचयद्गुदं
अपानमूर्ध्वमत्क्रुश्य मूलबंधोऽ भिधीयते॥

Parshnibhagena sampidya yonimakunchayeddgudam|
Apanamoordhwamatkrushya moolabhandho bhidhiyate|| HYP III-61

Summary: Sit while pressing the perineum with the heel, contract the rectum firmly, withdraw and hold the lower abdomen.

Reason for the name

अधोगतिमपानं वै ऊर्ध्वगं कुरुते बलात्।
आकुंचेन तं प्राहुर्मूलभंदं हि योगिनः॥

Adhogatimapanam vai oordhwagam kurute balat|
Aakunchena tam prahurmoolabhandam hi yoginah|| HYP III-62

Summary: This forces the apanavayu to flow upwards rather than down the rectum which can cause weakness. Therefore, this is called Moolabhanda.  According to yogi’s common usage, moola means, the bad vayu (prana)  that can cause the musculature of the lower abdomen to become weak.

Special procedure

गुदं पार्श्ण्या तु संपीड्य पायुमाकुंचयेत् बलात्।
वारं वारं यथा चोर्ध्वं समायति स्मीर​णः॥

Gudam parshrnya tu sampeedya paayumakuchayetat balat|
varam varam yatha chordhwam samayati sameeranah|| HYP III-63

Summary: Firmly press the perineum from the heels of both feet, contract the inner rectum tightly, move the lower abdomen back and forth.

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Benefits of moolabhanda

प्रानापानौ नादबिंदू मूलभंदेन चैकताम्।
गत्वा योगस्य संसिद्धिं यच्चतो नात्र संशयः॥

praanapanou nadabindu moolabhandena chaikatam|
gatva yogasya samsiddhim yachhato natra samshayah|| HYP III-64

Summary: By practicing moolabhanda, pranavayu, apanavayu, hrudayadhwani and veeryabindu are united resulting in yogic benefits.

Special benefits

अपानप्राणयोरैक्यं  क्शयो मूत्रपुरीषयोः।
युवा भवति व्रुद्धोऽपि सततं मूलभंधनात्॥

Apanapranayoraikyam kshayo mootrapurishayoh|
yuva bhavati vruddhopi statam moolabandhanat|| HYP III-65

Summary: The union of pranavayu and apanavayu reduces the frequency of urination and defecation.  Those who practice regularly feel youthfulness even in old age.

2. Uddiyanabandha

The basis for its name from Hathayogapradipika-

बद्धो येन सुषुम्नायां प्रानस्तूड्डीयते यतः।
तस्मादुड्डीयनाख्योऽयं योगिभिस्समुदाह्रुतः॥

Baddho yena sushumnayam praanastuddiyate yatah|
Tasmaduddiyanachoyam yogibhissamudahrutah|| HYP III-55

Summary: The part of the body when tightly bound makes pranavayu which is the basis of life move in the form of a fine thread along the spinal cord all the way to Brahma randhra (center of brain) within the Sushumna  nadi (channel) is called uddiyanabandha.

Characteristics of Uddiyanabandha

उदरे पश्चिमं तानं नाभेरूर्ध्वं समाचरेत्।
उड्डियाणो ह्यसो बन्धो म्रुत्युमातंगकेसरि॥

Udare paschimam tanam nabheroordhwam samacharet|
Uddiyano hyaso bandho mrutyumatangakesari|| HYP III-57

Summary:  Along with the navel, draw in the lower and upper abdomen to press against the

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back bones (spine) tightly.  When practicing this, perform a deep rechaka (exhalation) in the utkatasana state, draw in the abdomen tightly holding breath for a little while.  This is like a lion for the intoxicated elephant, meaning the man who performs this has no fear of death. Those who have a big tummy must try to reduce the abdominal fat by performing many asanas and then can practice this. Such (obese) people must develop a solid paschimotanasana practice.  In addition, strong rechaka (exhalation) must also be developed.

Its benefits

उड्डियाणं तु सहजं गुरुणा कथितं सदा।
अभ्यसेत्सततं यस्तु व्रुद्धोऽपि तरुणायते॥

Uddiyanam tu sahajam kathitam sada|
Abhyasetsatatam yastu vruddhopi tarunayate|| HYP III-58

Summary: Those who practice this bandha daily according to the teachings of the guru, they will retain youthful vigor even in old age.

नाभेरूर्ध्वमदस्चापि तानं कुर्यात् प्रयत्नतः।
षण्मासमभ्यसेन्म्रुत्युं जयत्येव न संशयः॥

Naabheroordhwamadaschapi tanam kuryat prayatnatah|
Shanmasamabhyasenmrutyum jayatyeva na samshayah|| HYP III-59

Summary: Those who practice uddiyanabandha systematically by drawing in the upper and lower abdominal regions tightly so as to touch the back bone will achieve immortality.

3. Jalandharabandha

कंठमाकुंच्य ह्रुदये स्थापयेच्चिबुकं द्रुढं।
बंधो जालंधराख्योऽयं जराम्रुत्युविनाशकः॥

Kantamakucha hrudaye sthapayochhibukam drudam|
Bandho jaalandharachyoyam jaramrutyuvinashakah|| HYP III-70

Summary: Bend the neck down, press the chin against the chest and hold tightly - this is called Jalandharabandha. This overcomes old age and death.

Reason for this name

बद्नाति हि सिराजालमधोगामि नभोजलं।
ततो जालंधरोबन्धः कंठदुखौघनाशनः॥

badnati hi sirajalamadhogami nabhojalam|
tato jaalandharobnadah kantaduchoghanashanah|| HYP III-71

Summary: The essence of brain is blocked from going down, this is called jalandarabandha.  “Jala” means essense of the brain, a flood of this is called “Jaala” and to hold or bear this is called “jaalandhara”.  The more concentrated this brain essence, greater will be the memory power.

Special benefits

जालंधरे क्रुते बन्धे कंठसंकोचलक्शणे।
न पियूषं पतत्यग्नौ न च वायुः प्रकुप्यति॥

Jaalandhare krute bandhe kantasankochalakshane|
Na piyusham patatyagnou na cha vayuh prakupyati|| HYP III-72

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Summary: In the practitioner who performs the above described bandha according to the instructions of his guru, brain essence can not be destroyed by the jataragni.  In addition, relief from gas related abdominal bloating is also achieved.