Oxford Centre for
Hindu Studies Online
Oxford Centre for
Hindu Studies Online
The Haṭhapradīpikā, compiled in the fifteenth century, is the classic manual of hatha yoga: the text that gathered the earlier practices into a single system and shaped almost everything taught as yoga since.
In this course we read it chapter by chapter, covering asana, pranayama, the mudras and the subtle body, and finally samadhi and the goal of practice, setting the text in its tantric and Nath tradition background throughout.
The course runs over seven weeks, created and tutored by Gitte Poulsen, with over five and a half hours of video lectures released weekly, 70 pages of course notes, an essay for a Completion Certificate, and optional live Zoom sessions. For how these practices became modern postural yoga, see The Roots of Modern Yoga.
We start with a look at the historical context for the Haṭhapradīpikā. We learn what the text says about Hatha Yoga and yogis.
Key concepts: Śaivism, Śāktism, Vaiṣṇavism, Early and classical haṭhayoga. (Siddhas and Munis)
In this session we examine the foundations of haṭhayoga in the Haṭhapradīpikā. We establish the influence of the early gurus of the Nāth Sampradāya. We then look at the tantric background for the Haṭhapradīpikā and the Nāth Sampradāya. We answer the questions: What is yoga? Who were the practitioners of haṭhayoga?
Key concepts: Nāth Sampradāya and the Siddhas, layayoga, mantrayoga, haṭhayoga, rājayoga, Right and left hand tantra.
In the first chapter Svātmārāma describes the general rules and lifestyle of a yogi along with various āsanas and their benefits.
Key concepts: Āsana, yama, niyama.
In this chapter Svātmārāma focuses on prāṇāyāma and the effects of correct practice of prāṇāyāma.
Key concepts: prāṇa, kumbhaka, yogic physiology, karmans, bandhas.
The third chapter investigates the yogic physiology on a deeper level and is highly focused on esoteric techniques for awakening the kuṇḍalinī.
Key concepts: Kuṇḍalinī, cakra, mudrā, nādayoga, bindu, rasa
This session will focus on the mental aspects of yoga, and the goal of yoga as presented in the Haṭhapradīpikā.
Key concepts: samādhi, dhyāna, mokṣa, rājayoga, layayoga.
We conclude with a broad description of yoga practice in the Haṭhapradīpikā. We also see how this relates to modern yoga – both living traditional haṭhayoga and “modern” haṭhayoga.
Course Tutor
Gitte has a Masters in Religious Studies from Aarhus University, Denmark but has completed most of her studies in Varanasi, India, and as a visiting student at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. Gitte’s focus is on Yoga, Tantra, and Sanskrit. She is also a dedicated practitioner of āsana and prāṇāyāma. She manages the OCHS Kathmandu Office where she oversees the daily operation and focuses on Nepali and Newari language as well as Śākta traditions among the Newar community of The Kathmandu Valley.