Breath:Pausevisarga
Centering
Yukti #1Verses 24–27
Embodied I
Related Deep Dives
Verses 22-27 (Part I)The First Practice
Verses 22–27 (Part II)Instructions for Yukti #1
Verse 24ūrdhve prāṇo hy adho jīvo visargātmā paroccaret ।
utpatti-dvitaya-sthāne bharaṇād bharitā sthitiḥ ॥The Supreme Goddess constantly articulates as the life-giving flow of breath: prāṇa (exhale) rising up, and jīva (inhale)—the movement into embodiment—descending. By pausing at the two places where the flows of breath arise, and filling those points [with silent awareness], one abides in the state of inner fullness.
Verse 25maruto ’ntar bahir vāpi viyad-yugmānivartanāt ।
bhairavyā bhairavasyetthaṃ bhairavi vyajyate vapuḥ ॥O Bhairavī! By not turning back [too soon] from the pair of spaces, inner and outer, where the breath pauses, the form of Bhairava is manifested thus through Bhairavī (as in: the still space of awareness underlying the movement of prāṇa is revealed).
Verse 26na vrajen na viśec chaktir marud-rūpā vikāsite ।
nirvikalpatayā madhye tayā bhairava-rūpatā ॥When the prāṇa-śakti does not move out nor enters in, the Center [suddenly] expands and thoughts melt away. By virtue of that, one is endowed with the Bhairava-state.
Verse 27kumbhitā recitā vāpi pūritā vā yadā bhavet ।
tad-ante śānta-nāmāsau śaktyā śāntaḥ prakāśate ॥When that [breath-power] called ‘quiescent’ is retained after inhale or even after exhale, at the end of that [moment of stillness], the Tranquil One manifests through that power.
Simplified Steps
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Relax the jaw totally
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Inhale down to the base of the heart, then pause briefly and abide in fullness
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Exhale up to above the crown of the head, then pause briefly and abide in surrender
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Repeat, breathing along the central axis called the central channel
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After a while, let go of the sense that you are doing the practice and simply let it happen
