Hatha Yoga Pradipika opens by portraying “Hatha” as the marriage of sun (ha) and moon (tha)—prana and apana—whose union sparks a subtle energy shift. It lays out a five-pillar system: shatkarmas (cleansing techniques), asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing), mudras (seals), and bandhas (energy locks). Each pillar aims less at gym-style exertion and more at purifying the body–mind complex to awaken kundalini.

Rather than presenting itself as the be-all and end-all of yoga, Hatha is described as the groundwork for raja (royal) yoga. While raja’s emphasis falls on meditation and samadhi, Hatha’s domain is the physical and energetic groundwork—clearing the cobwebs from the nadis, calming turbulent thoughts, and cultivating steadiness in body and breath. The Pradipika even carves out a niche for kriya yoga—neti, dhauti and basti—calling these shatkarmas the broom that sweeps the paths through which prana travels.

In practical terms, asanas are held “sthira-sukham”—steady yet comfortable—reminding modern practitioners that flexibility isn’t the ultimate goal. Pranayama gets top billing, with techniques like kumbhaka (breath retention) functioning as the key that seals prana into the central channel. Bandhas—mula, uddiyana and jalandhara—act like energetic locks, preventing vital force from dissipating and ultimately coaxing kundalini upward.

A living text even today—perhaps why this year’s International Yoga Day spotlighted Hatha workshops on virtual platforms—the Pradipika emphasizes individual tailoring. Climate, constitution, season and state of mind all shape practice. In that sense, Hatha Yoga Pradipika sketches Hatha not as a static set of exercises but as a dynamic, alchemical pathway. When sun and moon dance in harmony, duality fades, and true illumination emerges.