Yoga Cudamani Upanishad

Yoga Cu?amaṇi Upani?ad belongs to Samaveda tradition. It is an invaluable yogic text for a sincere and dedicated yoga practitioner. A complete guideline is presented in it for gaining spiritual wisdom through yoga sadhana (spiritual practice). In the beginning, the text describes the six limbs of yoga that are asana, praṇayama, pratyahara, dharaṇa, dhyana and Samadhi. With the objective of attaining perfection in yoga, it describes various topics directly related to the theory and practice of yoga. The main topics described in this text are essential knowledge of the body elements, knowledge of the six cakras (energy centers), sixteen adharas (foundations), three lak?yas (aims), visualization of light at yonisthana, pranic channels, location of pranic channels, circulation of vital energy in the pranic pathways and their functions, momentum of jiva (embodied self) along with praṇa. The text further explains the exploration of ajapa gayatri, penetration of the door to liberation by kuṇ?alini, the three bandhas, khecari mudra, sign of vajroli, nature of mahamudra, process of the praṇava japa, oneness of praṇava and Brahma, meaning of the praṇava and its syllables, practice of the turiya oṅkara, praṇava and haṃsa sadhana and pranava japa for self-realization.

Finally, the text discusses the victory over prana, praṇava mantra sadhana, perfection in praṇayama by the purification of the nadis (praṇic channels/pathways), the specific result of perfection and harmony from each limb of yoga, and the expression of nada (the spontaneous unstruck sound) through the practice of saṇmukhi mudra, practice of praṇayama, practice of controlling praṇa, praṇa the destroyer of all diseases, and withdrawing of senses from their respective sense-objects.

Autorentext

Swami Vishnuswaroop (Thakur Krishna Uprety), B. A. (Majored in English & Economics), M. A. in Theravada Buddhism, received his Diploma in Yogic Studies (First Class) from Bihar Yoga Bharati, Munger, Bihar, India. He was formally trained under the direct guidance and supervision of Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati in the Guru Kula tradition of the Bihar School of Yoga. His guru gave his spiritual name 'Vishnuswaroop' when he was initiated into the sannyasa tradition.

Divine Yoga Institute has published nine books on classical yoga, meditation, and tantra. He has taught Nepalese and foreign nationals the theory and practice of traditional yoga and the yogic way of life for more than twenty-five years.