Yog Chudamani Upnishad

In order to do a better research on Khechari Mudra, I stumbled upon a gold mine. I came across ‘Yoga-Chudamani Upnishad’, which is a goldmine of knowledge.

At the beginning of Yoga—Chudamani Upnishad, there is a mention of Two Aaasans ( Sidhasan and Padmasan ( which is mentioned as Kamalasan) ),  Shat Chakra, Shodash Aadhar, Tri Lakshya, and Panch Aakash. The Shat Chakras or the Six Chakras are  -

Mooladhar Chakra (in the Tailpiece of the spine)  - Like Four Lotus Petals

Swadhishthan Chakra (Just below the navel )  - Like Six Lotus Petals

Manipur Chakra ( in the navel )  -  Like Ten Lotus Petals

Anahat Chakra ( in the heart ) – Like Twelve Lotus Petals

Vishudha Chakra ( in the throat) – Like Sixteen Lotus Petals

Agya Chakra ( in between the two eyebrows )  - Like Two Lotus Petals

Sahasrara Chakra ( In the Brahmarandhra, top of the head) – Like a thousand petals

Generally, there is a mention of seven chakras, but in Yog Churamani Upnishad, the six chakras are mentioned. Sahasrara is mentioned as Bhahmarandhra, in the middle of the divine patha.

आसिं प्रािसंरोधः प्रत्याहारश्च धारिा ।

ध्यािं समाणधरेताणि योगाङ्गाणि भिन्ति षट् ॥ २॥

एकं णसिासिं प्रोक्तं णद्वतीयं कमलासिम् ।

षट्चक्रं षोडशाधारं णत्रलक्ष्यं व्योमपञ्चकम् ॥ ३॥

स्वदेहे यो ि जािाणत तस्य णसन्तिः कथं भिेत् ।

चतुदालं स्यादाधारं स्वाणधष्ठािं च षड्दलम् ॥ ४॥

िाभौ दशदलं पद्मं हृदये द्वादशारकम् ।

 

सहस्रदलसङ्ख्ख्यातं ब्रह्मरन्ध्रे महापणथ ।

आधारं प्रथमं चक्रं स्वाणधष्ठािं णद्वतीयकम् ॥ ६॥

योणिथथािं द्वयोमाध्ये कामरपं णिगद्यते ।

कामाख्यं तु गुदथथािे पङ्कजं तु चतुदालम् ॥ ७॥

तन्मध्ये प्रोच्यते योणिः कामाख्या णसििन्तिता ।

तस्य मध्ये महाणलङ्गं पणश्चमाणभमुखं न्तथथतम् ॥ ८॥

 

Yoga Consists of six parts. Aaasan, Pranayam, Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyaan and Samadhi.

The Prana, also known as Swa, or as I infer the AAtma, the life energy, according to this text resides in Swadhishthan chakra.

The kundalini energy, resides at a point in between the Swadhishthan and the Manipur Chakra as per this text.

Seventy Two Thousand Nadis, are spread in the entire body, from the kundalini, From amongst them Seventy two Nadis are the main Nadis, and from amongst them 10 are the principal Nadis.

१.     इडा, २. णपंगला, ३. सुषुम्ना, ४. गांधारी, ५. हन्तस्तणजह्वा, ६. पूषा, ७. यशन्तस्विी, ८. अलम्बुसा, ९. कु ह और १०. शंन्तखिी॥

Ida, Pingala, Sushumna, Gandhari, Hastajivha, Yashaswini, Alambusa, Kuhu and Shankhini.

If we draw a parallel from the Nervous System as we know there are -

• Cranial nerves: 12 pairs, emerging directly from the brain.
• Spinal nerves: 31 pairs, branching from the spinal cord to the rest of the body.
• Peripheral nerves: Hundreds of named nerves that extend into arms, legs, torso, and organs.
• Neurons: Microscopic cells that transmit signals; ~86 billion in the brain alone.

The twelve Cranial Nerves are as follows –

Olfactory	CN I	Sense of smell
Optic	CN II	Vision
Oculomotor	CN III	Eye movement, pupil constriction
Trochlear	CN IV	Eye movement (downward, inward)
Trigeminal	CN V	Facial sensation, chewing
Abducens	CN VI	Eye movement (side-to-side)
Facial	CN VII	Facial expressions, taste (front of tongue)
Vestibulocochlear	CN VIII	Hearing, balance
Glossopharyngeal	CN IX	Taste (back of tongue), swallowing
Vagus	CN X	Autonomic control of heart, lungs, digestion
Accessory	CN XI	Neck and shoulder movement
Hypoglossal	CN XII	Tongue movement

 

The structure of Spinal Nerves is as follows -

Cervical nerves → 8 pairs (C1–C8) Control neck, shoulders, arms, and diaphragm.

Thoracic nerves → 12 pairs (T1–T12) Serve chest, upper back, and abdominal muscles.

Lumbar nerves → 5 pairs (L1–L5) Supply lower back, hips, and legs.

Sacral nerves → 5 pairs (S1–S5) Control pelvic organs, buttocks, and legs.

Coccygeal nerve → 1 pair (Co1) Smallest group, serving the tailbone area.

In the Yoga Churamani Text it is mentioned that the ‘Prana’, travels up and down in the body, through the Nadis.

If we translate this to the modern knowledge of the body, it would mean that the life energy travels up and down the body through the nerves.

Would that mean that the nerve disorders could be cured through Pranic healing?

I have to read more on the chakras, nadis and the technique of Pranic Healing.