Kriyas are cherished processes, which purify the body internally. After purifying body properly, one can continue further yogic practices and can achieve success in that.

As the Kriyas cleanse the impurities from the body, the practitioner can feel the lightness and free flow of respiration. The asana and Pranayama practices become easy. The body gets more flexibility also.

Purification is emphasized in many yogic texts like Hathapradipika, Gheranda Samhita etc.

• According to Hatha Pradipika, one should practice Kriyas (explained as a second limb) to purify the body then only he/she should further practice Pranayama.
• It is clearly mentioned that those who are having excess fat or phlegm must practise the kriyas before practicing the Pranayama. Otherwise it is not preferred.
• Kriyas are explained as shatkriyas.

As the name suggests 'shat' is six in Sanskrit and kriyas are actions so these are called "Shatkriyas". They are as follows:

• Dhauti
• Basti
• Neti
• Trataka
• Nauli
• Kapaala Bhaati

As all diseases manifest due to imbalance in tridosha, these purificatory methods are very useful in bringing down the imbalances.

Dhauti :
Dhauti means washing. There are two ways of washing the stomach.

1. Jaladhauti :
Drink water up to the gullet in empty stomach, vomit it by inducing the gullet by using fore and middle fingers.
The practice of jaladhauti useful in hyperacidity, gastritis etc. For the above purpose one can use Luke warm saline water also. Similarly this method can be used even after meals and the name given in classical books is 'Gajakarani'.


2. Vastra Dauti :
This is the method of cleaning by a piece of cloth. Practitioner uses about 22 feet long and 4 fingers wide, thin cotton cloth for this purpose. The wet cloth is swallowed slowly sitting in Utkatasana. The practice should be carried about gradually, slowly and under the guidance of a teacher. Of course, not swallowed fully but nearly 80% of it. Then the cloth is taken back slowly. One can see lot of mucus in it.
It is extremely beneficial to overcome the problems of kapha (phlegm), specially Bronchial Asthma, Bronchitis, skin diseases etc.

20 types of kapha doshas:
Anorexia nervosa, drowsiness, excessive sleep, timidness, heaviness of the body, laziness, sweet taste in mouth, salivation, mucus expectoration, excessive excretion of excreta, loss of strength, indigestion, phlegm adhered in the vicinity of heart, phlegm adhered to throat, hardening of vessels, goiter, obesity, suppression of digestive power, urticaria, whiteness of urine, eyes and face.

This is a method used to clean the rectum. The Yogi sits in water in Utkatasana with a 4" length bamboo pipe inserted partially through the anus. The water should be up to naval level, then one should suck the water through the anus by contracting and expanding the abdomen.

This method can cure Gastritis, diseases caused by 'tridosha' and most of 'vaata' problems. It can make a pleasant feeling of Dhatu, sensory organs, lustrous body and kindles gastric fire and it can overcome all the dosha problems if properly practiced.

Neti is a purificatory method which cleanses nasal cavity and frontal sinus. Neti is of two types as follows:

1. Jala neti :
A specially made 'neti' pot is used for this purpose. Jala means water and neti is washing the nose.
Prepare boiled water and let it cool to become luke warm. Make it saline (half tea spoon per glass of water). Now pour this water through one nostril and let the water come from the other. Repeat the procedure from other nostril too.


2. Sutra neti :
A specially made thread is used for this purpose. One should prepare a thread of a thickness 3 m.m. Nearly 9" length is needed.
Gazing up, slowly insert the thread through one nostril till it enters the throat. Once it enters the throat, pull out through the mouth using fore and middle fingers. One may move the thread backward and forward by holding both ends. Then slowly removed through the mouth. This Cleans nasopharyngeal cavity.
Basically both of these methods are useful in nasal Allergies or Allergic Rhinitis, Chronic common cold, Allergic Asthma, Sinusitis related head aches and even eye sight problems.
Traditionally, it purifies the cheeks, gives better sight, similarly over comes diseases of the head region.

This purificatory method is for eyes. Simultaneously to conquer laziness, lack of concentration, this is the best method. One should look at, gaze a small spot like a dot or a flame, Continuously without moving the eye lids, in a calm place.

This is good to cure many diseases of the eyes. The people who were suffering from Myopia, optic neuropathy, retinal detachment, and macular degeneration, Trataka is the best solution. Traditionally a ghee lamp is used for this purpose.

This is the purificatory method, which helps to improve the intestine.

Form the lumps of the both abdominal recti alternatively in the right and left continuously to get a feeling of movement of the lump. This is the Nauli kriya.

There are 3 types in the nauli kriya namely dakshina, vaama & madhyama nauli. The isolation of both recti is called madhyama nauli, isolation of left abdominal rectum is termed as vama & dakshina nauli is the isolation of right abdominal rectum.

Nauli kriya is considered as crown of hatha yoga practices. It is useful to improve digestion, specially assimilation. It brings a feeling of well-being and completely destroys all diseases and disorders.

This is a type of fast-breathing which produces something like hyper ventilation. Mainly this kriya purifies the lungs and frontal sinus area and remove the problems of kapha or phlegm.

Sit in Padmasana while keeping the hands on the knee. Breath repeatedly, fast like the bellow of black smith.

Specially, it is useful in Bronchial Asthma, Bronchitis, Sinusitis and nasal allergies.

• These kriyas should be learnt from a teacher or an expert.
• Kriyas are generally practiced in the morning in empty stomach.
• Kriyas should not be given to the children.
• Women during menses, persons suffering from serious disorders are not advised to practice.
• Shatkarma, six purificatory methods should be practiced only when there is an excess fat and phlegm. Otherwise it should not be practiced at all because it disrupts the balance of Tridosa. Therefore for a healthy person where the humors are in balance, performing shatkriyas depletes one humor or dosa and thus create an imbalance in the body to produce disease.
• So if there is an excess of any one or more Dosha, Shatkriyas are beneficial.