GGMYK - Yoga Simplified - Yogic Kriyas - Cleaning processes in Yoga

Limbs, eyes, ears, nose, mouth etc. can be termed as external organs of the body. There are many more internal organs in our body. We clean our external parts twice or thrice a day or whenever any dust or dirt accumulates on them. We do so because we see them. Then how about internal organs? The dirt accumulated on or in them is not visible, so we don’t pay any attention to keep them clean as we do for our external organs. Cleanliness of internal organs or parts is much more important than the external ones. Our Munis and Yogis have prescribed many processes to clean and remove out the unwanted matter accumulated in the internal organs of the body. These may be done either before or after practicing Yogasanas. There are six major cleaning processes in Yoga. They are:

NETI KRIYAS:
Jala (water), Ksheer (milk), Tail (oil), Ghrit (ghee), Sutra (thread), Swamutra (self urine), Gomutra (cow urine), Neti Kriyas (nose cleaning processes).

DHAUTI KRIYAS:
Jala (water), Vamana (vomit), Vastra (cloth), Danda (stick), Dhauti Kriyas (stomach cleaning processes).

VASTI KRIYA:
Vasti (enema) and Shankh Prakshalan – (large intestine cleaning processes)

NAULI KRIYAS:
Agnisar, Uddiyan, Nauli (navel rotation processes for purifying abdominal organs.)

KAPAL BHATI:
Bhastrika-Kapalbhati (forceful breathing processes for purifying the brain)

TRATAK: Continuous gazing (eye cleaning processes)
Nose, ear, mouth and throat are generally cleaned by Neti process; stomach by Dhauti; Intestines by enema; abdomen by Nauli; brain by Kapalabhati and eyes by Tratak processes. The six processes deal with the delicate organs so the practitioners should consult the experts while attempting. It is always better to do them under the guidance and in the presence of experts for five or six times. Then one can do by self.

I. Neti Kriya Processes:

Cleaning of nose (nose cleaning processes) has become unavoidable in these days, as the air in the atmosphere particularly in the towns and cities is polluted to its maximum. Neti kriyas help to clean the nose.

1) 1 Jalaneti Kriya:

A little common salt should be dissolved in luke warm water and filtered. Fill it in a specially designed tubed tumbler with a nozzle. Stand up tilting forward a little. Now turn the head a little to the right. Place the nozzle of the tumbler in the right nostril and bend the tumbler such that the water flows into the nostril. Breathe in and breathe out through the mouth only. The water that enters into the right nostril comes out from the left nostril automatically, carrying out the dirt in the nose. Entire tumblerful of water should be poured into the right nostril. Now tilt the head to

other side and repeat the same process through left nostril with another tumblerful of same water. Throughout this process breathing is through mouth only.

After cleaning both the nostrils, close the ears with the thumbs. Breathing in fully through the mouth, release it through the left nostril with great force closing the mouth. Similarly breathe in fully through the mouth close the mouth and breathe it out with great force through the right nostril. Then sneeze out through both the nostrils. Repeat the same till the last drop of the water is thrown out from the nostrils. If any water drops are left in the nostril it may effect cold. Specially manufactured tubed brass, copper or plastic Neti tumblers are available in Yoga Kendras. It is very good for the health to clean the nostrils through the above process everyday.

2 Advanced process:

Warm saline water is taken in a Neti tumbler or in a glass. The water is to be taken in through one nostril and let out through the mouth. It is repeated through another nostril.

After practicing through both the nostrils individually, water is taken in through both the nostrils simultaneously from a wide opened cup and released out from the mouth. Later water is sucked into the mouth and exhaled or sent out through the nostrils with force. This is a bit difficult one.

3. Jalanaasapan (drinking water through nose):

After satisfactorily cleaning the nostrils thoroughly, drinking water through nose, is called
Jalanaasapan. Water is taken in through nostrils and spit out once or twice. Then water is drunk through nose as conveniently as it is drunk through mouth. 2) Ksheera Neti Kriya: As in Jalaneti, instead of saline water, warm filtered milk is used in this process. Milk is filled in Neti tumbler and the stages of Jalaneti are followed. If the milk is a bit concentrated, little warm water may be added to dilute and then filtered before the process. Note: Ksheera Neti Kriya should be invariably be followed by the Jalaneti Kriya. 3) Swamutra (Self Urine) / Gomutra (cow Urine) Neti Process: Early morning self urine may be collected in a Neti vessel and the process similar to Jalaneti is done. Similarly fresh cow urine may be used for this process.
Ksheera, Swamutra, Gomutra Neti Kriyas may be practiced occasionally followed by Jalaneti.

4) Tail (Oil), Ghrit (Ghee) Neti Kriyas:

One has to lie down on the back and bend the head a little back. 5 to 6 drops of warm oil or ghee are to be poured through nostrils, and rest for a while in the same position. Coconut, Til or any other edible oil or pure ghee may be used. This may be practiced either in the afternoon or in the night before going to sleep.

5) Sutra / Rubber Neti Kriya :
Specially prepared cotton thread or a rubber catheter of about 18” length and 3 to 4mm thick is inserted in the right nostril and brought out from the mouth with the help of two fingers. Then both the tips are held and forward – backward movement is done 5 to 10 times after which the thread is removed out from the mouth. Similarly the process is repeated through other nostril also.
While the thread is inserted inhalation should be through nose and exhalation through mouth. After completing Sutra Neti, gargling with warm water should be done for some time followed by Jalaneti Kriya. Experienced Sadhaks can insert two threads into both nostrils, tie them and arrange such a way that finally the thread can come out from other nostril. Note: All Neti Kriyas should necessarily be followed by Jalaneti Kriya and then Bhastrika Pranayaam. Jalaneti Kriya may be done everyday while other Netis can be done once a week, and get wonderful benefits by sparing just few minutes every day.
Experienced Sadhaks can insert two threads into both nostrils, tie them and arrange such a way that finally the thread can come out from other nostril. Note: All Neti Kriyas should necessarily be followed by Jalaneti Kriya and then Bhastrika Pranayaam. Jalaneti Kriya may be done everyday while other Netis can be done once a week, and get wonderful benefits by sparing just few minutes every day. Advantages: Neti Kriyas cleanse the nasal passage. Problems
related to ears, nose, throat and eyes are prevented. Lot of improvement is seen in cases of dumbness, baldness, oozing ears, red eyes, watering eyes, sinusitis, loss of memory, lack of concentration, head-ache, migraine. It has a very soothing and calming effect on brain, so that anxiety, depression, and negative thoughts are controlled. The aspirant of Neti remains always cheerful and happy.