Hatha Yoga Pradipika: Translation with Notes from Krishnamacharya

by A.G. Mohan, Ganesh Mohan

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, authored in the 15th century is one of the most well-known texts on physical yoga. This translation offers unique perspectives and insight from Sri T. Krishnamacharya, who had perhaps the most influence in physical yoga in the modern era. Drawing upon extensive notes of private studies with Krishnamacharya, his long time student, A. G. Mohan, presents critical analysis unavailable in any other translation to date. This translation includes summaries, notes on which practices may be more or less useful or even harmful, and comparisons to the Gheranda Samhita. This book is a worthwhile read and companion to any serious yoga aspirant, especially those interested in knowing what one of the most influential yogis of the modern times had to say on the esoteric practices of hatha on pranayama, mudras, and bandhas.

164 pages, Paperback

Published May 8, 2017

About the author

A. G. Mohan (born 1945) is a renowned Indian yoga teacher, author, and co-founder of Svastha Yoga & Ayurveda. Mohan is a longtime disciple of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888-1989). Krishnamacharya, best known as the "father of modern yoga," was a legendary yoga master, ayurvedic healer, and scholar of the last century who modernized the practice of yoga and whose students dramatically popularized yoga in the West.

Mohan co-founded the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India, and was its Honorary Secretary from its inception, in 1976, to 1989. Mohan was also the convener of Sri Krishnamacharya’s centenary celebrations.

Reviews

[Liam O'Leary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a 200h RYT yoga teacher in Oxford UK @levitymotion

Great translation, Krishnamacharya's notes are very helpful at understanding this core text of Hatha yoga. Amazing to see how similar but different yoga seemed in 1350.

Key impressions:
Of the essentials, there are 15 asanas, 8 pranyama and 10 mudras here. Hatha mudras are full body positions or practices unlike just hand positioning which we encounter as mudras in contemporary classes. The idea is that by working through all 10 mudras a hatha yogi awakens kundalini energy that then allows raja yoga (yoga in a state of enlightenment). It's a bit odd though, as some of the mudras are quite unsettling to modern people (eg vajroli), and Krishnamacharya shows where some may be harmful or contradictory.

I am now wondering where dirga pranyama comes from, why savasana is staple in modern practice, what happened to the mudras, why is hatha losing popularity, how is a hatha class structured (Krishnamacharya suggests a crude outline of a class but not in detail as it is as an aside to a less related point in the text).

Despite my personal reservations, and general confusion and concern on its instructions regarding sex/celibacy, the asana and pranyama in this text is very interesting for yoga practioners/teachers. Highly recommend googling images of the asanas in a blog post online that shows them, wish there were images in the book!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful translation, with notes - I've read some weird translations of this text in the past, and this one is grounded and clear. The introduction is particularly helpful in understanding the context and teachings of this text in relation to the yoga sutras and other key texts of yoga.

[Sandra Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this very clear and simple translation and Krishnamacharya‘s notes.

[Carla Chernencoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only translation of the Pradipika that should be studied in my opinion.