Introduction
Nadanusandhana is a type of meditation that calls for the user to fixate their focus and think about an internal sound created by chanting. Not just any sound, but the primordial sound of the cosmos known as 'Om' which is composed of the letters A, U, and M, also known as A-kara, U-kara, and M-kara, which are each independently focused upon. Attention is turned inward and removed from sensory input received from the outside during this technique. As a result, Nadanusandhana is also known as 'the yoga of inner sound' or 'Nada Dhyana' (meditating on sound). It is claimed to benefit the practitioner in understanding the ultimate truth of the Hatha yoga system.
What Does Nadanusandhana Pranayama Imply?
The name Nadanusandhana combines the Sanskrit words nada, which means 'sound', and anusandhana, which means 'aiming towards' or 'being focused upon', which seems to describe the technique pretty well. Nada is further subdivided into Na and Da. Prana (the vital life force) is denoted by Na, and Agni (the word for 'fire') is denoted by Da. As a result, Prana and Agni are believed that they are united to create Nada (sound). It awakens the Kundalini, prompting it to ascend through Susumna, an energetic channel (nadi) that runs through the spinal column, with consistent practice. Nada will gradually intensify while becoming more subtle. This will enable the practitioner to completely incorporate their mind and sometimes even their physical body into the Anhat nada (internally produced sound).
How Nadanusandhana Pranayama Works?
Once the practitioner masters the ability to fully immerse the mind in the internally generated sound, it transforms into a potent and effective technique to control the fluctuations of the mind, resulting in stillness and profound conscious silence. Nadanusandhana is regarded as a superb method for meditating upon the supreme state by stopping the motions of the conscious mind, and consequently the achievement of Samadhi (bliss), as a result of this intense concentration and unconsciously drawing attention within.
If you have never meditated with sound before, it is an excellent idea to start with a technique called Bhramari, also known as humming bee breath. It will be easier to focus to sound if the other senses are blocked off with the fingers: the thumbs on the ears, the index, and middle fingers on the eyes, and the other fingers on the nostrils and mouth.
Practitioners will initially hear disturbing sounds, such as the smashing of waves or the sound of a large drum while performing Nadanusandhana. As the ability to focus improves, they will eventually reach the intermediate stage, where they become sensitive to sounds with the same intensity as little gongs or bells, and eventually, they will begin to be aware of the most subtle noises, like the tinkling of small bells and the humming of a bee. When the nada becomes more delicate, the mind will begin to merge with it, finally dissolving into nothing, where the practitioner reaches the state of Unmani (the no-mind condition sometimes defined as a transition state between wake and dream), which ultimately leads to Samadhi, the state in which individual and universal awareness join and the yogi achieves the highest state of mental focus attainable while still being attached to the body. The practitioner is supposed to be one with the highest reality at this stage.
To elaborate, the Hathayogic scriptures identify four intrapsychic experiences or stages in the Nadanusandhana practice. The practitioner eventually reaches a state of soundlessness, where the mind dissolves. Each step after that brings subtler sounds to the practitioner. The mind exists as long as there is Nada (sound). The mind, on the other hand, ceases to exist when a soundless condition is attained and disintegrates into Samadhi.
The four intra-psychic stages (as described in the Hathpradipika-IV/69) are as follows:
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Arabhavastha: The practitioner's ability to manage the conscious mind.
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Ghatavastha: The yogi achieves stability and godlike intelligence when they know the past, present, and future. Vayu (energy) passes through the middle path of the body (susumna).
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Paricayavastha: This technique frees the practitioner from craving, resentment, and suffering by enabling them to manage their thoughts and reach mental happiness and calm.
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Nispattyavastha: Finally, the practitioner enters a state of Unmani and the mind disintegrates in the sound, leading to Samadhi and bringing forth an unexplainable bliss in the yogi's heart.
How to Practice Nadanusandhana?
In this practice, practitioners will chant four rounds using different sounds: A, U, M, and finally AUM or Om. It is imperative to make the sounds loud so they can hear the resonance in various body regions. When the created sound's frequency coincides with the body's natural frequency, this will occur. Practitioners can experiment with different pitches until they hear the resonance. They can eventually concentrate on post-resonance silence, which will deepen awareness and ease subtle tensions.
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Adopt the Chin Mudra while sitting in meditation. Chin Mudra is done during seated meditation or breathing exercises. The hands rest on the knees, facing the sky. It calms the human mind and cleanses the body's natural aura.
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Take a moment to center and turn inward.
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Chanting the A-Kara:
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Fill the lungs with a slow inhalation, then start chanting A-kara in a low voice using only the letter 'AAA' as the sound.
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Pay attention to how the abdomen reverberates with the sound.
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Do this nine times.
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Chanting the U-kara:
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With Chinmaya Mudra, inhale slowly until the lungs are filled, then chant 'UUU' in a quiet voice. Chinmaya Mudra is performed by curling the three fingers inwards while the thumb and index fingertips are in contact. This mudra involves placing the hand on the knees, either with the palms facing up or down.
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Pay attention to how the sound resonates in the midsection and chest of the body.
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Continue nine times.
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Chanting the M-kara:
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With the Aadi Mudra, inhale slowly until the lungs are filled, then chant 'MMM' in the Adi Mudra. The remaining fingers make a loose fist by curling around the thumb, which is positioned at the base of the tiny finger. The breathing is repeated while the palms are positioned on the thighs facing upward.
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Pay attention to how the throat and head region respond to sound.
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Do this nine times.
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Chanting of AUM:
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Breathe deeply, filling the lungs.
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Do the Brahma Mudra (fist with the thumb inside) and exhale to chant AUM softly.
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Perceive the sound's reverberation all over the body.
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Do this nine times.
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To finish the exercise, take a few more deep breaths while paying attention to the body's feelings and overall mental state.
Conclusion
The Hatha Yoga practice of 'Nadanusandhana' is a method of focusing one's unbroken and continuous consciousness flow on a specific nada (sound) without interruption. This focused attention switches between sounds of varying subtlety, or nada (sound). In this approach, meditation is the maintenance of constant attention to a certain nada. In the end, this practice brings the practitioner to a state of complete silence during which his mind ceases to exist. During this stage, known as 'Samadhi,' the practitioner loses his separate awareness and unites with the unified consciousness. Like other meditation practices, it follows a methodical path to spiritual development and eventually manifests a divine sense of self.
