How To Do Pranayama in Tantra

In tantra, prāṇāyāmā is an important component that is done in many occasions. For example, it is done before the commencement of a saṅkalpa.

 ślokā which describes prāṇāyāmā:

कुट्या वेष्तितगेह-मध्य कलिते 

पट्ट-धिकेच्छासने 

स्वस्थ-प्रागृजुः पूर्व-काय-गलको लग्ने द्विजो रेचयेत् 

नाडी-शुद्धि-शु-मन्द-मन्दम्-उदरं सम्पूरयेत् वामकः

सेन्दोर् बाह्य-समीरणेनमिहिरैः तालैः क्रमात् कुम्भकम्

कृत्वा शक्ति वशात् विरेचयेतुतं पिङ्गार्कवाहात् ततः

निर्गर्भ-सततम् जयं च कुरुते खानां स गर्भः पुनः

ध्याना-जाप-युतान् निहन्ति सकलं पापं निशोद्धुम् पुनः

प्रातः सायम् अहस्सुचैः च कुरुते तत्त्वादि-साक्षात्-कृतिम्

- सिद्धान्तसारावलि

kuṭyā veṣtitageha-madhya kalite 

paṭṭa-dhikecchāsane 

svastha-prāgṛjuḥ pūrva-kāya-galako lagne dvijo recayet 

nāḍī-śuddhi-śu-manda-mandam-udaraṃ sampūrayet vāmakaḥ

sendor bāhya-samīraṇenamihiraiḥ tālaiḥ kramāt kumbhakam

kṛtvā śakti vaśāt virecayetutaṃ piṅgārkavāhāt tataḥ

nirgarbha-satatam jayaṃ ca kurute khānāṃ sa garbhaḥ punaḥ

dhyānā-jāpa-yutān nihanti sakalaṃ pāpaṃ niśoddhum punaḥ

prātaḥ sāyam ahassucaiḥ ca kurute tattvādi-sākṣāt-kṛtim

- siddhāntasārāvali

Meaning breakdown:

kuṭyā veṣtitageha-madhya kalite 

Sit in the middle of an enclosed place. One must sit quietly in the centre of an isolated place ( room or hut ) which is enclosed by four walls, free from the influence of any distraction.

paṭṭa-dhikecchāsane

Have yourself sit on an asana ( seat ) for the desired practice. The seat can be in the form of a mat, cloth, deer skin etc.

svastha-prāgṛjuḥ pūrva-kāya-galako lagne dvijo recayet 

A person of good health should sit with an erect spine. He should then exhale out the air from his lungs.

nāḍī-śuddhi-śu-manda-mandam-udaraṃ sampūrayet vāmakaḥ

Inhale the external air gradually, little by little and fill the abdomen to completion. This is done through the left nose. 

Mudra

The mudra used to close the nostril in prāṇāyāmā is achieved by flexing the index and middle fingers. The thumb is used to close the right nostril. The ring and little fingers are used to close the left nostril.

*so be careful not to cause any lesion to your median nerve so you can always flex the needed fingers.. heehee*

Purakam - Inhalation

This is referred to as Pūrakam. The stream of breath in the left nostril is associated with the iḍa nāḍi. It is also called the candra nāḍi ( lunar channel )

sampūrayet vāmakaḥ

( breath completion via left path )

sendor bāhya-samīraṇena

sa-indoḥ = indu means moon.

bāhya" means "external," and "samīraṇena" refers to "wind" or "air." Combined, "bāhya-samīraṇena" suggests "by the inhalation of external air" or "using external breathing

Retention - Kumbhakam

Recakam- Exhalation

Image: Exhalation via right nostril. This is referred to as Recakam. The stream of breath in the right nostril is associated with the piṇgala nāḍi. It is also called the sūrya nāḍi ( solar channel )

piṅgārkavāhāt

piṅga relates to piṅgala. Arka refers to Sun. Vāhāt means ' to convey'.

nirgarbha-satatam jayaṃ ca kurute

The exhalation must be done in a way one empties the belly completely ( nirgarbha ).

khānāṃ sa garbhaḥ punaḥ

Then, one inhales fresh air from the atmosphere again, filling his belly completely.

Duration?

''.. mihiraiḥ tālaiḥ kramāt .."

Mihira is a name for Sūrya. Tālaiḥ means "rhythms". Kramāt" means  sequentially or in an ordered manner.

The duration for inhalation ( purakam ), retention ( kumbhakam ) and exhalation ( recakam ) is individually 12 mātrā-s.

One mātrā is the duration to make one finger snap. So purakam is done in the duration of 12 mātrā-s, kumbhakam for 12 mātrā-s. and recakam for 12 mātrā-s.

Mantra to be recited

During inhalation, retention and exhalation, a particular mantra is recited mentally. The gāyatrī mantra is commonly used. In śaiva tradition, the mūla mantra and samhita mantra-s are chanted. 

kṛtvā śakti vaśāt

The mastery over duration comes with practice. The śakti to perform the prāṇāyāmā varies with individuals and requires grace and practice to master. Established aspirants can perform kumbhaka for a very long period of time.

Sequence

Recakam --> Pūrakam --> Kumbhakam --> Recakam --> Kumbhakam ( 1 cycle )

So you first exhale completely, then inhale, hold, exhale, hold... then inhale again... with specification to the mudra and duration.

dhyānā-jāpa-yutān nihanti sakalaṃ pāpaṃ niśoddhum punaḥ

With the amalgamation of meditation, recitation and this prāṇāyāmā, one destroys all sins.

When to perform prāṇāyāmā?

prātaḥ sāyam ahassucaiḥ ca kurute

It is to be done in the  morning, afternoon and evening. The prāṇāyāmā is done in the early morning, afternoon and evening. It is done during sandhyā vandanam. In śaiva tradition, prāṇāyāmā is done 10 times during each sandhyā vandanam.

One who performs this will be free from diseases and will attain a divine effulgence ( tejas ). He attains purification of the nāḍi-s.

tattvādi-sākṣāt-kṛtim

One who performs prāṇāyāmā as instructed will attain the vision of all deities and tattvā-s ( eg. śiva tattvam, ātma tattvam, vidyā tattvam ).