Hatha-Yoga is one of the major branches of yoga. Yogi Swatmarama in Hatha Yoga Padipika (H.Y.P) expresses – “All means of Hatha-Yoga are for perfection in Raja-Yoga. A person rooted in Raja-Yoga conquers death”. There can be no success in Hatha-Yoga without Raja-Yoga and no success in Raja-Yoga without Hatha-Yoga. Therefore one should practice both of these well, till complete success is obtained. However, the Hatha-Yoga is a process of physical training in order to strengthen the will. The Raja-Yoga, on the other hand, is a process of pure mental training for the same purpose.
The word ‘Hatha’ consists of two syllables – ‘Ha’ and ‘Tha’ meaning the ‘Sun’ and ‘Moon’. In the human body the Sun and Moon are representations of Prana-Vayu and Apana-Vayu respectively. The union of Prana and Apana is Pranayama. Therefore pranayama is Hatha-Yoga. This Yoga consist of seven steps:
(i) Satkarma
(ii) Asana
(iii) Mudra
(iv) Patyahara
(v) Pranayama
(vi) Dhyana
(vii) Samadhi
The Hatha-Yoga practitioner wants to construct a divine body (divya shrira) or adamantine body (vajra sharira) for himself or herself, which would guarantee immortality in the manifest realms. Genuine Hatha-Yoga always demands that it should be understood as psychospiritual technology in service of transcendental realization, the desire to conquer death is fulfilled in self realization alone. For only the transcendental self is deathless and immortal.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika portrays – when the body becomes lean, the face glows with delight, anahata nada(divine sound) manifests, eyes are pure, body is healthy, sexual discharge under control, the appetite is increased; then one should understand that he Nadis (energy channels) are purified and success in Hatha-Yoga is approaching.
The famous hatha yogis are – Sri Adinath, Matsyendra Nath, Goraksha Nath etc.
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