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श्री पुष्करमुनि अभिनन्दन ग्रन्थ : नवम खण्ड
Classification of Șatkarmas
Şarkarmas can be classified according to : (A) Mode of cleansing, and (B) Region of cleansing (A) Mode of Cleansing
(i) Cleansing by air: Vatsara, BahişkȚta-dhauti, Suşkabasti or Sthalabasti Kapāla
bhäti. (ii) Cleansing by water : Vaman-dhauti, Gajakarani, Vārisăra or Sankhapraksālana,
Jalabasti, Jalaneti or Vyutkrama and sitkrama Kapālabhati, Netrabasti, Linga
basti. (iii) Cleansing by Friction or with an appliance : Dandadhauti, Vastradhauti, Mūlaso
dhana or Ganesakriya, Sūtraneti, Dantamula, Jihvāmüla, Karmarandhrayuga,
Kapalarandhra karnaśālakya. (iv) Cleansing by Manipulating Movements : Agnisāra, Nauli, Trățaka, Vatabasti, Vāri
basti or Jalabasti. (B) Region of Cleansing :
(i) Cleansing of Naso-pharyngo-oro-cranial region : Neti, Kapalabhāti, Trāțaka,
Dantamala, Jihvāmāla, Karñarandhara, Karņaśalakya. (ii) Cleansing of Gastro-aesophageal region : Dhautis like Danda, Vamana, Vastra,
Gajakrani, Vätasāra. (iii) Cleansing of Ano-recto-intestinal region : Vātasara, Värisära, Vahnisara, Jalabasti,
Suşkabasti, Múlasodhana, Bahişksta, Nauli, Pāyuja bastis. Therapeutical value of Satkarmas
The materia-medica of Yogic therapy consists of several cleansing processes. Cleansing or 'sodhana' forms one of the basic concepts of Yogic therapy. The condition of Dhätuvaişamya which gives rise to several psycho-physiological disturbances, is removed by resorting to appropriate isodhana Kriyās'. Kriyās bring about widened range of adaptability of the tissues forming the various systems and the organs, as also raise the threshold of their reactivity. Autonomic and proprioceptive neuro-muscular reactions seem to have an important bearing in bringing about these results. Voluntary control is established on different reflexes through the 'Sodhana Kriyas'. An illustration may be given about gaining control over vomitting reflex. This reflex is controlled by two methods :-(i) By inhibition during Danda Dhauti and Vastra Dhauti ; (ii) By stimulation as in Gajakarani. The emphasis of these Kriyas as on establishing psychophysiological balance after attaining which help is sought of other Yogic practices like Asanas, Prānāyāmas and meditational techniques for strengthening and tranquillising psycho-physiological apparatus. The clinical evidence collected over five decades in the centres of Kaivalyadhama and in many other Yoga centres in recent years indicates the utility and efficacy of the "Sodhana kriyas' in treating the chronic functional disorders. A Review of Scientific Experiments on Sodhanakriyās
Yoga was first brought into the laboratory by late Swami Kuvalayananda, the Founder of Kaivalyadhama Institutions, in early 1920's by providing scientific evidence about the efficacy of an important sodhana kriyà called Nauli, using X-Ray techniques of scientific investigations. It was the novel attempt to rationally explain the utility of Yogic practices in scientific terms. With the help of X-Ray studies he showed that sub-atmospheric pressures could be created voluntarily in the colon during the practice of different aspects of Nauli. Development of subatmospheric or negative pressure in colon during the practice of Nauli-kriya was given by him the name "Madhavadāsa Vacuum" in the sacred memory of his Guru Madhavadasa Mahāraj of Mālsar. Upto that time the possibility of creating such pressure changes in the internal cavities by voluntary manipulations was not known, nor investigated in the field of physiology.
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