Question:

hamburg.de,   CYBERYOGI =CO= Windler < Tatwalla Baba was revered as one of the great exponents of the true Hatha Yoga. You can read yourself an Englishman’s meeting with him and Tatwalla Baba discussing khechari mudra. Ignorance is the human starting point. With belligerence we are unlikely to get much beyond this. Yes,ignorance is a major problem in this world;unfortunately it is very hard for many people to listen to the truth and though discover that they were frauded and brainwashed for so long,causing them to react very ignorant and belligerent…

Is ignorance really a major problem? …I didn’t know that. But then I don’t remember having amnesia, either. Jai….  huh . . ? –Robert

Response:

Hi Stuart,

: A few questions regarding this mudra. : 1.  Just starting out I find that the tongue goes only so far back. : As I sit for longer periods and become more relaxed I find that the : tongue moves back further.  Is this the natural progression or should : I be trying to find a way of getting the tongue back to where it’s : actually blocking the flow of air?         Hmmm…According to a book of mine (Shambhala Guide to Yoga) in Khecari-Mudra, the goal is to insert the tongue into the cavity above the throat that leads to the nose, can only be done when the tendon underneath the tongue is cut (ouch!!!!)   I sure would like to see someone with this done though so I could grill them with questions – Seems like doing this could be fatal if you couldn’t control your tongue and choke on it (as in a seizure?)  That’s probably why the tendon is there in the first place.         But, in addition to the negatives, there is always a good side…It seems this mudra is supposed to still hunger and quench thirst, cure myriad illnesses, and conquer death(!?)         …I just found another reference for you from the Gheranda Samhita (adapted from the translation I found in "Light on Yoga") Khechari Mudra "Roaming through space": "Cut the lower tendon on the tongue and move the tongue constantly; rub it with fresh butter, and draw it out (lengthen it) with an iron instrument. By practising this always, the tongue becomes long and when it reaches the space between the eyebrows [wow thats far!!!!] then Khechari is accomplished.  Now that the tongue is lengthened, practise turning it up and back to touch the palate, til it reaches the holes of the nostrils opening into the mouth.  Close the holes with the tongue, stopping inspiration, and gaze on the space between the eyebrows.   By practising this there is no hunger, thirst, fainting, or laziness.  Nor disease, decay, or death….The body becomes devine" : 2.  Should one begin with their "eyes rolled back in their head"?  Or : again is this a natural progression of the meditation?  I find that my : head and eyes are always further up and back then when I first went : into the mudra. Never attempted this mudra so I can’t comment. : 3.  Moving prana?  I read that this is also a part of this mudra, the : moving of prana from muladhara to ajna.  Again, should I be conciously : attempting this or will be naturallly move in that direction as I go : deeper? I’m out of my league here too.         …Rodney : Namaste, : Stuart

Response:

In article < A few questions regarding this mudra. 1.  Just starting out I find that the tongue goes only so far back. As I sit for longer periods and become more relaxed I find that the tongue moves back further.  Is this the natural progression or should I be trying to find a way of getting the tongue back to where it’s actually blocking the flow of air?

This is probably just perfect.  Its probably best not to strain with this.  There are actually two variants of Kechari Mudra.  Kechari Mudra Lite (you might call it) is the most common today, among both Indian and Western yogis.  This is the technique you are practicing now.  Over time, the tongue will get further and further back.  But it probably will never reach all the way back to where you collect the ‘nectar’ (possibly sweet mucous?) above the epiglottis. The old (traditional) way of performing Kechari Mudra actually involves a certain amount of mild self mutilation, performed gradually over several months. This involves taking a blade of razor grass (or other suitable utensil) and making a very slight cut in the narrow strip of tendon under the tongue, that keeps the tongue from folding back all the way. Do not cut so deep that you cause bleeding.  Then rub salt into that strip to help soften it.  Rub fairly vigorously for a minute (or even up to 3-5 minutes, if wish).  Follow this up by pulling or extending the tongue out as far as you can (like the Rolling Stones logs.  Repeat this cutting salting and pulling process every few days, and practice Kechari daily.  After several months, the tip of the tongue will eventually be able to totally block the air passage, just like your epiglottis does.  This technique is described in slightly different terms in several of the medieval texts and several modern guides. Twenty-five years ago, I did a slight modification this technique for about a month, with noticeable effect.  I did not actually use an outside cutting agent, but adopted a procedure based on the ‘pulling’ instructions.  I simply stretched my tongue out over my lower incisors and worked it back and forth sideways for a minute or so every day or two.  Usually I didn’t even salt it down.  I just used the tongue muscle itself, and did not pull with my hand or fingers.  I still do this occasionally, and it helps me get  my tongue most of the way back. In actual practice, it does not seem essential to fill that opening, unless of course, you want to taste the sweetness.  Once in awhile I get that anyway.   Since I usually perform this as part of sapta mudra, jalandhara bandha serves to insure the air lock is sealed. There is some additional information about this and related techniques in the ”Sanskrit Glossary of Yoga Terms” at my yoga site.  Most entries let you hyperlink to related info in the glossary…. http://www.ptw.com/~wisehart/yoga/ yoga_glossary.html#kechari mudra Oh, and I almost forgot the third possible set of options:  (a) arrange for a tongue transplant from Mic Jagger, or (b) get him to put a donor clause in his will, with you as heir to his tongue.  ;- ) But of course, as always, others may have a different opinion. 2.  Should one begin with their "eyes rolled back in their head"?  Or again is this a natural progression of the meditation?  I find that my head and eyes are always further up and back then when I first went into the mudra.

(Eyes) What your are describing here is probably sambhavi mudra.  A few texts include this technique as part of kechari, most of the earlier ones list it separately. (again see my Sanskrit Glossary of Yoga Terms) (Head) Best to keep a level head on this one, Stuart, (seriously) or else perform it along with the ”net holding seal” (jalandhara bandha).  There are subtle psychic reasons not to perform puraka kumbhaka (which I assume you are doing in conjunction with kechari mudra, although I don’t believe you specified this) with the spinal column (including the neck) hyperextended. The ’subtle psychic reason’ is that there is a tendency to momentarily lose consciousness.  In other words, it’s possible to black out.  Especially if the lungs are filled before the hyperextension. This can place a great deal of pressure on the thymus gland, if done in conjunction with with serious breath retention.  Without puraka kumbhaka, there probably is little or no danger. 3.  Moving prana?  I read that this is also a part of this mudra, the moving of prana from Muladhara to ajna.  Again, should I be conciously attempting this or will be naturallly move in that direction as I go deeper?

For now, I’d recommend that you just ”observe:” what is happening during the seals and locks themselves?  Spend a little time with them during kumbhaka and get to know them pretty well. Discover what it is that they do for/to *you* on their own, regardless of what texts and people may tell you *should* happen. Namaste, Stuart

Jai Aum, and best wishes, –Robert P.S  Whatever you do,  please don’t tell Jagger I sent you ! ; )-

Response:

Tatwalla Baba was revered as one of the great exponents of the true Hatha Yoga. You can read yourself an Englishman’s meeting with him and Tatwalla Baba discussing khechari mudra. Ignorance is the human starting point. With belligerence we are unlikely to get much beyond this.

Yes,ignorance is a major problem in this world;unfortunately it is very hard for many people to listen to the truth and though discover that they were frauded and brainwashed for so long,causing them to react very ignorant and belligerent…                         MAY THE SOFTWARE BE WITH YOU! I                  CYBERYOGI Christian Oliver(=CO=) Windler                  I I         (teachmaster of LOGOLOGIE – the first cyberage-religion!)          I I                                      !                                     I

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In article < A few questions regarding this mudra. 1.  Just starting out I find that the tongue goes only so far back. As I sit for longer periods and become more relaxed I find that the tongue moves back further.  Is this the natural progression or should I be trying to find a way of getting the tongue back to where it’s actually blocking the flow of air? This is probably just perfect.  Its probably best not to strain with this.  There are actually two variants of Kechari Mudra.  Kechari Mudra Lite (you might call it) is the most common today, among both Indian and Western yogis.  This is the technique you are practicing now.  Over time, the tongue will get further and further back.  But it probably will never reach all the way back to where you collect the ‘nectar’ (possibly sweet mucous?) above the epiglottis.

This is actually called Nabho Mudra The old (traditional) way of performing Kechari Mudra actually involves a certain amount of mild self mutilation, performed gradually over several months.

No, it does not.  People disregard the caveats in the Shastras which repeatedlly state "this is a secret process."  The texts themselves are not disclosing the secret; it is couched in symbolic terms which can only be apprehended by those who have had the proper initiation, and who have had the necessary prerequisite experiences. This involves taking a blade of razor grass (or other suitable utensil) and making a very slight cut in the narrow strip of tendon under the tongue, that keeps the tongue from folding back all the

<snip Twenty-five years ago, I did a slight modification this technique for about a month, with noticeable effect.  I did not actually use an outside cutting agent, but adopted a procedure based on the ‘pulling’ instructions.  I simply stretched my tongue out over my lower incisors and worked it back and forth sideways for a minute or so every day or two.  Usually I didn’t even salt it down.  I just used the tongue muscle itself, and did not pull with my hand or fingers.  I still do this occasionally, and it helps me get  my tongue most of the way back.

This is closer to what actually happens- but it must happen spontaneously, or it will not happen properly. In actual practice, it does not seem essential to fill that opening, unless of course, you want to taste the sweetness.  

A lot of people assume that the "nectar" that is to be drunk is mucus. What actually happens has nothing to do with mucus; rather, it has to do with the pituitary gland & what amounts to a sort of reversal of puberty.  This is how one becomes an "urdhvaretas." Once in awhile I get that anyway.   Since I usually perform this as part of sapta mudra, jalandhara bandha serves to insure the air lock is sealed. There is some additional information about this and related techniques in the ”Sanskrit Glossary of Yoga Terms” at my yoga site.  Most entries let you hyperlink to related info in the glossary…. http://www.ptw.com/~wisehart/yoga/ yoga_glossary.html#kechari mudra

I tried to look into this site before responding, but kept getting a "No DNS entry from host" or something like that.  Is it still up? Oh, and I almost forgot the third possible set of options:  (a) arrange for a tongue transplant from Mic Jagger, or (b) get him to put a donor clause in his will, with you as heir to his tongue.  ;- )

Don’t put something new in your mouth if you’re not sure where its been!!! But of course, as always, others may have a different opinion.

Wouldn’t be surprised if you had me in mind when you wrote this- but I’d hate to see someone go f*cking up their tongue because of something they read. <snip I’m in the process of writing a rather long article on khecari mudra which will probably take a few more days before I can post it.                         Jai Bhagwan,                         Kavindra

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