हठयोग प्रदीपिका (योगी स्वात्माराम - ज्योत्स्ना टीका सहित सटीक)

HAṬHAYOGAPRADĪPIKĀ 49 62. By contraction [of the Mūlādhāra] the Apāna, whose course is downwards, is forced to go upwards [through Suṣumnā]. Yogin-s call that Mūla-bandha. 63. Pressing the anus with the heal compress the air forcibly and repeatedly until the breath [Apāna] goes upwards. 64. Through the Mūla-bandha, Prāṇa and Apāna unite with Nāda and bindu and confer perfection in Yoga. There is no doubt about this. The meaning seems to be this: Through the Mūla-bandha, the Prāṇa and Apāna unite and go into the Suṣumnā . Then the inner sound (Nāda) becomes audible and the Prāṇa and Apāna uniting with Nāda go above the heart and join the bindu, i.e. the anusvāra or the inaudible sound of the point in the sacred syllable Oṃ, symbolizing the transcendent Śiva. They then proceed to the head and thus the Yogin obtains perfection. Nāda is the mysti- cal inner sound proceeding from the Anāhatacakra or the cardiac centre. 65. By constant practice of the Mūla-bandha, a union of Prāṇa and Apāna is achieved. Urine and excrement decrease and even the aged become young. 66. When the Apāna rises upwards and reaches the sphere of fire, then the flame of the fire becomes lengthened, being fanned by Apāna. The sphere of the fire is said to be triangular in shape and is situated in the centre of the body, below the navel. In the case of animals it is rectangular, and circular in the case of birds. The flame of the fire referred to is the gastric fire. 67. When the Apāna and the fire join Prāṇa, which is by nature hot, then the heat in the body is greatly intensified.

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