Hakarah kirtitah suryasthakarshchandra uchyate I
Suryochandram soryogat hathyogo nagadhyate II
Hatha word consist of two root word 'Ham' and 'Tham' in which, meaning of Ham is Surya and tham is Chandra. According to other important character Surya has many different meanings as Pingala nadhi, day, pitt, raja, hot, consciouness and Moon becomes Ida nadi, night, kapha, tam, cold, power etc. Surya is right nostril and Chandra is left nostril.
Hatha Yoga came directly through Lord Shiva as it is mentioned in Hath Yog but in 8th Century It came again in light through Baba Shri Swami Gorakshanath. He was the disciple of Baba Matsyendranath who was inspired with Baudhism and Tantra yoga. In Hath Yog Pradipika there are mentioned many Yogis name in the tradition of Hatha Yoga but Baba Shri Swami Gorakshanath ji known as father of Hath Yoga.
According to Pt. Shri Swatmaram ji, Hatha Yoga is the medium to achieve the Raja Yoga. He did not explicit difference between Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga. According to him, Raja yoga is the one stage of the mind which comes by the practice of Hatha yoga. Patanjal Yogsutra also tales about Raja yoga but there is Raja Yoga is not the special stage of the mind rather Patanjal Yoga is itself Raja Yoga. It known as other many names as Ashtanga Yoga, Unmani Yoga, Samadhi Yoga(due to many descriptions about mind and meditation).
Hatha Yoga have the seven steps as below:
There are 15 asan(s) mentioned in Hatha Yoga Pradipika. These all 15 asan(s) are generally not in the practicable order. These are I. Swastik Asan (19,1 Hatha Yoga Pradipika-HYP) II. Gomukh Asan (20,1 HYP) III. Veer Asan (21,1 HYP) IV. Kurma Asan (22,1 HYP) V. Kukkut Asan (23,1 HYP) VI. Uttan Kurma Asan (24,1 HYP) VII. Dhanur Asan (25,1 HYP) VIII. Matsyendra Asan (26,1 HYP) IX. Paschimttan Asan (28,1 HYP) X. Myur Asan (30,1 HYP) XI. Shav Asan (32,1 HYP) XII. Sidha Asan (35,1 HYP) XIII. Padma Asan (44,1 HYP) XIV. Simha Asan (50,1 HYP) XV. Bhadra Asan (53 and 54,1 HYP).
Shtatkarma entirely consist from words Shat and Karma. Shat is Six and Karma is Duty(work). These six work is related to direct cleaning the body with helping stuff. These Shatkarma are a. Dhauti 24,2 HYP(Cleaning from throat to stomach with soft cotton material approximate 3 to 7 m long and 6 to 8 cm breadth), b. Basti 27,2 HYP(Anal cleaning to sit in water in Utkat asan), c. Neti 30,2 HYP(cleaning nose track from soft thread passing in nose and taking out from mouth), d. Tratak 32,2 HYP(Cleaning eyes by seeing intently peak point of unwaving flam), e. Nauli 34,2 HYP(Rotate the abdomen to clean it and remove internal rigidity also intestinal) and f. Kapalbhati 36,2 HYP(Cleaning respiratory track by forced breathout and pushing stomach in).
Gajkarani (26,2 HYP) is also cleaning exercise and it also work like Dhauti but there are no any help of cloth as in Dhauti. It is mentioned after Dhauti.
There are total eight kind of different Kumbhak given by HYP. In the normal way, we say 'Pranayam' because of the breathing exercise. In this we expand(Ayam) our breath(Prana) and we say Pran-ayam(Breath-expansion). But there is also main importance of the holding breath inside and this is Kumbhak (There are four stages in the breathing exercise 1. Breath in- Purkak, 2. Holding brath inside- Kumbhak, 3. Breath out- Rechak and 4. Hold brath outside- Shunyak). Holding breath(Kumbhak) in is the same in all Pranayama accept Bhastrika but process to breath in or out is different and because this difference we say, eight different Kumbhak.
These all Kumbhak are I. Suryabhedan(48 and 49,2 HYP) II. Ujjayee(51,2 HYP) III. Sitkari(54,2 HYP) IV. Shitali(57,2 HYP) V. Bhastrika*(60 and 61,2 HYP) VI. Bhramari(68,2 HYP) VII. Murcha(69,2 HYP) VIII. Plavini(70,2 HYP).
*Bhastrika have no rules like other Kumbhak to stop the breath in stomach, just breath faster in and out but it is also stay in category of Kumbhak due to it'S special benefit. It's clear the all three granthis-Bramha granthi, Bishnu granthi and Rudra granthi(67,2 HYP).
There are two kind of Kumbhak explained by Shri Swami Swatmaramji son of Shri Sahajanand. Sahit Kumbhak and Keval Kumbhak. Sahit Kumbhak when it is done with Purak(breathin) and Rechak(breathout) and Keval Kubhak when it is take place itself without any effort.
Ida and Pingla
Like Sun and Moon passes the external time same Ida(left nostril-night-moon) and Pingla(right nostril-day-sun) passes the internal time(age) in our body and when Prana move in Susumna or when breath becomes slow or when we hold the breath, we stop or control the internal time(age) of our body(17,4 HYP).
Prana and Mind
When the prana(breath) controlled, mind control itself; when the mind controlled, prana(breath) control itself(21,4 HYP)
There are ten different kind of Mudra(s). These are I.Mahamudra(9.3 HYP) II.Mahabandh(18 and 19,2 HYP) III,Mahavedh*(26,2 HYP) IV.Khechari(31 and 40,2 HYP) V.Uddiyan(54,3 HYP) , VI.Moolbandh(60,3 HYP) VII.Jalandharbandh(70,3 HYP) VIII.Viparitkarni(78 and 80 ,3 HYP) IX.Vajroli**(84 and 86,3 HYP) X.Shaktichalan(110 and 111,3 HYP). Bhastrika kumbhak is important after Shaktichalan(118,3 HYP).
Note:
1. *For Mahavedha should done in Mahabandha and before this, Mahabandha should be perfect (25,3 HYP).
2. **Sahjoli (90,3 HYP) and Amroli(93,3 HYP) are the part of Vajroli.
3. There are two more additional mudra which not come under above ten mudras are Shambhavi and Nasikagra Dristi
Shambhavi is, continuous gazing on the eyebrows center with internal attantions(36,4 HYP).
Nasikagra dristi, Eyes are half open and continuos gazing on th nose tip and prana(breath) is stable and very slow with controlling Ida and Pingla and balanced mind, brings Paramtatva(absolute character-God-bright face and reason of the world)(41,4 HYP).
Samadhi (5-7,4), Laya, Many peoples speaks about Laya but they do not know about Laya, lack of the sensual subjects are Laya because there are no cover on mind(Vasana) of the sensual desire(34,4 HYP).
There are two reasons in the nature of Chitta is called Prana and Vasana(cover on the mind of sensual desire and it's attachment(22,4 HYP).
Continue gaze(Shambhavi mudra) in the center of eyebrows with stable Prana, brings Unmani stage(detachment of sensual desire and uncover the mind and flow take place in Susumna)(39,4 HYP).
Sidhasan with Shambhavi mudra with equanimous mind, practitioner try to listen internal sound of the body from right ear is the process of Nadanusandhan(67,4 HYP).
Closing both ears, eyes, nostrils and mouth with hand and concentrat internal world(in body) and in susumna(midle nerve) then can be able to listen Nada(great sound) in holy and pure track of Susumna.
There are four stages of Nada (69-76,4 HYP)
Arambha avatha, Ghata avastha, Parichayavastha, Nispati avastha(69,4 HYP).
Arambha avastha (beginning stage) by the shooting of Brahma Granthi(Brahma knot) and sound like mix and unclear.
Ghat avastha (Intermediate stage) by shooting of Vishnu Granthi(Vishnu Knot) and sound loud and deep.
Parichaya avatha (advance stage) continuous upword movement and sound like percussion.
Nispati avastah (final stage) by shooting of Rudra granth (Rudra Knot) through prana and beutiful strings melody.
Comparative analysis between Hatha Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga
1. If we compare the Hatha Yoga with Ashtanga Yoga then there are some difference which is Shatkarma, Mudra which are the part of Hatha Yoga.
2. Dharna comes before Dhyana in Ashtanga yoga but in Hatha yoga it has not been explained.
3. In Ashtanga Yoga, there are no any name of Asanas and their method to do but in Hatha Yoga Pt. Shri Swatmaram Ji mentioned 15 Asanas (body posture with their name, method to do and some benefit).
4. There are no any description about Gajkarani in Ashtanga yoga as it mentioned in Hatha Yoga.
5. Hatha Yoga name is based on swar (nadi or nostril) but Ashtanga name based on their yogic steps.
6. Ashtanga yoga is more about mental philosophy and more towards Budhist theory but Hatha yoga is more about phisical practical and less philosophy.
7. Hatha yoga has seven steps and Ashtanga yoga has eight steps for complete Yoga.
8. Ashtanga Yoga explicit on Chitta and Vrittis (condition of the mental qualities), Hatha Yoga has no such descriptions.
9. Hahta yoga talk about Mudras which is special feature of Hatha Yoga.
