“Paschimottanasana relieves ailments and purifies the nadis.”
About the text: Gheranda Samhita
The Gheranda Samhita is a Sanskrit hatha yoga manual, probably from the late 17th century, framed as the sage Gheranda teaching a student named Chanda. Its seven chapters set out a sevenfold yoga, from cleansing practices and postures to breath control, meditation and samadhi.
Quotes in this collection are short English renderings of passages and ideas from the text, not a full translation.
More from the Gheranda Samhita
- “The glorious Mayurasana turns to ash all excess, unwholesome food and digests lethal poison.”
- “Kevala kumbhaka is the breathless state that leads to complete control over the mind.”
- “Stare at a small object without blinking until tears start to fall. The wise call this Trataka.”
- “By the realization that he is Brahman, nondual samadhi arises.”
- “The great goddess Kundalini, the Shakti of the self, sleeps at the Muladhara.”
- “The restless and unsteady mind is to be reined in from wherever it goes and brought under control in the self.”