India is a nation where you will find deep rooted spirituality. In ancient India, there were many methods by which a person can elevate his soul and meet the supreme. One of them is Kriya Yoga, which got lost in modern era. Kriya yoga got the worldwide reorganization after the coming of book Autobiography of a yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda. According to the book and the legend Kriya yoga was reintroduced by baba ji (immortal saint) to Lahiri Mahasaya in 1861. The science of Kriya yoga spread through various disciples by Lahiri Mahasaya all over the world.
Shri Madabusi subramaniam (reiki Grand master) gave Initiations on the path of Kriya Yoga, shaktipat and Reiki to Tarun Chopra (February 2000).
The Tradition represented by Madabusi Subramaniam follows the family link of Yogi Raj Raj Shyama Charan Lahiri, his son Teenkori Lahiri and the grandson Satya Charan Lahiri. The four progressive initiation of Kriya yoga was received by Madabusi Subramaniam from Satya Charan Lahiri (1973)
As Kriya Yoga is a Meditation Technique which has to be done while sitting, we also need Physical Exercise to keep our self’s healthy for this, we need Physical Exercise, Tarun Chopra has been practicing Tai Chi Chuan an ancient Chinese Technique for self Defense, Health, and Spiritual Growth.
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Kriya Yoga Technique |
| Kriya Yoga has many ramifications; the technique is broadly divided into 4 progressive steps. |
Kriya yoga
Omkar Kriya
Omkar tokkar kriya
Prathichakra Omkar Kriya
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Kriya : The actual practice of first stage of Kriya has the following parts:
Talabya Kriya.
Nabhi Kriya
Manishik Pranayam
Pranayam (Kriya)
Yoni Mudra
Mahamudra
Talabya Kriya
The practice said above are to be done in this sequence without omitting anyone, two times daily, morning and night. Besides the above Kriya practice there are some auxiliary Kriyas given as under.
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HONG-SAW
TECHNIQUE: |
This is simple a technique of observing the breath. The incoming and outgoing breath is closely observed throughout the period of inhalation and exhalation. No attempt is made to alter the rate of breathing. The natural rhythm is kept and the breath is seemed to slow by itself. The word Hong is synchronized with incoming breath and word Saw is synchronized with outgoing breath. One should not miss a single breath and synchronizing should be uniformed thought the length of the breath with the corresponding sounds of Hong and saw. You should do this any amount of time.
This Hong - Saw Technique should be Practiced regularly, try to get one separate place and try to practice there only this will help to focus more and results would be fast.
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MANASHIK
PRANAYAM
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This is a technique of visualization. One should visualize the ascending and descending Breath, through the spinal cord from the point of coccyx bone to the medulla point. The medulla point is located at the back of the head exactly opposite to the mid point of the eyebrows while the coccyx point is located where the spinal cord ends. The whole attention is kept on this back point. The mind is directed to ascend upward slowly and to descend downward slowly. There are
six spinal centers (Chakras) known as:
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Muladhar corresponding
to coccyx (First Chakra)
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Swadhisthan
corresponding to the sacral (Second Chakra)
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Manipura corresponding
to the point on the spinal cord opposite to the naval (Third Chakra)
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Anhata: this corresponds
to the point of the spinal cord just behind the heart or in
between the shoulder blades. (Fourth Chakra)
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Visudha: This
corresponds to C-7 of the vertebrate. (Fifth Chakra)
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Medulla point: This
corresponds to the occipital lobe just behind the point
corresponding to the point between the eyebrows, which is
called Agana Chakra. (Sixth Chakra)
These are the six points which vortex of energy where mind is guided to travel up and down the spine. As the mind crosses one of the centers "OM" is mentally chanted. Thus while ascending the spine "OM" is chanted mentally six times once at each chakra or center and similarly on the downward movement of the mind.
This is called mentally Pranayam. The ascent and descent can be as slow as 5 to 10 seconds can or slower sill up to 22 seconds for ascent and another 22 second for the descent. This practice can be done in number of times.
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KEEPING
THE POINT IN BETWEEN EYEBROWS |
Without focusing, the eyes anywhere gently place the attention at the mid-point of the eyebrows in the forehead. This is not a concentration but mind is given a seat and one should be aware whether the mind anchored there or not without drying to force. If it waves gently, bring it back to the point.
This practice can also be done in any number of times.
The above through practices are called auxiliary kriya. They are done to enable the devote to practice the actual Kriya Yoga, which follows in a better way. The devotee equips himself by the above practice so as too proficient in Kriya practice, which are to be described now.
The following is the different segments of the first level of Kriya Yoga Practice.
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TALABHYA
KRIYA |
The tongue is pressed against the roof of the mouth to stretch the ferarum and released. A sound like a 'frog jumping into water' will be made in this process. Stretching of ferarum, this way is done 50 times with the accompanying sound. The tongue is the tip of the nose is touched by the tip of stretched out of the mouth to rub the ferarum over the lower front teeth. This stretching out is done 10 times.
The tongue to give pliability to the tongue, this is done 10 times. The above 3 exercises are termed as Talabhya Kriya. Thereafter for all the following practices, the tongue is kept in 'roll back' position in the mouth.
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NABHI
KRIYA |
with the tongue rolled back,
mouth closed, press the chin against the chest keeping the
attention on the naval and mentally chanting
and counting 'OM' is this fashion. 'OM' 1, 'OM'2, 'OM'3,
'OM'75......... described above.
Nabhi Kriya is done 4 times.
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MANASIC
PRANAYAM |
This has been described
already in auxiliary Kriyas.
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PRANYAM
(Kriya) |
In this practice the
emphasis is on slowing down the rate of breath and keeping the
attention on the spinal cord and chanting 'OM' at the spinal
centers. There is an integration of mind, Mantra and Prana in
this practice.
This is of vital importance.
The Kriya breathing is described as below.
1. Roll back the tongue.
2. Close the mouth. 'Breath
in' and 'breath out' will be for equal duration smooth and
steady without any stop. There is no forcible retention of
breath either at the beginning or at the end of inhalation or
exhalation, breathing is continuous.
Mind is synchronized
ascending the spine from beginning to end of inhalation.
Mind descending spine
from beginning and up to the end of exhalation.
During the 'up and down'
visualization in the spine mentally chant 'OM' as in Mansic
Pranayam. The slowing the rate of breathing should be over a
period.
One can start with six
seconds per breath. In addition, gradually slow it down
ultimately to an extent of inhaling for duration of 22 seconds
and exhaling for some duration resulting in breath rate of 80
per hour.
Once 'breathing in' and
'breathing out' is called one Kriya. One can begin with 12
Kriyas and go up to 144 over a period say one year and achieve
80 breath an hour (or 80 Kryas per hour) over a period of one
year of daily practice. This practice de-carbonates the cells
and charges them with extra Oxygen to enable a non-breath state,
dawn natuarally, as breathing becomes unnecessary through this
mystic process. Natural cessation breath is called kewala Kumbha.
The duration of Kewlala Kumbha will be prolonged when a devotee
practices Kriya regularly and over a period of time he gets,
mastery over the breath. This is a technique of realising the
soul from the bodily prision.
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MAHAMUDRA |
This is a combination of
performance of Kriya breathing synchronized with specific bodily
posture as described below:
Sit with spine erect,
cross-legged, breathing as exactly in Kirya Pracitice. At the
end of inhalation, let the mind travel from medulla through the
crown to the point behind the eye-brows, simultaneously cathing
the toes with the finger tips of the both hands the outstretched
leg bending the spine and touching the forehead on the knee of
the outstretched leg. Return to the spine erect postion
immediately. Simultaneously, bringing the mind from the forehead
point back through the crown to the medulla. Now, exhale as in
Kriya. At the end of exhalation before inhaling again fold out
stretched-leg and stretch the other leg out. Repeat the same
process for this leg. During the third breathing repeat, the
same processes with both legs out stretched. This practice is
known as Mahamudra.
Four Mahamudras are
done.
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YONI
MUDRA |
Yoni mudra to be done once
daily at night time before performing Mahamudra. Do regular
Kriya breathing. At the end of inhilation held in the breath,
bring the attention from medulla through the crown to the point
between eye-brows and close the following 9 doors of the body in
this fashion. Ear openings are plugged with the thumbs; index
finger gently preasures eyeballs permitting them to be
still(motionless). Middle fingers block nostrils. Little and
ring fingers close the upper and lower lips. Mentally chant at
third eye..'OM'1,'OM'2,'OM'100... In addition, you can hold the
breath for long time simply release the other fingers. Eyelids
can be pressed for a duration equivalent to 21 kriyas.
Thereafter release the eyeball preasure. After 15 minutes
release the thumb from the blocking of ear opening and remove
the hand from the face. You will hear the internal sound
(creative sound) and see light(Atma Jyoti) this practice cuts
down the veils of ignorance and releases the soul from Karmic
compulsions.
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TALABHYA
KRIYA |
Talabhya Kriya is done after
Mahamudra as it was done in the beginning of Kriya practice. The
whole set of first level of Kriya described above should be done
morning and night with one exemption, namely, Yoni Mudra is done
only in night times and only once.
Kriya practice should be
constantly monitored by the Master in order to enable the
disciple to receive advanced initiations.
Perfection in Kechari Mudra ( the tounge raising above the Uvula and entering the nasal
cavity and blocking the inner nostrils from within) is achieved
through practice of Talabhya Kriya. Once Kechari Mudra is
achieved all Kriya Yoga practice is done in Kechari Mudra. The
eyeballs involuntary gaze at the point between the eyebrows and
gets achored there. The mind is deeply withdrawn and ecstasy
follows. This is a stage when second level of Kriya initation is
offered.
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Other Important Web sites |
Download Autobiography of A Yogi for Personal Computer and other Reading Divice compatbile with Mobipocket software.
Autobiography of a Yogi (Original 1946 Edition) by Paramhansa Yogananda
The Science of Kriya Yoga http://www.ananda.org/inspiration/books/ay/26.html
Kriya Yoga Library Electronic Books for Free Reading http://www.yoganiketan.net/
Synoptic advice of Lahiri Mahasay http://www.sanskritclassics.com/108.html
Self Realization Fellowship http://www.yogananda-srf.org/
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