In western society there is a little known text called the Shiva Svarodaya. It is considered a tantric breath text and introduces what is known as svara yoga. It is an important for serious students of yoga to understand this text or at least deepen our understanding of the breath. The breath is extremely important to our mental and physical health and self-realization. In this article we will explore only one word and two lines to illustrate the depth of these ancient teachings.

If we were to look up svara ( Svr )in the Sanskrit dictionary, one might be surprised to see the first definition given as sound. Usually the breath and sound are not connected in most pranayam teachings in the our society. Shiva addresses this issue in the Svara Gyana (knowledge of Svara). In verse 10, Shiva states that svara is hamsa. Hamsa usually means swan. It can also mean the supreme soul, individual soul, prana, sun, Shiva, the list could go on and on. What is not mentioned in the text until verse 51, or in the dictionary, is the Hamsa breath. In northeastern India it is called the 21,600 breath. It is believed that with each inhalation Sa is vibrated throughout the astral and physical body and with each exhalation Ha is vibrated in a similar fashion. That is why in many Universal Yoga classes we chant So?Hung. It is a variation of the Hamsa breath. It literally means, I am that which is, it is an affirmation of our Divinity. This is our first clue to sound being connected to the breath. Sound emanates from the supreme soul through prana. Prana is the one of the first emanations from the Supreme Soul (Brahman). And by repeating this mantra, linked with the breath, on the physical and mental level, overtime we start to open and expand our consciousness to our true reality of existence (sat), which is "we are in oneness". While many may believe we are in oneness, it is important to experience it on a conscious level. By using the breath and various Sanskrit sounds, we are just taking a practical, physical approach that will turn our senses inward toward self-realization. To review, Svara is the science of breath, subtle sounds and understanding the flow of the three major nadi's. These will be explained later in this article.

In verse 16, Svre ved;Xc x;St[;I, Svre g;?/vRduTtmm( ) Svre c sv? t[wloKy? Svrm;TmSvåpkm( _

Svare vedashca shaastraane svare gaandharvasuttamam. Svare ca savam trailokyam svaraamaatmasvarupakam.

Svara contains the Vedas, Shastras and musical knowledge (and of subtlies). Svara and the sun, moon, soma juice, are the three worlds. Svara is the soul in form. --Shiva Svarodaya, Transliteration and Translation by Yogi Harinam.

Both lines are of importance but the second line is of great importance to the yoga student, especially the word savam. The sentence translates: Svare and savam' Savah (savam) is a reference to the sun, moon, and soma. This is important because the sun is a reference to the Pinagala Nadi, the moon is a reference to the Ida Nadi, and Soma juice flows down the Sushmna from the higher chakras. The sun is associated with the right nostril, the moon with the left and the sushmna with the spinal column. We know that the body contains 350,000 nadi's; intermediate students know that only mastery of 3 nadi's is required to reconnect with the soul, awaken Vedic knowledge, Shastra knowledge, or the knowledge of sound. This is promised in this text.

The verse above begins to educate the student to the major nadi's associated with the breath. The text later on introduces the location of the nadi's in the body. For this information you can consult with your local Universal Yoga teacher, or consult my book, Universal Yoga: A path to Enlightenment.

Just understanding one word of Sanskrit can deepen your knowledge of yoga and it's practice. We have taken only two lines and hopefully deepened our understanding of the breath or at least introduced new concepts. These two lines have introduced different breaths, sound, and nadi's. And more importantly, rather than quench your thirst for knowledge, one may have even more questions arising from our new knowledge gained about the breath. And may this inspire us to deepen and expand your knowledge about the breath and it's benefits.

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