MULA BANDHA

Introduction:
This bandha relates mainly to the muscles of the anus, penis and the muscles located nearby. The muladhara chakra is supposed to be located near penis. Hence this bandha relates to muladhara chakra and is termed as mulbandha. Also it relates to the base of the spine, this may be the other reason for naming it as such because 'mula' means root or base.

Preposition:
If the bandha is to be performed ideally it should be performed in Siddhasana. Otherwise it may also be performed in Padmasana. But Siddhasana is supposed to be the ideal preposition.

Action of the bandha:
After sitting in Siddhasana, the left heel is properly placed under the penis. The weight of the body creates pressure on that part. After achieving a firm pose, the anal muscles and the other surrounding muscles should be contracted and moved upwards. This is the pose of the mulbandha.

The anus has two muscles. One inside and the other outside. Both these muscles are round. It is expected in this bandha to contract these muscles and to lift them upwards. However, these muscles alone are not to be contracted and lifted but the other surrounding muscles should also be similarly contracted and lifted. The muscles of the penis are also to be lifted in this bandha. Achieving pose in this bandha is easier, however it is important to be in the same pose for a while. This is difficult and requires quite a bit of practice.

Physical Effects:
The muscles which are not generally used, are contracted in this bandha. This results in more blood supply to these muscles thereby improving their efficiency. This is the obvious benefit of this bandha. Also, the muscles surrounding Muladhara Chakra are contracted and the pressure of such contraction is definitely felt on the Muladhara Chakra. Kundalini power, which is supposed to be residing at the chakra, is awakened due to the practice of this bandha. However, it cannot be definitely stated as to the duration for which the bandha is to be practised for such awakening of the Kundalini power. The beneficial effect of this bandha is also felt on the nerves attached to the muscles involved in the bandha. It is stated that the bandha is to be practised while doing Pranayama. While performing pranayama, the blood is accumulated around the waist. Practice of this bandha results in circulation of this accumulated blood.

Duration:
The real study and practice of this bandha is to retain it for maximum period. A duration of 5 to 120 seconds may not generate beneficial effects of this bandha. The bandha has to be retained for at least 3 to 4 minutes. With further practice, the duration can be increased to 5 minutes.

Precaution:
If the bandha is not performed properly, it can affect the digestive system in a bad way. This results in indigestion or similar other ailments of the digestive system. Hence, the bandha should be practised under expert guidance.

Persons suffering from hernia, piles etc should not as far as possible perform this bandha. If such a person wants to perform this bandha, onset of any symptoms described above should be immediately reported to experts and the bandha performed under their guidance.

References in the ancient texts:
The bandha has been described thoroughly in the third chapter of Hatha Yoga Pradeepika

Parshnibhagen sampeedya yonimakunchayet gudam |
Apanmurdhwamakrushya mulbandhobhidhiyate || 3-61

Meaning:
The heel should press the penis, the muscles of the anus should be contracted and the gas ( apan vayu ) should be lifted upwards. This results in mula bandha pose. Further it is described as :

Adhogatimapan va urdhwargam kurushalat |
Aakunchanen tam prahurmulbandham hi yoginah || 3-62
Parnapanou nadbindu mulbandhen chaikatam |
Gatva yogasya samsiddhidam gachshato natra samshayah || 3-63

Meaning:
Apana vayu is generally in the downward direction. With deliberate contraction of the anal muscles, the apana vayu is lifted upwards. This is known as mulabandha. The bandha is to be performed till the time the gas is forced upwards. Hathapra yoga deepika in further shlokas describe this bandha as, when the prana and apana and the sound and the point (nada and bindu) will merge with each other due to this bandha, then one can be said to succeed in yoga.

The effects of this bandha are described as under:

Apanpranayoraikyam kshayo mutrapurishayoh |
Yuva bhavati vrudhopi satatam mulbandhanat || 3-65

Meaning:
The regular study of the mulabandha results in merging apana and prana. The excretions are minimised and an old person is transformed into a young one.

Though, as a matter of practice, an old person may not be transformed into a youth, the general meaning can be guessed as disappearance of the signs of old age with return of the enthusiasm associated with youth.

The next four shlokas in Hatha yoga pradeepika describe how the bandha is related to awakening of Kundalini power. Hatha yoga pradeepika says that when the apana vayu is forced upwards, it enters the vanhimandal. The pressure of this vayu results in increasing the fire. Apana vayu and this fire heats the prana. This results in precipitating the fire in the stomach. The kundalini power, which is supposed to be asleep, awakens like a snake hit by a stick It then enters the sushumna nadi ( brahma nadi ) as if snake entering its hole. Hence, every sadhaka must study this mulbandh daily.

The thirteenth shloka in the third chapter of Gherandsamhita describes this bandha. The description is as given above as in Hatha yoga pradeepika. However, the effects of this bandha are described as under:

Mulbandhah paro bandho jaramarannashanah |
Prasadadasya bandhasya sadhayetsarvavanchitam || 3-18

Meaning:
This is a superior type of bandha, which results in destruction of old age and the death. The study of this bandha results in satisfying any desire.
This description too is a bit exaggerated. However, the real meaning behind it is to be guessed and the bandh must be studied.