Types of Kumbhaka

GS uses the term as Kumbhaka (and not pranayama) depending on the retention of the breath.  These are 8 kinds in GS:

1. Sahita (‘the combined’ – Breathing with Alternating the nostrils.
   1. Sagarbha -With repetition of Bija Mantra.
      1. Initial Position: Sukhasana, Facing East or North,
      2. Puraka : Inhale through left nostril, with bija mantra, Am (अं ) repeated for 16 times and Dhyana on Brahma full of Rajas quality of a blood red colour, in the form of the letter “A” (“अ”). 
      3. Kumbhaka: Then in Uddiyana Bandha, retain the breath with bija mantra, oo (ऊ) for 64 times with dhyana on Hari of a black colour and of Sattva Quality.
      4. Rechaka: Exhale through right nostril with bija mantra “Ma” (म) for 32 times with dhyana on Shiva of a white colour and of Tamasa quality.
      5. Reverse, starting inhalation from right nostril, going through kumbhaka and rechaka from left nostrils in the same way as described in 2,3 and 4 steps. This makes one round of Sagarbha Pranayama. Thus, we can see that this pranayama comprises of breathing in 1:4:2 ratio, with bija mantra japa and visualisation or dhyana on Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva in Puraka, Kumbhaka and Rechaka.
      6. GS also prescribes the mudra to be used during kumbhaka, i.e. when the nostrils are closed and breathe is hold. Right nostril should be closed by thumb of the right hand and left nostril should be closed by ring finger and little finger. GS prohibits the use of index and middle fingers.
   2. Nirgarbha – without repetition of Bija Mantra. This pranayama can be practised for any number of the Matras (times) from 1 to 100.  But GS classifies Nirgarbha pranayama into three types:
      1. Uttam Pranayama (Best pranayama) which has Puraka for 20 seconds, Kumbhaka for 80 seconds and Rechaka for 40 seconds. GS states that by this practice, one attains the power of levitation, i.e. one leaves the ground. GS calls this power as Khechari Sakti. It reminds of one of the eight siddhis, i.e. Lagima. We will discuss in next session about these eight powers.
      2. Madhyama Pranayama (Middling pranayama) which is practiced with 16, 64, and 32 matra. By this Practice, the body begins to quiver, along the spinal cord.
      3. Adham Pranayama (lowest pranayama) which is practiced with 12, 48, 24. GS states that by this practice, the body begins to perspire very much.
         
2. Surya-beda (piercing the sun)-
   • Method: GS describes Suryabheda Kumbhaka as inhaling from right nostril (Surya naadi, Pingala Naadi) and retain the breath with Jalandhara Bandha, until perspiration burst out from the tips of the nails and roots of the hair. Then exhale from the left nostril. This makes one round and continue with inhalation from right nostril and exhalation from left nostril with retention of breath with Jalandhara Bandha.
   • Benefit: GS states by this practice, the practitioner destroys decay and death, awakens the kundalini shakti and increases the bodily fire.
3. Ujjayi (the victorious)-
   • Method: Inhale fully from both the nostrils, and exhale through the mouth while in Jalandhara Bandha followed by Kumbhaka.
   • Benefit: By this practice, phlegm disease, nervous disease, indigestion, spleen disease and dysentry, cough, fever are prevented.  The practitioner destroys decay and death.
4. Sitali (the cooling)
   • Method: Keeping lips contracted, inhale through the tongue drawn outside the mouth, so that the stomach is filled slowly. Retain the breath for a short while and then exhale through both the nostrils.
   • Benefits: Indigestion, Phlem and Bile disorders are prevented.
5. Bhastrika (Bellows)
   • Method: Just like bellows of the ironsmith constantly dilate and contract, the practitioner inhales slowly and exhales quickly with wind making sound like bellows. GS recommends 20 times to inhale and exhale in this way and then perform Kumbhaka.
   • Benefits: GS states that one never suffers from any diseases and always healthy, if performs this practice 3 times.
6. Bhramari (the bee-like)
   • Method: The practitioner inhales and retains while closing the ears by the hands.  GS states that after the daily practice, the practitioner hears many internal sounds in his right ear – first one is that of crickets and then followed by many other like that lute, thunder, drum, beetle, bells, gongs of bell metal, trumpets, kettle-drums, mridanga, military drums and dundubhi, etc. And the last one is Anahata sound that rises from the heart.
   • Benefits: GS recommends to contemplate your mind on the light in the resonance of the sound, by which it reaches the Highest seat of Vishnu (Parama-Pada). By this, one gets success in Samadhi.
7. Murchha (Swoon)
   • Method: With easily performed Kumbhaka, the practitioner fixes his mind in the space between the two eyes brows.
   • Benefit: GS states that by this practice, mind is fainted and happiness is felt. Thus, mind unites with the Atma and obtains bliss.
8. Kevali (the complete)
   1. Ajapa Japa – When the breath enters and leaves the body, there is friction and hence, the sounds called – ‘so’ during inhalation and ‘ham’ during exhalation.  Soham or Sohum (सो ऽहम् so ‘ham or so ‘Hum) is a Hindu mantra, meaning “I am She/He/That” in Sanskrit. In Vedic philosophy it means identifying oneself with the universe or ultimate reality.  The mantra is also inverted from so ‘ham (the sandhi of saḥ + aham) to ham + sa. The combination of so ‘haṃ haṃsaḥ has also been interpreted as “I myself am the Swan”, where the swan symbolizes the Atman. GS elaborates that there are 21,600 respirations every day and night and hence, this japa is performed unconsciously, but constantly in every living being. This is called Ajapa Gayatri. GS states that Yogi recite this mantra consciously and counts the numbers.
   2. Location of Ajapa Japa – This japa continues at 3 places – Muladhara, Anahata and Ajnya Lotus
   3. Length of Vayu – GS elaborates that the body of Vayu is 96 digits in length (6 feet) as a standard.
      • The ordinary length of the air-current during exhalation is 12 digits (9 inches).
      • This length is increased to 16 digits (1 ft) during singing
      • This length is 20 digits (15 inches) during eating
      • This length is 24 digits (18 inches) during walking
      • This length is 30 digits (27.5 inches) during sleeping
      • This length is 36 digits (29 inches) during copulation
      • This length is more than 36 digits during exercises.
   4. Effect of the Length of Expired Air current on vitality of our life: GS elaborates that by reducing the natural length of the exhaled current from 9 inches to less and less, the vitality increases and by increasing that natural length of the exhaled, the life is decreased.
   5. Keeping the above principle, GS states that so long as the breath remains in the body, there is no death and when the full length of the wind is all confined in the body, nothing being allowed to go out, it is called Kevala Kumbhaka. By doubling the number of Ajapa, the state of Manonmani (fixedness of the mind) is attained. There are no regular Rechaka and Puraka in this process. It is only kumbhaka and that is why it is called keval (only) kumbhaka.
   6. GS mentions the process that by inspiring air by both nostrils, one should perform Kevala Kumbhaka. On the first day, let him retain breath from 1 to 64 times.  This kevali should be performed (i) 8 times a day – once in every three hours or (ii) one may do it 5 times a day – Early morning, noon, twilight, midnight and 4th quarter of night, or (iii) morning, noon and evening.  GS recommends to increase the length of Ajapa every day one to 5 times till the yogi does not get success. GS states that one who attains success in Kevali Kumbhaka, can at attain anything in this world.

GS states that by practice of pranayama, one attains the power of Levitation (Khechari Sakti), cures his diseases, and calmness of the mind and mental powers, by which the practitioner becomes full of bliss and happy.