The Gheranda Samhita

“The Gheranda Samhita” by Rai Bahadur Srisa Chandra Vasu and J. L. Gupta is a classic text on Hatha Yoga, offering one of the most comprehensive guides to this ancient practice. The Gheranda Samhita is a dialogue between the sage Gheranda and his disciple Chanda, in which Gheranda teaches a systematic and detailed approach to Hatha Yoga, focusing on the purification of the body and mind as a means to achieve spiritual enlightenment.

The book is divided into seven chapters, each corresponding to a different aspect of yogic practice, known as the “Saptangas” or the seven limbs of yoga. These include Shatkarma (cleansing techniques), Asana (postures), Mudra (gestures), Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), Pranayama (breathing techniques), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (state of unity or enlightenment).