Pranayama - Mudra and Meditation

The book is a "Bidrectional review" towards Yoga. It is a look at various traditional texts and the scientific explanation based on research done in the last 100 years. Pranayama is the main practice of hathayoga which leads to the highest state in sadhaka, but it should be followed skilfully through its progressive way. In this book, the author tried to develop the practical look towards pranayama.

Meditation is the subtle practice of yoga. It is explained by many authors through psycho-spiritual way. In this book, the author tries to explain it within the psychophysical parameters so as to understand the mechanism easily.

"Sri Swami Samarth".

Intervention of modern science in the field of yoga is a revolutionary thing in view of its further development. This will rule out the unnecessary mystical part which has been attached to it for so many years. Another thing is, through the explanation of modern science, we can understand the depth of "sutras" or "shlokas" as constructed in traditional texts. For many years, we translated only the words ("Sabdartha"),but stayed away from the theme behind those sutras ("Bhavartha"). Because of which, many things have been difficult to understand and implement skillfully. With the help of modern science, we can find out the meaning and have an idea for its implementation. Also we can evaluate the principles and practices for better implementation. At least we can avoid the false claims about the principles and practices. Furthermore, the injury made by improper scientific knowledge has become a burning medico-legal subject. This shows us how important the knowledge of modern science is necessary to yoga teachers and students alike.

In the history of yoga, one thing of note is that many yogis went through a variety of experiments successfully to achieve the final state of samadhi. But the practices and experiences were not properly documented in its entirety. A few of them wrote extensively . So there is a big possibility that many of the practices which have not appeared in traditional texts, remain hidden for us. It is our duty to find out and standardize those things on the basis of modern science. Another thing is that the traditional texts were constructed in poetical fashion. After some generations, the same text went through some modifications. It is very difficult to say whether what we have been studying now is really original or a slightly modified version of the original. So it's evaluation within scientific parameters is necessary. The poetical fashion is not the complete description. Many experts explain the same sutra or shloka as per their perception and logic. So the question arises as to which one is really correct. The scientific study will rule out the ambiguity behind it to a great extent.

In the last century, fundamental and applied researches have been done at laboratory level. Within the parameters of anatomy, physiology and psychology, many research units have tried to explain the meaning, methodology and effect of yogic practices. However, research parameters have been expanding day by day. In 1924, Swami Kuvalayanada worked on X-ray experiments. Now the PET scan parameter has also been developed. In future, we will have still more parameters to evaluate the subtle effects of yoga. We hope that genetic engineering and the effect of yoga will be evaluated in depth and give a new stance about health and further development. Now we have come across the effect of yogic practices on telomeres. In future, the subject will map uncharted territories.

Now, yoga has gone global. Many countries have been accepting yoga as an official science and it is also becoming a part of school curriculum. Many people are now interested in making a profession of yoga. Therefore, the teaching faculty should be strengthened with appropriate knowledge of traditional texts along with its scientific explanations. Medical faculty too needs the approach of traditional texts and its scientific understanding so as to apply it on patients as therapy. This book is designed to fulfill this need.

In the last century, asana became the most popular faculty of yoga. That is why, plenty of the books on asana with scientific explanations and practical hints were written by many authors. In the beginning of 21' century, pranayama became the other attractive aspect of yoga for the people. And in future, the aspect of meditation and psychotherapy will also become popularized. People will also learn to give importance to all faculties of yoga. This book will help to develop perspective towards the yogic principles and practices.

The book is a "Bidirectional review" towards yoga. It is a look on various traditional texts and the scientific explanation based on research done in the last 100 years. Also added is the experiential aspect of those yogis who did research on themselves and wrote about their experiences officially. There are plenty of yogis who achieved the state of higher consciousness in the past. Not all of them wrote books. But of those who did right , their material must be collected for further qualitative analysis.

The diagrams made in the books are very simple so as to understand the accompanying matter easily. The descriptions have been kept as easy as possible so that even non-medical and non sanskrit experts will not have much difficulty in understanding the concepts. The charts will help to recall matter effortlessly.

I hope this book will help everyone to understand further traditional science and its scientific explanation.

**Contents and Sample Pages**