Swara Yoga – Swami Muktibodananda

This book from Bihar School of Yoga is based on Shiva Swarodaya, an Agama scripture. Like all the tantras in this genre the shiva swarodaya is a dialogue between shiva and parvathi. The swaras are rhythms, the solar and lunar rhythms corresponding to the Right and Left Nostril breathing. The book describes the two aspects of these energies and how it relates to our functioning and behaviour in the world. This is no other-worldly text. There are practical observations and lessons that can be learnt through the knowledge of the swaras. The five tatwas (elements) – earth, water, fire, air and ether are also introduced. There are different yantras (pictures) and mantras for each of the elements and there is an exposition of the nadis and chakras.

The book has three sections. In the first section the author talks about the theory of swara yoga introducing the lunar and solar swaras, chakras, tatwas, the link between the phases of the moon and the swaras. The second section talks about the different practices like observing the swara according to the phases of the moon, chaya sadhana, tatwa sadhana and others. The last section is a translation of the sanskrit text shiva swarodaya with the text both in devanagari as well as the english transaltion.

This is an amazing work and the author has to be commended for bringing this rare scripture and science to light. It is clearly evident that there is a great amount of scholarship and practice involved behind the publication of this book. This book is a must read for any one intrested in learning the subtle secrets of our existence.