The Equinox (Volume I, Number III)

THE EQUINOX It was on this day I got a broken-bell-sound * in my head when not doing anything particular. August 12th, A’sana and Breathing 10 minutes. One fears to do Rechaka, so tremendous and terrible is the Voice of the Universe. But with Puraka is a still small Voice. Concerning which Maitrananda said to me: “Listen not to that Great and terrible Voice: but penetrate and hear the subtle soul thereof.” 13th, Pranayama: Five cycles § minutes 15 seconds. Mantra (N.S.N.A.) t Half an hour. Ears begin to sing at about the twentieth minute. Towards the end I heard a soft sound as of a silver tube being struck very gently with a soft mallet. These sounds are known as the Voice of the Nada, and are a sure sign that progress is being made. They, as already mentioned, are the mystical inner sounds which proceed from the Anahata Chakkra. According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika these sounds proceed from the Sushumna. “ They are in all of ten sorts; buzzing sound, sound of the lute, of bells, of waves, of thunder, of falling rain, etc.” Close the ears, the nose, the mouth and the eyes: then a clear sound is heard distinctly in the Sushumna (which has been purified by Pranayama).} The “ Pradipika ” further states that in all Yogi practices there are four stages. Arambha, Ghata, Parichaya and Nish- patti. In the first (Arambhavastha) that is when the Anahata Chakkra is pierced by Pranayama various sweet tinkling sounds arise from the Akasa of the heart. When the sound begins to be heard in the Shunya (Akasa), the Yogi possessed of a body resplendent and giving out sweet odour, is free from all diseases and his heart is filled (with Prana).§ * These mystic sounds heard by the Yogi are supposed to proceed from the Anahata Chakkra. + Short for Namo Shivaya Namaha Aum. ¢ “Hatha Yoga Pradipika,” p. 91. The description here is of the Shanmukhi Mudra, § Lbid., p. 92. 152