“Rotate the stomach quickly on both sides. This gets rid of all diseases and the bodily fire increases.”
The verse: Gheranda Samhita 1.52
The quote above is our paraphrase. This is the verse as it reads in the Srisa Chandra Vasu translation (1915):
“With great force move the stomach and intestines from one side to the other. This is called Laukiki-Yoga. This destroys all diseases and increases the bodily fire.”
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.
More from the Gheranda Samhita
- “The glorious Mayurasana turns to ash all excess, unwholesome food and digests lethal poison.”
- “Shavasana removes fatigue and brings rest to the mind.”
- “The great goddess Kundalini, the Shakti of the self, sleeps at the Muladhara.”
- “The yogi should visualize a sublime ocean of nectar in his heart.”
- “Padmasana destroys diseases and ailments.”
- “Through pranayama, the yogi gets the ability to move through space; through pranayama, diseases are destroyed.”