Notes on The Yogasangalu, by T. Krishnamacharya

Authored with help from his son TKV Desikachar this book provides a further elaboration of various ideas presented in Krishnamacharya’s Yoga Makaranada with some interesting additions.

www.gianfrancobertagni.it/materiali/meditazione/yogasanagalu.pdf

Socio-Political

“The fact that citizens happiness and contentment was disappearing due to lack of yoga practice was noticed by his highness Sri Krishnarajendra Wadeyar who has practiced this system for many years and encouraged propagation of yoga system in many countries. He established a yoga school in Jaganmohan Palace on August 11, 1933.”

“While Foreigners have come to the growing yoga shala supported by Sri Maharaja, taken photos of the drawing charts and displaying it in their countries, it is not right that we sit still and do nothing. Bharata, which is the home of all philosophical/spiritual sciences, we have it in our hands to ensure that others don’t become teachers of our youth. “

The Mind-Body Relationship

“There are no external or internal mischievous activities that are not associated with the mind. Therefore, it is well known as the king of organs. It is responsible for both happiness and misery in life.”

Asana And It’s Further Context

“those who want to start practicing the two yoganga’s “Asana” and “Pranayama” without following the aforementioned niyamas, will not receive benefits”

“Those who have not studied vedas, vedanta and yoga related scriptures (texts) are not qualified to teach yoganga.”

“After each practice, one should stand in samasthiti with hands folded together in front of the chest and pray to their ishtadeva (preferred God).”

“For those who believe, the answer is that it is a body position and a spiritual practice producing stillness and joy that permits union of jeevatma and paramatma. Those who don’t accept Paramatma, but accept jeevatma, understand it as the union of jeevatma (soul) and the mind. For those who do not accept the philosophy of personal soul, understand it as the body practice that permits the union of indriyas (cognitive organs) and the prana.”

Vinyasas

“Yogasanas must be only practiced with vinyasas and never without it. Vinyasas from 1 to 7 are equal in all asanas “

“yoganga called yogasana was rooted in vinyasa and practiced customarily with vinyasa. Only some people still have that practice. “

“While practicing yogabhyasa, the variations of inhalation and exhlations are known as vinyasa. This is explained in Patanjalayogasutra 2, (47 – 48).

Health And Suitability

“In this edition, it is once again suggested that yoga sadhana is for people of all ages.”

“The stomach is the only cause of an untimely death. There is no other reason. The dwelling place of death in the body is only the big stomach and nowhere else. “

“Whether youth, old age, or very weak due to affliction with a disease, if one does yoga practice in the right way without lazyness, can achieve the desired benefits.”

Bandhas

“Study the picture very carefully. Remember that the stomach needs to be pulled in and held in.”

“Whoever is unable to pull in the nadis or the stomach may ignore just those instructions and follow the instructions mentioned earlier to the extent possible. Keep the nadis in and near the rectal and genital areas pulled up, the stomach pulled in and hold the prana vayu steady.”

Moola

“By practicing moolabhanda, pranavayu, apanavayu, hrudayadhwani and veeryabindu are united resulting in yogic benefits. “

Uddiyana

“The part of the body when tightly bound makes pranavayu which is the basis of life move in the form of a fine thread along the spinal cord all the way to Brahma randhra (center of brain) within the Sushumna nadi (channel) is called uddiyanabandha.”

Jalandhara

“The essence of brain is blocked from going down, this is called jalandarabandha. “Jala” means essence of the brain, a flood of this is called “Jaala” and to hold or bear this is called “jaalandhara”. The more concentrated this brain essence, greater will be the memory power.”

Krishnamacharyas’s Syncretic Approach To Asana (bringing various approaches together)

“Not only will it maintain the body in an equal balanced sthiti, it will rapidly awaken kundalini.”

Further Tips On How To Practice

“After practising the asana for just one or two minutes, do not whine that you did not receive any benefits. However little difference there is, if you keep practising the asana daily for at least 5 to 10 minutes, you will start experiencing its benefits in a few days. There is no doubt about this. If you keep practising it from half an hour to an hour following the given rules, you will get the benefits mentioned below.”

‘Not necessary to practice for more than an hour. One hour in the morning and one hour in the evening before taking food. “

Breath

“By making the breath smooth (and long), and by concentration or focussing the mind on the breath, the perfection of the posture is obtained.” (Patanjali YS)

“Normally during yogasana practice, inhalation and exhalation is performed via the trachea deeply, subtly and with sound. “

“We need to try to improve this (prana) radiance day by day. The only way to improve this is by the 4th step of yoganga called “pranayama.”

“there are three important types of pranayama – 1. Suryabhedana 2. Ujjayi 3. Sheetali “

“Without the three bandhas, full benefits of pranayama cannot be achieved for sure. Therefore, practitioners must do this carefully. “

Kriyas

“Hatayogapradipika” lists them under a separate heading “Shatkriyas” and in the same text clearly states that everyone should not practice it. Therefore, we should pay attention to this rule and use it only as treatment for certain diseases such as those caused by excess fat. “

Asana Groupings In The Yogasangalu

“The asana groups Krishnamacharya proposes are below. It is not to be thought they are recommended to be practiced in these particular order, yet, he is particular on their  individual vinyasas.”

Primary

• Uttanasana
• Padangushtasana
• Padahastasana
• Chaturangadandasana
• Urdhwamukhaswanasana
• Adhomukhaswanasana
• Pashimatanasana (Purvatanasana)
• Parshvottanasana Prasaritapadottasana a,b,c
• Utthitatrikonasana a,b
• Utthitaparsvakonasana a,b
• Utkatasana
• Veerabhadrasana
• Ardhabaddda padmottasana
• Utthitahasta padangushtasana
• Triyunmukhaikapada
• paschimatanasana
• Marichasana a,b,c
• Ardhabaddhapadma
• pachimatanasana
• Janusheersana
• Bhujapeedasana
• Kurmasana
• Kukkutasana
• Baddhapadmasana
• Baddhapadmasana with yogamudra
• Gharbapindasana
• Suptapadungushtasana
• Navasana a,b
• Ubhayapadungushtasana
• Urdhwamukhapachimatanasana
• Halasana
• Salambasarvangasana
• Karnapeedasana
• Urdhwapadmasana
• Pindasana
• Baddhakonasana
• Upavishtakonasana
• Suptakonasana
• Uttanapadasana
• Sethubandhasana

Middle

• Pashasana
• Krounchasana
• Dhanurasana
• Dhanurasana – 2 sides
• Dhanurasana – 3
• Ekapada
• Shalabasana
• Nakrasana
• Mayurasana
• Ushtrasana
• Bhekasana
• Suptavajrasana
• Laghuvajrasana
• Ekapada sarvanga
• Bharadwaja
• Kapotasana
• Ekapadasheersha
• Dwipadasheersha
• Yoganidrasana
• Urdhwadhanurasana
• Marichasana d,e,f,g
• Salamba
• Shirshasana
• Niralamba
• Sarvangasana
• Bakasana
• Suptordhwapadavajrasana
• Matsyasana

Proficient

• Vasishta
• Kashyapa
• Virinchi
• Vishwamitra
• Bhairava
• Rajakapota
• Ekapada
• Rajakapota
• Doorvasa
• Ekapada Baka, a,b
• Niralamba sarvanga
• Niralamba sheersha
• Salamba sheersha
• Urdhwa kukkuta
• Vipareeta danda
• Ekapada vipareeta danda
• Ekapada danuh
• Bakasana (hatha yoga)
• Gomukhasana
• Vatayanasana
• Ardha matsyendrasana
• Poorna matsyendrasana
• Vrishikasana
• Moolabhandasana
• Akranadhanurasana
• Ashtavakrasana
• Buddhasana
• Kapilasana
• Vipareeta shalabasana
• Karandavasana
• Ekapadakapota
• Padangushtadhanurasana
• Ardhachakrasana
• Tittibhasana
• Veerasana
• Samanasana
• Parivruttasana

Proficient cont.

• Hanumasana
• Utthitaswastikasana
• Trivikramasana(supta)
• Trivikramasana(utthita)
• Natarajasana
• Simhasana
• Siddhasana
• Parighasana
• Samakonasana
• Vrikshasana
• Gherandasana
• Paryankasana
• Tiryanmukha utthitatrikonasana
• Kandapeedasana
• Suptakanda
• Yogadanda
• Ghandaberundasana
• Pinchamayura
• OOrdhwapravrutapada
• Yogapatta