Pranayama

THE SCIENCE OF PRANAYAMA
By

SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

Sri Swami Sivananda Founder of The Divine Life Society

SERVE, LOVE, GIVE, PURIFY, MEDITATE, REALIZE So Says Sri Swami Sivananda

A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION

If you would like to purchase the print edition, please go to: http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?keywords=es139 If you would like to contribute to thedissemination of spiritual knowledge please contact the General Secretary at: generalsecretary@sivanandaonline.org

First Edition: 1935 Sixteenth Edition: 1997 (6,000 Copies)

World Wide Web (WWW) Edition: 2000

WWW site: http://www.dlshq.org/

This WWW reprint is for free distribution

© The Divine Life Trust Society

ISBN 81-7052-022-3

Published By THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY P.O.SHIVANANDANAGAR—249 192 Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh, Himalayas, India.

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE
It is needless for us to stress on the merits of the subject or its author, Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj. Sri Swamiji already lives in the hearts of the people of the world as an ‘unfailing saviour’. The Swamiji’s method of presenting such intricate Yogic subjects in an inimitable, simple style withconvincing assurances in unique and unrivalled. It is authoritative, the more so, because of Swamiji being a combination of an experienced medical practitioner, a full-blown Yogi and a Jivanmukta. The practice of Pranayama has been viewed with fear in certain quarters on account of certain limitations, viz., the absolute necessity of the nearness to a perfected Guru, the dietetic restrictions and thelike. Sri Swamiji has explained herein in clear terms the vagaries of such fears and has prescribed very simple and safe methods. The book contains suitable lessons for all types of Sadhakas. Those who follow the special instructions given towards the end of the book can be sure of their guaranteed success and safety. Pranayama is an important Anga in Ashtanga Yoga. It is equally necessary for all intheir daily life, for good health, success and prosperity in every walk of life. How it is so, is explained in these pages. The science of relaxation is a very valuable gift for the readers and would benefit all. We are greatly encouraged by the warm reception the previous editions had at the hands of our dear readers and we hope more and more Sadhakas would take up this important aspect ofSadhana in their daily spiritual practices, and feel for themselves the happiness and joy which will naturally lead them to blissful ‘Divine Life’. —THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION
Today, for quick travel, the material world presents us the Railway, Steamers, Aeroplanes and so forth, but the Yogins claim that by Yogic culture the weight of the body can be so reduced that it can fly over thespace to any distance in an instant. They can prepare a magic ointment, which when applied to the soles of the feet, gives them power to traverse any distance on earth within a very short time. By the practice of Khechari Mudra, by applying the elongated tongue to the posterior nasal openings they can fly in the air. By keeping a magic pill in their mouth they can also move in space to any place inthe twinkling of an eye. When we are anxious to know the welfare of our own relations in a distant or foreign land, we take recourse to writing letters sending ordinary or urgent cables. But the Yogins claim that they can, by meditation (Dyana), know anything that happens in other parts of the world by a projection of the mind or by mentally travelling the distance which is only a matter of fewseconds. Yogi Lahiri, whose Samadhi is still in Varanasi, travelled to London to see the state of health of his superior’s wife. For hearing a friend at a long distance the material world presents us with telephones and wireless receivers, but the Yogins claim that through their Yogic power, they can hear anything, from any distance, even the voices of God and other invisible beings in the...