Importance, techniques, benefits, safety and adverse effect associated with Shatkarma mentioned in traditional Hatha Yoga texts (HYP & GS) along with comparison: A Review on Shatkarma

Pankaj Patidar; Kanchan Yadav

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.21760/jaims.8.4.9

Importance, techniques, benefits, safety and adverse effect associated with Shatkarma mentioned in traditional Hatha Yoga texts (HYP & GS) along with comparison: A Review on Shatkarma

Patidar P.¹, Yadav K.^2*

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21760/jaims.8.4.9

¹ Pankaj Patidar, Research Scholar, Department of Yoga and Natural Health Science, Shri JJT University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, India.

^2* Kanchan Yadav, Research Scholar, Department of Yoga Science, University of Patanjali, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India.

Shatkarma has contained six cleansing techniques mentioned in Hathayoga texts. These are the most effective techniques to cure and prevent disease. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP) and Gherand Samhita (GS) (written between the 15th and 17th centuries) are the two most prominent and relevant foundational literature on Shatkarma, and are still relevant now. Previously published literature on Hatha Yoga covers book review, overview and comparative study on Hathayoga texts, comparative study on Asanas, concept of Kundalini and concept of Ghata and Ghata Sudhhi. The purpose of this review was to systematically review: (1) the importance of Shatkarma practises; (2) the types of Shatkarma practises; (3) techniques of Shatkarma; (4) the benefits of Shatkarma practises; (5) the safety and adverse effects associated with Shatkarma practises mentioned in HYP and GS; and (6) a comparison of Shatkarma between HYP and GS. The verses on Shatkarma are systematically reviewed, collected, and presented under the six specified aspects in this review.

Keywords: Shatkarma, Shatkriyas, cleansing techniques, purification techniques, Gheranda Samhita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Hatha Pradipika

Corresponding Author	How to Cite this Article	To Browse
Kanchan Yadav, Research Scholar, Department of Yoga Science, University of Patanjali, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Email:	Pankaj Patidar, Kanchan Yadav, Importance, techniques, benefits, safety and adverse effect associated with Shatkarma mentioned in traditional Hatha Yoga texts (HYP & GS) along with comparison: A Review on Shatkarma. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2023;8(4):55-61. Available From https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/2308

Introduction

Shatkarma is comprised of six purification techniques mentioned in Hathayoga texts. In Sanskrit, “Shat” means six, and “Karma” implies action. Shatkarma purifies the body and frees it from disease.^[1],[2] In Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Hyp), Swami Swatmaram described first purifying the entire body with the help of Shatkarma, then practising asana and Pranayama. Shatkarma includes six cleansing/purification techniques: Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Trataka, Nauli, and Kapalbhati (chapter 2, verses 22 HYP).^[1] The primary objective of Shatkarma is to balance the body’s three humours (Tridoshas), which are the three types of wind (Kapha), bile (Pitta), and mucus (Vata).^[3] One of the best methods for addressing a range of physical and psychological ailments is Hatha Yoga.^[4] The four major scriptures of the Hatha Yoga Tradition are The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP), Gherand Samhita (Gs), Shiva Samhita (SS), And Hatharatnavali (HR). The two most influential and useful foundational texts on Shatkarma are Hyp and Gs. Six different cleaning techniques are used to describe body purification in these texts.^[3]The most important literature on Hatha Yoga, sometimes referred to as the “Hathayoga Pradipika,” was authored by Swami Swatmaram in the 15^th century. It contains information on Chaturanga Yoga in four chapters. Swami Swatmaram collected the whole body of information about Hatha Yoga in Sanskrit.^[5] The Gherand Samhita is a meticulously composed Yoga text. It takes the form of a conversation between Gherand, the preceptor, and Candakapali, the disciple. Ghatasthayoga is the term used to describe the Yoga that is covered in the Gherand Samhita. Yoga that is practised through the body is referred to as Ghatasthayoga. The earliest manuscript of the Gherand Samhita that we have is 175 years old and is from the year 1802 AD. The story might take place in the late 17^th century or the early 18^th century.^[6]

The following subjects are covered in previously published Hatha Yoga textbook literature: (1) book review on Hyp and Ghs,^[7,8,9,10] (2) overview of Hatha yoga text,^[11] (3) comparative study on Hatha yoga texts (i.e., Hyp, Gs, and Shiva Samhita), as well as comparative study on Asanas in Hyp and GS,^[12],[13] (4) A comparative study on Pranayama in Yoga Vasishtha, Pys, and Hyp,^[16]

(5) The Concept of Kundalini in Shiva Samhita and a Critical Review of Shiva Samhita,^[14,15] (6) Concept of Ghata and Ghata Sudhhi in Gs^[17]

This study aims to systematically review the following topics: (1) importance of Shatkarma practices; (2) types of Shatkarma practices; (3) techniques of Shatkarma; (4) benefits of Shatkarma practices; (5) safety and adverse effects associated with Shatkarma practices mentioned in Hyp and Gs; and (6) a comparison of Shatkarma between Hyp and Gs.

Methods

The chapter on Shatkarma from two traditional Hatha Yoga texts (i.e., Hyp and Gs) was sourced to obtain the importance, types, techniques, and benefits. In both texts, Shatkarma chapters were systematically reviewed, the original verses written in Sanskrit were translated into English, the translated verses were interpreted, and the verses were arranged into the following points: (1) the importance of Shatkarma; (2) types of Shatkarma practices; (3) techniques of Shatkarma; (4) the benefits of Shatkarma practices; (5) safety and adverse effects related to Shatkarma practices mentioned in Hyp and Gs; and (6) a comparison between Hyp and Gs.

In HYP, 15 verses are related to Shatkarma practises (i.e., Chapter 2, Verses 21–35).^[1] In GS, 48 verses are related to Shatkarma practises (i.e., Chapter 1, Verses 12–59).^[2] The Shatkarmic chapters and related verses describing the importance, types, techniques, and benefits mentioned in Hyp and Gs are listed in Table 1.

Importance of Shatkarma

The body has three humours: Kapha (mucus), Pitta (bile), and Vata (wind). They are known as Tridoshas in Yoga and Ayurveda. A healthy balance of these three aids in body functions, but when there is an abundance of one and a scarcity of the other, ailments develop as a result of overheating or a lack of heat in the body. Any imbalance in the Doshas should be removed before beginning Pranayama, such as excess body fat, mucus blocking the respiratory tract, gas in the stomach and intestines, and so on. There are six specific practises in Hatha Yoga that were created for this purpose. They are called Shatkarma. There is no need to practise Shatkarma if the Doshas

are already balanced (i.e., Chapter 2, Verse 21; HYP). ^[1] According to Gs, the body has been given the noun “Ghat.” Before starting any Yogic practise like Asana or Pranayama, purification of the Ghat or body has been considered essential, hence the practise of Shatkarma leads to the purification of the body (i.e., Chapter 1, Verse 10; GS).^[2]

Table 1: The Shatkarma Chapter and related verses describing the types, techniques and benefits mentioned in HYP and GS

Features of Shatkarma	Hyp chapter (verses numbers)	Gs chapter (verses number)
Importance of Shatkarma	2/21	1/10
Types of Shatkarma	2/22	1/12
Dhauti:
Types	Not mentioned	1/13, 14, 25, 35, 42
Techniques	2/24	1/15, 17, 19, 21, 26, 29, 32-34, 36, 38, 39, 42
Benefits	2/25	1/16, 18, 19, 20, 23, 27-29, 32-34, 37, 38, 40, 43
Basti:
Types		1/44
Techniques	2/26	1/45, 47
Benefits	2/27-28	1/46, 48
Neti:
Types	Not mentioned	Not mentioned
Techniques	2/29	1/49
Benefits	2/30	1/50
Nauli (Lauliki):
Types	Not mentioned	Not mentioned
Techniques	2/33	1/51
Benefits	2/34	1/51
Trataka:
Types	Not mentioned	Not mentioned
Techniques	2/31	1/52
Benefits	2/32	1/53
Kapalbhati:
Types	Not mentioned	1/54
Techniques	2/35	1/55-58
Benefits	2/35	1/56-59

Types of Shatkarma practices

There are six types of cleansing techniques mentioned in the text HYP: (i) Dhauti, (ii) Basti, (iii) Neti, (iv) Trataka, (v) Nauli, and (vi) Kapalbhati (Verses 21-35; HYP).^[1] According to GS, there are six cleansing practises: (i) Dhauti, (ii) Basti, (iii) Neti, (iv) Lauliki (Nauli), (v) Trataka, and (vi) Kapalbhati (Verses 12–59; GS).^[2]

In GS, there are four types of Dhauti: Antardhauti, Dantadhauti, Hriddhauti, and Moolashodhana (figure 1), two types of Basti: Jalabasti (water) and Sthala or Shushka Basti (dry), and three types of Kapalbhati: Vatakrama, Vyutkrama, and Shitkrama.

Techniques of Shatkarma: There are six cleansing practices; Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli/Lauliki, Trataka, and Kapalbhati. The techniques/procedure of these practises explained in table 2.

Table 2: The techniques of Shatkarma mentioned in the HYP and GS

Shatkarma	HYP (verses 2/24-35 HYP)	GS (verses 1/13-59 GS)
Dhauti	Wet a cloth four fingers (Angulas) wide and fifteen hands long, as per the guidance of the guru, swallow it slowly and slowly come out.	Four kinds of Dhauti; Antardhauti, Dantadhauti, Hriddhauti and Mulasodhana mentioned in Gs (Table 4)
Basti	When the navel deep in water, by inserting a tube into the anus, while doing Utkatasana. Contract the anus and wash the inner part.	Jalabasti - Doing the Utkatasana posture and remaining in navel-deep water with a tube inserted into the rectum, perform Jala Basti by relaxing and contracting of rectum Suskabasti - By Ashvini Mudra, one should dilate and contract the anus by raising the lower part of the back (in the supine position and moving the pelvic region of the abdomen)
Neti	Insert smooth and about 9 inches long thread in the nostril and taking it out of the mouth.	A nine-inch-long thread should be inserted into a nostril and pulled out through the mouth
Trataka	With a stready vision, one should concentrate on a subtle target until the tears come out of the eye	One should gaze at an abject for a minute without blinking until tears begin to fall from the eyes
Nauli/Lauliki	The abdomen should be rotated from right to left and left to right by tilting the shoulder slightly forward like a vortex of motion	Move the abdomen from side to side quickly
Kapalbhati	Quickly perform exhalation and inhalation like a blacksmith bellows	Vatakrama - Air should be drawn in through the left nostril and expelled through the right. After drawing air in through the right nostril, expel it through the left nostril. One should not hold their breath after rapidly inhaling and exhaling. Vyutkram - After drawing water through both nostrils, expel it through the mouth. Repeatedly taking in water in this way. Shitkrama - After sucking water through the mouth and making a hissing sound, expel it through the nostrils.

Figure 1: Types and sub types of Dhauti mentioned in Gherand Samhita

Table 3: The benefits of Shatkarma mentioned in the HYP and GS

Shatkarma	HYP (verses 2/24-35 HYP)	Gs (verses 1/13-59 GS)
Dhauti	Coughs, asthma, diseases of spleen, leprosy and 20 types of diseases caused by mucus are destroyed through the Dhauti Karma	Removed toxins from the body by practicing the four kinds of Dhauti (Table 4)
Basti	Through the practicing of Basti eliminated enlargement of the glands and spleen and diseases arising from wind, bile and mucus. The Dhatu, senses and mind are purified, appetite increases, glowness of the body and excess Doshas are destroyed by practicing of Jala Basti Kriya	Jalabasti- Get rid of urinary diseases, diseases of the bowels and flatulence and body looks like Kamadev (God of love) Suskabasti- no constipation, stimulated gastric heat and cures indigestion
Neti	Clean cranium and bestows clairvoyance. Destroys all diseases above the throat	Helps the Khecari process, removes disorders of phlegm and gives a sharp vision
Trataka	All eye disorder is cured, laziness and sloth and closing the doorways creating these issues	Helps the Sambhavi Mudra process, cures eye diseases, and acquires acute vision
Nauli/Lauliki	Luminated the slow gastritis and accelerates the digestion process, destroys various Doshas and diseases	Destroys all diseases and increases the heat of the body
Kapalbhati	Destroys of mucus diseases	Vatakrama- Cures diseases of phlegm Vyutkrama- Cures diseases of phlegm Shitkrama- The body is brought under control and free of phlegm disorders, and the body becomes Kamadeva

Benefits of Shatkarma practices

Shatkarmic practises regulate the functioning of the internal organs and make them free from disease. The first practise is Dhauti, or cleansing of the stomach and alimentary canal, or digestive tract. The second practise is Basti, or yogic enema.

Table 4: The techniques and benefits of Dhauti mentioned in the Gherand Samhita

Dhauti	Techniques (verses 1/14-23 GS)	Benefits (verses 1/14-23 GS)
1. Antardhauti	For purifying the body four types of the Antardhauti – Vatasara, Varisara, Vahnisara and Bahiskrita.
a. Vatasara	Take inhale slowly from mouth forming it like the beak of a crow, move the abdomen and evacuate through lower tube	Purified of the body, destroys all diseases and increases the gastric heat
b. Varisara	Water should be sipped slowly via the mouth to fill upto the throat completely. Next move the abdomen to push it and the expel it down the lower route.	Purifies the body, should be kept very secret and the body becomes radiant
c. Vahnisara	Hundred times, push the nevel against the spine	Got rid of abdominal diseases, one increases gestric heat, brings aspirants success in yoga, this should be kept a secret and never revealed
d. Bahiskrita	Take inhale from mouth forming the Kaki-Mudra, after that hold the air in stomach for 11/2 hours and forcefully puch air along the lower route	Having washed the Nadi clean, it is not easily accessible even to God and should be kept secret
2. Dantdhauti	Cleaning of five – the root of the teeth and tongue, openings of the two ears and the frontal sinus are called dantdhauti
a. Dantamula	Rub the root of the teeth with Khadira plant extract or clean earth until the impurity is cleared	Clean impurities of teeth, every morning one who know yoga should do it to preserve his teeth
b. Jivhamula	Putting the index, middle, and ring fingers together in the throat, rub out the impurities and slowly clean the root of the tongue.	Destroys old age, death, disease, and so on, allowing one to be free of diseases caused by phlegm
c. Karnaradra	Rub the auditory canal with the tip of the index finger	Auditory sensation is experienced
d. Kapalarandra	Every day, after waking up from sleep, after meals, and at the end of the day, rub the Bhalarandhra with the thumb of the right hand	Ward off diseases due to phlegm, Nadi becomes purify and vision cleared
3. Hriddhadhauti	The three-fold Hriddhauti should be practiced—with a stalk, vomiting, and a piece of cloth
a. Dandadhauti	The plantain, turmeric, or cane stalk should be inserted, moved (up and down), and then slowly drawn out of the gullet	Phlegm, bile and mucus throw out from mouth, definitely get rid of the gullet disease
b. Vamanadhauti	After meals, drink water until it reaches the throat, look up for a few seconds, and then throw out the water	Cured the diseases due to phlegm and bile
c. Vastradhauti	Slowly swallow a strip of thin cloth four fingers wide and nineteen cubits or twenty-five cubits long, and then draw it out. This is known as the Vastra-Dhauti process	Cures tumor, fever, enlarged spleen, skin diseases and disorders of phlegm and bile. It brings health, strength and growth day by day
4. Mulashodhana	Cleaning the rectum with the stem of a turmeric plant or the middle finger and watering it repeatedly is recommended	Cure constipation and indigestion, nourish the body, and stimulate the digestive organs

The only difference is that in an enema, a tube is used, while in a Basti, water is sucked up through the Antrum and kept in the large intestine for some time. Basti is more natural and more appropriate. The third practise is Neti, or nasal cleansing. Neti works like an ENT specialist, cleansing the nose, ears, and throat. The forth practise in GS or fifth in HYP is Lauliki or Nauli, a powerful technique that massages and strengthens all the abdominal organs. The fifth practise in GS and the forth in HYP is Trataka, or steady gazing, which is useful for removing eye defects and balancing the nervous system. The sixth and last practise is Kapalbhati. This is a breathing technique that clears the head and can help remove defects in the lungs.^[18]The benefits of Shatkarmic practises are explained in Table 3.

Safety and adverse effect associated with Shatkarma

According to HYP, Shatkarma should be practised under the supervision of a skilled yoga guru. It is also said in this text to keep these Shatkarma practises confidential, so that no one should practise Shatkarma without correct approach, so that he is not harmed.^[1] Even before the description of Shatkarma in Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati’s GS, it is said that the practise of these Kriyas should never be done by going through a book or under the supervision of an unskilled individual, but rather under the supervision of a traditional guru or a skilled instructor.^[18]

In present era, Shatkarma is applied to disease prevention and cure, so it is critical to select Shatkarma based on the ailment; otherwise, the condition may worsen or bad effects of the practise may be acquired.

Comparison of Shatkarma between HYP and GS

Differences between Hyp and Gs into the following points: (1) Hyp and Gs both describe Shatkarma, but their order is different. In Hyp, Trataka is mentioned before Nauli, and in Gs, Trataka is described after Lauliki. (2) In Hyp, Shatkarma has not been accepted as an essential part of Yoga; the practise of Shatkarma has been said to be mandatory only for those seekers who have obesity or excess phlegm. Those who have equal Vata, Pitta, And Kapha do not need to do these activities. Whereas in Gs, Shatkarma is considered the first

part of Saptanga Yoga, which is considered necessary for a Yogi to practice, (3) Hyp describes Vastra Dhauti as Dhauti, while GS describes Vastra Dhauti as a type of Dhauti. (4) HYP only describes Jal Basti, whereas GS describes two types of Basti. (5) Hyp does not specify any type of Kapalbhati, whereas Gs does. (6) In Hyp, Shatkarma has been described after the practise of Asanas and before Pranayama, while in GS, it has been asked to practise Shatkarma first, then Asanas, etc. have been described, and (7) in Hyp and Gs, there is similarity in some activities and disparity in some of the benefits of Shatkarma.

Similarities in both texts are: (1) in both texts, Shatkarma, i.e., Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli, Trataka, and Kapalbhati, have been described. Shatkarma is described in Hyp from 21 verses to 35 verses of Chapter 2, and in Gs from 12 verses of Chapter 1 to 59 verses. (2) Sutra Neti Kriya is described in both the Hyp and Gs texts; (3) Nauli or Lauliki Kriya is described in both the Hyp and Gs texts. In Hyp it is named “Nauli,” and in GS it is named “Lauliki,” but both have the same mechanism, and (4) Trataka Kriya is described in both Hyp and Gs texts; its procedure is the same in both.

Limitations

This study is limited to only two Hatha Yoga texts (i.e., HYP and GS) for reviewing the importance, types, techniques, benefits, safety and adverse effects associated with Shatkarma.

Reference

1. Muktibodhananda S. Hatha yoga pradipika. 4th ed. Munger, Bihar, India: Yoga Publications Trust; 2014.

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3. Swathi PS, Raghavendra BR, Saoji AA. Health and therapeutic benefits of Shatkarma: A narrative review of scientific studies. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine 2021 Jan 1;12(1):206-12.

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5. Mishra S, Dash SC. An overview of hatha yogic practices in Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita and Shiva Samhita. Int J Humanit Soc Sci 2017;8:354-66.

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9. Nagasawa KH. Gheranda Samhita (GS.). Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies (Indogaku Bukkyogaku Kenkyu) 1970;18(2):875-877.

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11. Mishra S. Dash SC. An overview of hatha yogic practices in Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita and Shiva Samhita. Int J Humanit Soc Sci 2017;8:354-66

12. Sravani K, Rao US. Yogic techniques in classical hatha yoga texts: A comparative perspective. Int J Creat Res J 2018.

13. Alphonse S. Detailing Asanas in Hathyoga Pradipika and Gheranda Samhita-A comparative study. Star Res J 2018;6:1-3.

14. Mishra S. Concept of Kundalini in Shiva Samhita: The ancient hatha yogic text. Int J Physiol Nutr Phys Educ 2017;2:33-4

15. Dhruva Prasad S, Sowmya MN, Sudhakar PR. A Critical Review of Shiva Samhita and its Contribution to Yoga. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Ayurvedic Science, Yoga and Naturopathy 2018;5:13-18.

16. Umesh MV. Development of a conceptual model of pranayama as in yoga vasishtha (Nirvana Prakarana) and its comparison with concept of Pranayama in Patanjali Yoga Sutra and Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Int J Yoga Allied Sci 2016;5:171-9.

17. Mainali MK. Unit-9 Gheranda Samhita (Ghatastha Yoga): Concept of Ghata and Ghata Shudhhi. Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi 2020.

18. Saraswati SN. Gheranda Samhita. Munger, Bihar, India: Yoga Publications Trust; 2012.

Manuscript Received	Review Round 1	Review Round 2	Review Round 3	Accepted
2023-02-25	2023-02-27	2023-03-06	2023-03-13	2023-03-20
Conflict of Interest	Funding	Ethical Approval	Plagiarism X-checker	Note
Nil	Nil	Yes	18%

Review Article

Shatkarma

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

Importance, techniques, benefits, safety and adverse effect associated with Shatkarma mentioned in traditional Hatha Yoga texts (HYP & GS) along with comparison: A Review on Shatkarma

Patidar P.¹, Yadav K.^2*

Introduction

Methods

Limitations

Reference

Review Article

Shatkarma

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

Importance, techniques, benefits, safety and adverse effect associated with Shatkarma mentioned in traditional Hatha Yoga texts (HYP & GS) along with comparison: A Review on Shatkarma

Patidar P.1, Yadav K.2*

Introduction

Methods

Limitations

Reference

Patidar P.¹, Yadav K.^2*