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== Kevala Kumbhaka ==
== Kevala Kumbhaka ==
There are three types of breath retention: antaranga kumbhaka or internal retention, bahiranga kumbhaka or external re-tention, and kevala kumbhaka or spontaneous retention. The last occurs when the breath automatically ceases and no effort is applied.
Spontaneous retention is called kevala kumbhaka, where the breath suspends without any conscious effort on the part of the practitioner. This form of breath suspension is not aided by exhalation and inhalation and is unconditioned by place, time and number. Kevala kumbhaka can happen to anyone, anywhere, any time, even if one does not practise pranayama. There is no risk involved, because this retention is created by a natural state in the body. When kevala kumbhaka occurs, a point of light arises at the mid-eyebrow centre and spreads throughout the space of consciousness. The whole frontal brain becomes illumined, as though it were daybreak, and one emerges from the darkness that is normally seen behind the closed eyes.<ref name=":0" /> It has been said in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (2:73):<ref name=":0" />
Spontaneous retention is called kevala kumbhaka, where the breath suspends without any conscious effort on the part of the practitioner. This form of breath suspension is not aided by exhalation and inhalation and is unconditioned by place, time and number. Kevala kumbhaka can happen to anyone, anywhere, any time, even if one does not practise pranayama. There is no risk involved, because this retention is created by a natural state in the body. When kevala kumbhaka occurs, a point of light arises at the mid-eyebrow centre and spreads throughout the space of consciousness. The whole frontal brain becomes illumined, as though it were daybreak, and one emerges from the darkness that is normally seen behind the closed eyes.<ref name=":0" /> It has been said in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (2:73):<ref name=":0" />