Hatha Yoga Pradipika

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, composed by Swami Swatmarama around 1400 CE, is the most important surviving text of the classical Hatha Yoga tradition. Its title translates roughly as “Light on Hatha Yoga” — pradipika means lamp or light. The text contains 389 verses divided into four chapters, covering asana, pranayama, mudra and bandha, and finally Samadhi. It is the primary source for most of what is practised in contemporary Hatha Yoga schools.

The Four Chapters

Chapter One – Asana

The first chapter opens with an invocation to Shiva as the first teacher of Hatha Yoga, then describes the context in which the practice should be taken up: by those who are earnest, under the guidance of a qualified guru, in a suitable environment. Swatmarama lists fifteen principal asanas, giving instructions for each. Siddhasana and Padmasana are given particular emphasis as the most important for pranayama and meditation.

Chapter Two – Pranayama and Shatkarma

The second chapter is devoted to pranayama. Swatmarama first explains when Shatkarma (the six cleansing practices) should be undertaken — specifically when excess phlegm, bile, or wind is present in the body — and describes all six. He then lists eight primary pranayama techniques and explains their effects in detail. The chapter ends with a statement that has guided Hatha Yoga teaching ever since: when prana is controlled, the mind is controlled, and when the mind is controlled, liberation is within reach.

Chapter Three – Mudra and Bandha

The third chapter describes ten mudras, which are understood as energetic seals that direct prana within the body. These include Maha Mudra, Maha Bandha, Maha Vedha, Khechari Mudra, Uddiyana Bandha, Mula Bandha, Jalandhara Bandha, Viparita Karani, Vajroli, and Shakti Chalana. Each is described with its method and effects on the pranic body. Swatmarama says that these practices should be kept secret and not shared carelessly — a reflection of the traditional view that powerful techniques must be transmitted personally by a teacher.

Chapter Four – Samadhi

The fourth and final chapter is the most philosophically dense. It addresses Samadhi — the state of meditative absorption in which the individual self merges with universal consciousness. Swatmarama describes the signs and conditions of Samadhi, identifies the obstacles to its attainment, and emphasises that the purpose of all Hatha Yoga practice — asana, pranayama, mudra — is solely to prepare the practitioner for this state.

Key Teachings

Several principles emerge from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika that remain central to traditional teaching:

• Hatha Yoga is preparation for Raja Yoga. Physical practice is not an end in itself.
• A qualified teacher is essential. The text repeatedly warns against attempting advanced practices without direct guidance.
• Diet, sleep habits, and lifestyle affect practice significantly. Swatmarama’s description of a sattvic diet and appropriate daily routine is detailed and practical.
• The Nada — inner sound — is one of the primary objects of meditation in Hatha Yoga. Chapter four describes the progressive refinement of the practitioner’s ability to hear increasingly subtle internal sounds.

Reading the Text

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is studied in all teacher training programs at Medhya Laya. Students work through all four chapters with commentary, learning not only what the text says but how to interpret its more technical passages. The most accessible scholarly translation is by Swami Muktibodhananda of the Bihar School of Yoga, which includes extensive commentary drawing on traditional sources. Reading this text changes the way a practitioner understands what they are doing on the mat.