हठयोग प्रदीपिका (योगी स्वात्माराम - ज्योत्स्ना टीका सहित सटीक)

HAṬHAYOGAPRADĪPIKĀ 49
62. By contraction [of the Mūlādhāra] the Apāna,
whose course is downwards, is forced to go upwards
[through Suṣumnā]. Yogin-s call that Mūla-bandha.
63. Pressing the anus with the heal compress the
air forcibly and repeatedly until the breath [Apāna]
goes upwards.
64. Through the Mūla-bandha, Prāṇa and Apāna
unite with Nāda and bindu and confer perfection in
Yoga. There is no doubt about this.
The meaning seems to be this: Through the Mūla-bandha,
the Prāṇa and Apāna unite and go into the Suṣumnā . Then the
inner sound (Nāda) becomes audible and the Prāṇa and Apāna
uniting with Nāda go above the heart and join the bindu, i.e. the
anusvāra or the inaudible sound of the point in the sacred syllable
Oṃ, symbolizing the transcendent Śiva. They then proceed to the
head and thus the Yogin obtains perfection. Nāda is the mysti-
cal inner sound proceeding from the Anāhatacakra or the cardiac
centre.
65. By constant practice of the Mūla-bandha, a
union of Prāṇa and Apāna is achieved. Urine and
excrement decrease and even the aged become young.
66. When the Apāna rises upwards and reaches
the sphere of fire, then the flame of the fire becomes
lengthened, being fanned by Apāna.
The sphere of the fire is said to be triangular in shape and is
situated in the centre of the body, below the navel. In the case
of animals it is rectangular, and circular in the case of birds.
The flame of the fire referred to is the gastric fire.
67. When the Apāna and the fire join Prāṇa,
which is by nature hot, then the heat in the body is
greatly intensified.

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