Centre for Yoga Studies

The Art of Personal Sādhana

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    bṛṃhaṇa

    Devanāgarī: बृंहण Translation: building; a means for making strong or firm; making big or fat or strong, the act of making big; nourishing Opposite words:laṅghana Related concepts:āyurveda, kriyā

    Appears in


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    Commentaries around

    “Because of his knowledge of Āyurveda,
    he conceived Prāṇāyāma also as Bṛṃhaṇa Kriyā or Laṅghana Kriyā.”
    – TKV Desikachar from lectures on ‘The Yoga of T Krishnamacharya’,
    given at Zinal, Switzerland 1981

    “One of the potentials in the Haṭha Yoga teachings of
    Krishnamacharya and Desikachar is the understanding
    around the Viniyoga or application of Bṛṃhaṇa Kriyā
    and Laṅghana Kriyā in terms of their potential to enhance
    sensory stimulation or to diminish sensory stimulation.
    Both approaches can be used where appropriate to impact
    on how we are stimulated by the world through the senses and
    thus be more drawn to interact with it in a more extravert way,
    or how our sensory stimulation is quietened and thus we are
    more easily able to withdraw from the activities of the senses.
    Both approaches are valid and applied according to our changing age,
    life situation and life stage. Here the role of a teacher is helpful in
    learning the skills of self application within our practice planning.
    We can learn how we can fine-tune our practice according to our basic
    nature and where it needs to be within day to day living and its demands.
    This alchemical process would also be difficult to explore other
    than in some very generalised way within a weekly group class
    given the mix of the age, gender, interests, needs, potentials and
    core physiological, energetic and psychological natures of the students.
    Let alone where they are in their life circumstances, external demands,
    work roles and life stage or even the teacher having time and situation to
    explore each student personally to gain some insight into what is happening
    at that life moment within the small window offered by time and group size.
    Hence, throughout Krishnamacharya and Desikachar’s teaching life,
    apart from formalised group classes for children and young adults,
    they taught personal practice only through individual lessons.”
    – 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

    “Bṛṃhaṇa Kriyā and Laṅghana Kriyā, as
    expansive and contractive activities, are two
    potentials explored through Āsana and the Breath.
    Alongside the practice of Āsana, Mudrā and Prāṇāyāma,
    they are actualised through a theoretical understanding of
    the primary principles that inform Haṭha Yoga and Āyurveda.
    The alchemical process underpinning this understanding
    is the relationship between the two primary principles of
    Prāṇa and Agni in order to influence Haṭha Yoga concepts such
    as Prāṇa, Apāna, Sūrya, Candra, Nāḍī, Cakra and Kuṇḍalinī.
    In terms of Bṛṃhaṇa Kriyā and Laṅghana Kriyā, the
    Viniyoga of Bṛṃhaṇa effects a dispersion of Agni from
    the core to the periphery and the Viniyoga of Laṅghana
    effects a concentration of Agni from the periphery to the core.
    Integrating the application of these two specific processes
    facilitates access, through the Merudaṇḍa, Prāṇa and Agni,
    to either energising or cleansing potentials, or as collaborative
    outcomes within the practice of Āsana, Mudrā and Prāṇāyāma.”
    – 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

    “Bṛṃhaṇa Kriyā
    has a Lakṣaṇa of
    feeling brighter in
    the Prāṇa Sthāna.
    Laṅghana Kriyā
    has a Lakṣaṇa of
    feeling lighter in
    the Apāna Sthāna.”
    – 108 Yoga Practice Pointers

    Links to Related Posts:

    • Compendium of Quotes from TKV Desikachar on the Yoga of T Krishnamacharya……
    • Studying, Practicing and Learning the Tri Bandha involves Theory, Techniques and Cautions…

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    Related

    This glossary with its similar, opposite and related concepts categories, supplemented by textual references and additional commentaries around the key word, is a both work in progress and constantly ever-expanding in terms of further cross-references, textual cross links and commentaries.
    As it continues to develop your comments and suggestions on your experience and how it may be enhanced are very welcome via this link, thank you.
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