the Equinox - The Hermetic Library

92
THE EQUINOX
drinking it he will fill his whole body with life, and “even
though he is bitten by the serpent Takshaka, the poison does
not spread throughout his body.”*
Further the “Hatha Yoga Pradipika” informs us that:
“When one has closed the hole at the root of the palate ... his
seminal fluid is not emitted even through he is embraced by a
young and passionate woman.”
Now this gives us the Key to the whole of this lunar
symbolism, and we find that the Soma-juice of the Moon,
dew, nectar, semen and vital force are but various names for
one and the same substance, and that if the vindu can be
retained in the body it may by certain practices which we will
now discuss, be utilized in not only strengthening but in
prolonging this life to an indefinite period.† These practices
are called the Mudras, they are to be found fully described in
the Tantras, and are made us of as one of the methods of
awakening the sleeping Kundalini.‡
There are many of these Mudras, the most important
being the Yoni-Mudra, Maha Mudra, Maha Bandha, Maha
Vedha, Khechari, Uddiyana, Mula and Salandhara Bandha,
Viparitakarani, Vajroli and Shakti Chalana.
1. The Yoni Mudra.
With a strong inspiration fix the mind in the Adhar lotus;
* “Hatha Yoga Pradipika,” p. 53.
† Fabulous ages are attributed to many of the Yogis. See Flagg's “Yoga,”
chap. xxviii; and “OM” by Sabhapaty Swami, p. vi.
‡ We believe this to be the exoteric explanation of this symbolism, the
esoteric one being that Shiva represents the Solar or Spiritual Force, and
Shakti the lunar or Bodily, the union of these two cancels out the pairs of
opposites and produces Equilibrium.