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YOGIC BREATHING
(Part 2)




A compilation
By
Dr. Naresh Mintri, RMP (AM)
And
Ms. Karthika Nair




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OMKAR BREATHING
In the previous chapter we had discussed about what Pranayama is and
abdominal breathing and how as it becomes a part of our daily lives and restored
there will be an improvement in the state of physical and mental well-being.
We now move on to the next Pranayama, the Omkar.


Om or Aum, and universally written as in the picture above, is termed as Pranava
in Sanskrit. Pranava means that which has no beginning and no end. According to
the Upanishads, it is believed that when God awoke, with a desire to create the
Cosmos, He heard the sound AUM. It is supposed to be the first vibratory sound
that emanated as the seed of creation. It is something which exists by its own
right not because it has reference to anything but because it is something by
itself. It reverberates in the Cosmos, and thus is known as Pranava.
Though a sacred symbol for Hindus, it finds wide use in other religions too, viz.
Buddhist, Jains, Sikhs, Tibetan, etc. It is placed at the beginning of all Hindu
Mantra/texts as a sacred incantation to be intoned at the beginning and end of
the reading or recitation. This probably signifies that the Mantra or text has no
beginning and end.
The Mandukya Upanishad is entirely devoted to the explanation of this symbol.
It says: The Imperishable is AUM, and it is all this. Everything else, whatever
be of the past, present or future, is like an exposition, explanation or

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commentary on the meaning of this great Truth the Imperishable Om.
Sarvam Omkra eva: Everything is AUM, indeed. This is how the Upanishad
begins.

m ityetadaksharam idam sarvam: All this, whatever is visible, whatever is
cognizable, whatever can come within the purview of sense-perception, inference
or verbal testimony, whatever can be comprehended under the single term,
creation all this is AUM.

The Bhagavad Gita (8.13) states that:
Uttering the monosyllable Aum, the eternal world of Brahman, One who
departs leaving the body (at death), attains the Supreme Goal (i.e., he
reaches God).

In (17.23) it further says:
"AUM, tat and sat has been declared as the triple appellation of Brahman,
Who are Truth, Consciousness and Bliss"


THE RECITATION OF AUM

When you utter A, B, C, etc., a particular part of the vocal system begins to
vibrate, but when you recite Aum, the entire sound box begins to vibrate. Anyone
can experiment with it and observe the result. The whole sound box, not merely a
part of it, begins to function; and all languages are supposed to be contained in
Aum because of the fact that in the recitation of Aum every part of the vocal
organ begins to vibrate, and naturally every word, every phrase is somehow
included in the root sound that is created when Aum is chanted. Not only this, the
recitation of Aum has another significance. The chanting or the calling out of a
particular name produces a vibration in you. You have a feeling generated within
you, viz. sweet, coffee, tea, etc produces one set of vibrations, while words like
scorpion, snake, etc. causes another set. Despite being mere words, they are
vibrations that are conveyed to the nervous system. Similarly, Aum is also a
vibration, a Universal vibration, with which creation began, as is believed.

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When we chant OM or AUM, the three letters which constitute Aum and from
which came the three padas of the Gayatri mantra, the three sections of the
Purusha Sukta and the entire meaning of the Vedas. So important is Aum, not
merely a chant uttered by Brahma, the Creator, but a vibration that rose from the
Supreme Being (Shakti Sadhaks refer to Him as Maha Maya also) in the initial
stages of creation a comprehensive vibration. All that was in the past, all that is
now in the present, all that will be in the future, all that is Aum, because Aum has
no past, present or future; the Universal has no time. This is how AUM has been
described in the Mandukya Upanishad.

During the recitation of AUM, we flow with the current of the cosmos and
produce a harmonious vibration in our bodily and psychological system. We find
ourselves thinking of ourselves in relation to the Universe and not segregated
from one another. It is similar to the river which flows into the sea and becomes
one with it, and we flow into Universal Form of Isvara.

On proper recitation of AUM, you do not merely produce a sound, you create a
vibration which helps you enter into a meditative state. It is a vibration which
does not agitate you, irritate you or create a desire for a particular object in your
mind. It melts all other vibrations, puts an end to all desires, extinguishes all
cravings and creates a desire for the Universal. A proper and correct recitation,
even three times, is enough to burn up all sins, put a cessation to all desires and
make you calm, quiet and satisfied within yourself.

While all other japas may lead you into a mood for dhyana or meditation, the
chant of OM makes you become calm in your mind and you feel satisfied with
what you have. If you still have these feelings or desires, your chanting is
incorrect.

HOW TO CHANT AUM

We have tried to understand the magnificence of Aum (though this work does not
permit the luxury to discuss it in detail), but how are we to recite AUM? Do we
need to think of something when reciting AUM?

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The usual procedure, as explained in the Mandukya Upanishad, is that the
recitation of Om should neither be too short nor too long. There is a short,
middling and elongated pronunciation, but for all practical purposes of meditation
we should follow the middling process. The time taken is called a matra or
measure, and one matra is regarded as the time taken by the fist of one hand to
go round your knee, in leisure, neither too fast nor too slow, and to snap your
fingers.

Bring your hands round your knee once and snap your fingers, this is one matra.
Do it twice, it is two matras; do it thrice, it is three matras. Once is a short
matra,twice is middling and thrice is elongated. You choose whichever matra is
convenient to you, practical and agreeable to your temperament and capacity.
There is no compulsion.

Like we said earlier, AUM is composed of the three sounds A (a-kara), U (u-kara)
and M m-kara). A-kara means form or shape like earth, trees or any other object.
U-kara means formless or shapeless like water, air, fire. M-kara means neither
shape nor form, yet it exists, like the dark energy content of the Universe. When
we combine the A-kara, U-kara and M-kara, we get the word AUM or OM.

In the Bhagawad Gita (9:17) Lord Krishna tells Arjuna I am the father of the
Universe, the mother, the support and the grandsire. I am the object of
knowledge, the purifier and the syllable OM. I am also the Rig, the Sama and the
Yajur Vedas.

Breathe in slowly, using your abdomen to breathe in, as has been explained in the
previous chapter (part) and as you breathe out slowly, following the matra as
explained earlier here, start with the letter A. The sound should come from the
navel area (where Brahma is supposed to reside). Gradually move up and utter
the letter U, the sound coming from your heart area (where Vishnu is supposed to
reside). Till you utter the letter M, with your lips closed and it is but a vibration
emanating from your throat area (where Shiva is supposed to reside). Thus, in
uttering the entire word, you have invoked the energies of the Hindu Trinity of
Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.

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Care should be taken that the entire length of your breath should be divided in
three equal parts, one part being devoted to one letter. Initially, it will seem
difficult to do so, but with regular practice, you will be able to achieve this. Like all
Yogic kriyas, this should also be followed and improved on slowly as your body
gets used to it.

Start with a few breaths, as is comfortable with you, and slowly increase the
count by 1 daily till you can do this breathing for at least 30 minutes daily. Be
regular in your practice and DO NOT over-exert yourself. Your body is the best
barometer to what you can handle in a safe way, listen to it.

WHAT TO THINK

You are the ocean into which all the rivers of objects enter. There are, then, no
rivers, no objects, you are the ocean. Imagine your feeling at that time, a feeling
which cannot be described, just experienced. Feel it for yourself. Chant AUM, and
entertain this feeling in your mind for even a few minutes and record your
experiences in a journal. After some time, go over it and see if there is any
difference. Definitely, there will be a difference, and if you are blessed, with time
and patience to practice this breathing regularly, even if it be for half an hour
daily, you should regard yourself as blessed. The world enters you and where is
the world, then, to agitate you! You become the Universal being and the
vexations of the world cease when they enter the solemn existence of your
universality. Be prepared for this glorious achievement. You will shed tears even
by thinking of this condition. Tears will flow, the body tremble as you experience
this state of being.

Not everyone may experience these, but for those who do, they will realise Him,
as said by Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. We become divinities walking on this
earth, and this is moksha, liberated.





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MUDRA FOR AUMKAR RECITATION
Shambhavi Mudra

As for the position of the eyes, it is said that the best position of the eyes is at a
20 degree angle, focused on a point in the middle of the eyebrows, just above the
nose where the 3rd. Eye Chakra is located. This means that your eyes are brought
to the inside corner of the eye, moved ever so slightly up, and focused on the
point.

Why, this way?

Have you ever observed the prayer positions of Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and
Others, when they prostrate on the ground? When you are bowing and looking up
at this position, it elicits a pull and blood rush to the head, and an electrical
charge moves up your spine. While this is an extreme reaction, it also helps calm
you down. You develop telepathic powers, to be able to communicate mentally
friends, relatives and co-workers. Your dreams become more controlled and lucid.

When you prostrate, rest your head on the floor and look up or forward ever so
slightly, as if you are looking towards The Creator. At this position, you cannot
look up any further than about 20 degrees naturally.

This is done when meditating also, to get a similar effect.

AUM TAT SAT