“Samadhi, the highest Yoga, is attained by the very fortunate.”
The verse: Gheranda Samhita 7.1
The quote above is our paraphrase. This is the verse as it reads in the Srisa Chandra Vasu translation (1915):
“The Samadhi is a great Yoga; it is acquired by great good fortune. It is obtained through the grace and kindness of the Guru, and by intense devotion to him.”
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
- “When the mind comes into contact with something hot or cold, draw it back from there and bring it under control in the self.”
- “Meditate on Brahman as made of light. This is the supreme, luminous dhyana.”
- “Put the self in space and space in the self. When one sees the self as made of space, nothing else is perceived.”
- “Sahita, Suryabheda, Ujjayi, Shitali, Bhastrika, Bhramari, Murccha, and Kevali are the eight kumbhakas.”
- “Yonimudra awakens supreme union with Shiva and bestows bliss.”
- “Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli, Trataka, and Kapalabhati — one should practice these six cleansing techniques.”