Hatha Yoga has a collection of practices that go from physical awareness to the conquest of the mind, ultimately attaining the peaceful and equanimous state every yogi wants to reach. Hatha Yoga is generally viewed as asana practices; however, it covers only 10% of the practice. After attaining perfection in asana practices and mastering other limbs of hatha yoga, including pranayama, one is prepared to practice Nadanusandana.
Significance of Nadanusandana
Nadanusandana has a significant place in the hatha yogic practices. It can be practiced by practitioners only after they have reached higher levels in their pursuit of yoga. In Hatha Yoga Pradeepika, unlike other texts, Nadanusandhana has been given the status of an independent limb. Swatmarama has elaborately discussed Nadanusandana and referred to it as the most efficient method of Laya Yoga. For an accomplished practitioner, this practice is described as the ideal path to attain Samadhi.
Nadanusandana practice as a gateway to Samadhi
In our mundane lives, we experience different things regularly at home, school, and the workplace. These experiences create different impressions on our senses. The impressions created by our five senses the sense objects such as Sabda (sound), Sparsha (touch), Roopa (vision), Rasa (taste), and Gandha (smell) influence us immensely. As modern life is filled with distractions it adds more chaos and increases our chances to lose ourselves in these impressions. And, if our mind and senses are not in our control, they will start controlling us and we will soon lose our peace of mind and stability. This creates misery that affects the individual regardless of one’s finances, social status, and health. This is where the yoga practices play an important role. For over 2000+ years, yoga has been practiced by people all over the world as an escape from this misery.
The ancient practice of Nadanusandana has the same objective. It directs the mind inwards to notice subtle internal sounds by detaching oneself from the sensual objects. As the practitioner withdraws from the chaotic external environment and starts focusing on the internal sounds and vibrations known as Nada, the mind becomes one with it leading to the state of Samadhi.
As the Sadhaks practice Nadanusandana, they experience several different kinds of sounds. These are categorized into four, according to their states of Progress. These are Arambha (initial), Ghata (concentrated), Parichaya (controlled), and Nishpatti (accomplished). Practices like pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi help one achieve similar states. The state attained through Nadanusandana also symbolizes the states of piercing of the Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra grandhis as part of the activation of kundalini nadi.
Understanding the Universe through Nadanusandana
It is said that everything in the universe is the manifestation of energy and vibrations. If we equate one with the universe, the practice of Nadanusandana will help the practitioner to understand the cosmos through understanding oneself by focusing on the internal vibrations.
Nadanusandana is rightly acclaimed to be one of the most important laya yoga practices.
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