HATA YOGA MEDITATION – Shämbhavi Mudra

Shämbhavi mudra or a name with some variation is the hot stuff propagated by some modern Gurus. I have read about some Gurus suing their ex-disciples just because these disciples dared to disclose this ‘technique’ to others without their consent.

Actually, it is a well known Hata Yoga technique, which I am going to explain.

As far as my knowledge goes, Shämbhavi Mudra finds its first mention in the 15^th century Hata Yoga text, namely Hatapradeepika. The same technique is also described, almost verbatim, in later texts such as Gheranda Samhita (18^th century), and with some variations in Mandala Brahmana Upanishad and Advaya Taraka Upanishad (both these are believed to belong to 18^th century or later), The basic technique is described as  follows.

When the Yogi remains inwardly attentive to the Brahman, keeping the mind and the Präna absorbed, and the sight steady, as if seeing everything while in reality seeing nothing outside, it is called the Shämbhavi Mudra, - Hatapradeepika 4.37

Some texts suggest that the gaze should be directed towards the space between the eye-brows, others say to the tip of the nose.

As can be seen, the technique is quite generic. Even the technique described by Krishna in Bhagavadgeetha is very similar.

Keeping the body, head and neck erect and steady; gazing the tip of the nose; completely oblivious to whatever is happening around….one should focus the attention completely on me (i.e. Brahman). – Bhagavadgeetha 6.13-6.14

Krishna does not call it Shämbhavi, but the method is almost identical. But Hatayoga in its usual style eulogizes Shämbhavi as follows

Vedas and other scriptures are like prostitutes (i.e. available to all and sundry), but Shämbhavi is like a chaste woman and she should be kept secret (guarded) – Hatapradeepika 4.35

Probably some modern Gurus have taken this advice a bit too seriously ;-) 

They claim that they have ‘packaged’ it in such a way that it becomes more effective. All that I can see is that they have made it an elaborate procedure by interspersing it with body postures, breathing techniques and making some sounds, all taken arbitrarily from various parts of Hatayoga. Probably that is what makes it proprietary.

I see it as ‘a form of meditation’ and the general discussion on meditation that we had earlier applies here as well. But the next one I am going to discuss is of typical Hatayoga style.

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