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Bhramari Pranayama is ultimately a method of harmonizing the mind and directing awareness inwards and can act as a beneficial agent to achieve the state of total health.<ref name=":6" />

Bhramari Pranayama is ultimately a method of harmonizing the mind and directing awareness inwards and can act as a beneficial agent to achieve the state of total health.<ref name=":6" />

== Sequence of Steps in Pranayama Practice ==

== प्राणायामस्य अभ्युत्थानम् ॥ Evolution in Pranayama Practice ==

 

* Mastery over the Asana is a prerequisite for not just Pranayama but also all the subsequent angas like Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

* Mastery over the Asana is a prerequisite for not just Pranayama but also all the subsequent angas like Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

* Pranayama should become as relaxed and easeful as the posture itself.

* Pranayama should become as relaxed and easeful as the posture itself.

* Thus relaxed and eased, the Shvasa (in-breath) and Prashvasa (out-breath) would flow smoothly and not with the more common uncontrolled rhythms.

* Thus relaxed and eased, the Shvasa (in-breath) and Prashvasa (out-breath) would flow smoothly and not with the more common uncontrolled rhythms.

* When the smooth rhythmic flow of inhalation and exhalation has been accomplished, then retension may be practised.

* When the smooth rhythmic flow of inhalation and exhalation has been accomplished, then retension may be practised.

* Initially, Puraka (in-breath), rechaka (out-breath) and Kumbhaka (retention) together constitute Pranayama.<ref name=":1" />  

* Initially, Puraka (in-breath), rechaka (out-breath) and Kumbhaka (retention) together constitute Pranayama.<ref name=":1" />  

The Yoga Sutra states,  

The Yoga Sutra states, <blockquote>बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिः देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः ॥५०॥<ref name=":2">Patanjala Yoga Darshana, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_-_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8 Pada 2 (Sadhana Pada)]</ref>  

 

बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिः देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः ॥५०॥<ref name=":2">Patanjala Yoga Darshana, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%9E%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_-_%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8 Pada 2 (Sadhana Pada)]</ref>

Meaning that Pranayama is threefold and the term 'vrtti' in the sutra applies to all the three sub-divisions of Pranayama viz. Bahya-vrtti, Abhyantara-vrtti and Stambha-vrtti ie. operative externally, internally and in the way of suspension otherwise known as Rechaka, Puraka and Kumbhaka.<ref name=":1" />

bāhyābhyantarastambhavr̥ttiḥ deśakālasaṁkhyābhiḥ paridr̥ṣṭo dīrghasūkṣmaḥ ॥50॥</blockquote>Meaning that Pranayama is threefold and the term 'vrtti' in the sutra applies to all the three sub-divisions of Pranayama viz. Bahya-vrtti, Abhyantara-vrtti and Stambha-vrtti ie. operative externally, internally and in the way of suspension otherwise known as Rechaka, Puraka and Kumbhaka.  

* At a more advanced stage, retention alone becomes Pranayama.

* At a more advanced stage, retention alone becomes Pranayama. Vyasa, the commentator on Yoga Sutras explains the transition from the threefold Pranayama to the state of retension as Pranayama with the help of an analogy.<ref name=":1" /> He says,

Vyasa, commentator on the Yoga Sutras explains the transition from the threefold Pranayama to the state of retension as Pranayama with the help of an analogy.<ref name=":1" /> He says,

<blockquote>यथा तप्ते न्यस्तमुपले जलं सर्वतः सङ्कोचमापद्यते, तथा द्वयोर्युगपद्भवत्यभाव इति ।<ref name=":2" />  

यथा तप्ते न्यस्तमुपले जलं सर्वतः सङ्कोचमापद्यते, तथा द्वयोर्युगपद्भवत्यभाव इति ।<ref name=":2" />

yathā tapte nyastamupale jalaṁ sarvataḥ saṅkocamāpadyate, tathā dvayoryugapadbhavatyabhāva iti ।</blockquote>Meaning: As the water dropped on a heated rock shrinks from all directions, the breath activity also 'shrinks' simultaneously ie. there is simultaneous cessation of movement from both the exterior and interior direction. And this cessation of movement leads to suspension or retension.

 

Meaning: As the water dropped on a heated rock shrinks from all directions, the breath activity also 'shrinks' simultaneously ie. there is simultaneous cessation of movement from both the exterior and interior direction. And this cessation of movement leads to suspension or retension.

Furthermore, this kumbhaka is mentioned to be of two kinds. Namely,

Furthermore, this kumbhaka is mentioned to be of two kinds. Namely,

# Shuddha or Kevala

# Shuddha or Kevala

While both refer to cessation of movement, in the former the cessation is preceeded by either exhalation or inhalation. That is the difference between the two. It is suggested that one whose practise is not advanced enough should practise Sahita form until the energy channels are purified. Because only when the impurities have been eliminated, does Kevala become possible.

While both refer to cessation of movement, in the former the cessation is preceeded by either exhalation or inhalation. That is the difference between the two. It is suggested that one whose practise is not advanced enough should practise Sahita form until the energy channels are purified. Because only when the impurities have been eliminated, does Kevala become possible.<ref name=":1" />

 

one should practice Kumbhaka regularly and while doing so, the Sahita form should be practised until the Kevala is mastered.<ref name=":1" />  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

== References ==

== References ==