Uddiyana Bandha (UB) is also one of the ten Mudras according to Hathayogapradipika (HYP) and one of Twenty-five mudras according to Gheranda Samhita (GH.S.) .It is considered as one of the most important three bandhas to be applied during the practice of Kumbhakas.

In HYP from verse no. III/54, Svatmarama starts discussion on triad of Bandhas – known as Uddiyana Bandha, Jalandhara. Bandha and Mulabandha. All these three are the essential components of the practice of kumbhaka.

Here first of all Uddiyana bandha is being described. Uddiyana consists in ‘The upper and lower part of the navel to be pulled backward’ HYP III / 59.

Uddiyana is most disputed practice in the Hatha yoga curriculum because of its technique. The most popular technique of UB is that it is being practiced in the exhaled condition i.e. after optimum exhalation. After that the diaphragm is raised upward which gives the appearance of abdomen as being pulled inward which is popularly known as Uddiyana. Such people translate Uddiyana as ‘Raising of the diaphragm’.

We must not forget that UB is one of the Mudras and in sequence of practice as enumerated by Svatmarama, Mudras are to be practiced as third limb i.e. after Kumbhaka. Thus on the basis of its presentation and reference thereof, it can be said that UB is to be done during inhaled condition and not in exhaled condition. This is supported by two references –

  1. Purakante kumbhakadye kartavyastuddiyanakah – Gh. S. V /49
  2. Kumbhakante rechakadau kartavyastuddiyanakah – HYP II/ 45

In both the references we do find that Uddiyana is to be performed either after Puraka (Gh.S.) or at the end of Kumbhaka and in the beginning of rechaka (HYP). This confirms that when Uddiyana is performed as an important accessory of Pranayama, it is not practiced after complete exhalation.

While commenting on the above quoted verse of HYP, Brahmananda writes ‘ kumbhakante kinchit Kumbhaka sheshe….’. (At the end of Kumbhaka means during some part of Kumbhaka is still there…). This further strengthens that Uddiyana is to be done during retention – either in the beginning of retention or at the end part of retention.

Question arises, when and why people started practicing Uddiyana with complete exhalation. It is difficult to say when (time period) it started but we can logically think about why it might have started. We know that Nauli is one of the most important Cleansing processes. The practice of Nauli is done in complete exhalation. In order to Practice Nauli and get the recti-muscle isolated in the middle known as Madhya Nauli one must master the technique of Uddiyana. This might have popularised the technique of Uddiyana with complete exhalation.

But in Kumbhaka Uddiyana is recommended to be applied in Kumbhaka i.e. during retention of air inside…

Uddiyana as Mudra should be practiced in inhaled condition, then only it can justify its name.

Uddiyana is the practice which paves the way for flying of the great bird i.e. prana into sushumna (HYP III / 56).

Effects of Uddiyana –

  1. It is just like a lion against elephant of death.
  2. It facilitates the entrance of prana vayu into sushumna
  3. Even old becomes young.
  4. Leads to the liberation naturally.

In HYP we find one verse (II/47) which mentions only about MB and JB during Kumbhaka. No instruction about UB is mentioned in this verse. Brhmananda, while commenting on this verse of HYP, writes that MB and JB is sufficient to give the effect of UB. In order to support this view, Brahm¡nanda quotes a verse from Gyneshavari (a Marathi commentary on Bhagavad Gita and holds an independent status in Marathi sant literature) which states that as a result of the practice of MB and JB, the effect of UB is automatically attained. (Ghaneshvari on BG VI/13 and 14).

When all these three Bandhas are at point find happening simultaneously during Kumbhaka, then the prana vayu enters into sushumna which leads to the stage of Samadhi (Unmani) ( HYP II / 46).

It will be explained in the forthcoming articles.