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Nadi shodhana in scriptures All the classical yogic texts describe nadi purification as a necessary step to achieve kevala kumbhaka, spontaneous retention of breath. Many equate pranayama with kumbhaka, while others explain the process to achieve kumbhaka as pranayama. In the first case, nadi shodhana is treated as an indispensable preliminary practice of 'pranayama' and in the second as the first pranayama, or even the only pranayama. The Gheranda Samhita says (5:35):
मलाकुलासु नाडीषु मारुतो नैव गच्छति । प्राणायामः कथं सिध्येत्तत्त्वज्ञानं कथं भवेत् ।
तस्मादादौ नाडीशुद्धिं प्राणायामं ततोऽभ्यसेत् ॥ The vayu (prana) does not enter the nadis as long as they are full of impurities. How then can pranayama be accomplished? How can there be knowledge of the tattwas? Therefore, first the nadis should be purified, and then pranayama should be practised.
It recommends the practices of shatkarma and three specific forms of nadi shodhana, combining bija mantras and tattwa sadhana to achieve such purification. Thereafter, it says, "sitting firmly in a posture, let him begin regular pranayama" (5:36). Among the 'regular pranayamas' or kumbhakas, the first is sahita - alternate nostril breathing or nadi shodhana (with or without mantra and visualization), achieving higher ratios of inhalation, retention and exhalation over a period of practice. In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (2:5) it is said:
शुद्धिमेति यदा सर्वं नाडीचक्रं मलाकुलम् ।
तदैव जायते योगी प्राणसंग्रहणे क्षमः ॥ All the nadis and chakras are full of impurities. When they are purified, the yogi is able to retain prana.
This text treats nadi shodhana as a practice separate from, and a prelude to, all other pranayamas. It describes the tradi
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