SOUTH Africa is known as the cradle of humankind. From yogic point of view, it is a land charged with high levels of spiritual energy, a site frequented by rishis of the yore for their sadhna (practices given) and seva (selfless service or charity). One such vortex of energy is the Dakshinmurthy Shivling formation at the Nelspruit Nature Reserve, which has been dated as at least 2 000 years old.

Bhagwan Shiv is called the Adi Guru, and his favorite is Nandi or the bull. It is said that serving a Nandi is the easiest way to reach Bhagwan Shiv, and likewise the rishis served bulls here in this land 2 000 years ago.

The science of yoga is a not a curative science. It is the path to evolution through sadhna and service. There are various techniques given in yoga to keep the body healthy, but the purpose is not to lead a long life. Instead it is to carry on with one’s sadhna without any hindrance. One of the saptarishis (the name is obscure now), did severe penance at the Shivling in Nelspruit and gave certain kriyas to enhance immunity of the body and to keep bacteria and viruses at bay.

Kriyas are practices or technique designed to achieve desired outcome.

In this column, we will touch on three such kriyas, which also find a mention in the Sanatan Kriya, to keep disease and infection at bay and to keep the body in balance, towards prakriti vis a vis Vikriti,

Brahmari Pranayama

To perform this pranayama, sit in a comfortable posture in a well-ventilated room. Keep your spine straight. Close your eyes and pay reverence to the energy of Guru and Shri Ganesh. Plug your ears with your thumbs and place your fingers slightly spread out on the top of the head. Inhale and as you exhale, produce a humming sound, like that of a male bee.

Keep your awareness in the brain region and take this sound to the entire brain. When we do this, there is an instant vibration in the neurons of the brain, and the sensation in the body after this is very different. This awakens the higher centres of the brain which can easily to directed towards closest organs like eyes and breathing passages.

Gharshan Kriya

Gharshan translates as friction. In this kriya, we generate heat from friction and massage and energies various pressure points in the body. For the purpose of this column, we are only touching on the basics of the kriya.

Begin with rubbing your palms rapidly such that you can feel heat between them. Next spread out your fingers and clap the hands such that all fingers and palms touch each other. Clap 7 times. Then again rub your hands. Do this three times. Next rub your hands and gently tap at the centre of the forehead. Rub again and tap at both the temples.

Next rub the hands and tap at the top of the head and then at the back of the head. Next, using the first two fingers of both hands, rub on either side of the nose between the eyes. Then rub your cheekbones. Next place your thumbs behind both the ears and pressing firmly, slide the thumbs through your jaw until your neck. Then release.

Once again rub your palms and then gently tap in the chest region using both hands. Repeat the same at the stomach, on either side of the navel. Now place your right foot on the left thigh and tap at the back of the foot with your left hand. Repeat on the other leg. Gharshan Kriya has the effect of restoring energy and vitality by touching upon various vital points in the body. Regular practice keeps disease and old age at bay for a long time.

Jal Neti

Take 250ml of bearably warm pure water (preferably spring water, which is not contaminated as otherwise it can affect the brain) in a neti pot. Add one teaspoon of organic black/Himalayan pink salt and a pinch of turmeric. Stand evenly, bend slightly forward and tilt the head at an angle of 45 degrees towards the left.

Insert the nozzle of the pot into the right nostril. While breathing from the mouth, tilt the pot so that the water flows into the right nostril and flows out of the left. Repeat on the other side. Breathe normally afterwards. Saline water is the best cleansing medium, which absorbs and scrapes away infectious pathogens accumulated in the nasal passage.

Turmeric is a disinfectant, antiseptic and scouring agent. Jal Neti is highly effective in ridding the body of flu viruses from the nasal tract before they enter the blood stream and cause life threatening diseases. When followed in routine, Jal Neti increases body’s defence mechanism to fight off nasal and throat infections.

For people who travel a lot in polluted environments or are suffering from problems like asthma and a weak respiratory system, Jal Neti gives a lot of relief and successfully combats the allergens causing such conditions. It should be followed by putting desi cow’s warm ghee in the nose while tilting the head completely backwards, so that the ghee flows upwards. This keeps the nasal tract lubricated and prevents one from catching cough and cold

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Fight those germs and detoxify the body