Hatha Yoga Pradipika lays out the nuts-and-bolts of classical Hatha practice in four crisp chapters, zeroing in on asanas, pranayama, mudras and the awakening of Kundalini. It reads like a workshop manual—practical, pared-down, and oriented toward direct experience. Life force (prana) circulation is its heartbeat, with vivid instructions on Bandhas and Khechari mudra to spark that inner fire.

Gheranda Samhita takes a more encyclopedic route, breaking down practice into seven limbs. Beyond asana and breathwork, it weaves in diet, mantra, self-purification (shatkarmas) and even a yogic pharmacy of herbs. Picture it as a deluxe buffet: every technique from cleansing nasal passages to esoteric lock-and-key practices makes an appearance. Compared with the Hatha Yoga Pradipika’s lean focus, Gheranda insists on a thorough-going body and mind overhaul—ideal for someone wanting a one-stop guide to boosting both vitality and subtle awareness.

Shiva Samhita feels like a spiritual cousin, blending Hatha methods with Raja Yoga philosophy. It’s less of a workout plan and more of a dialogue between Shiva and Parvati on the nature of Self. Mudras and nadis show up here, too, but they come wrapped in metaphors about divine union and the alchemy of consciousness. Where the Pradipika is a straightforward trainer, Shiva Samhita is a bard, exploring devotion, subtle energy maps and the bliss beyond form.

While all three texts champion Kundalini’s ascent, their styles diverge:
• Hatha Yoga Pradipika: laser-focused prescriptions; short, poetic verses.
• Gheranda Samhita: systematic, detail-rich, industrial-strength cleanup for body and mind.
• Shiva Samhita: devotional, philosophical, an invitation to savor yoga as inner inquiry.

These days, yoga studios borrowing from all three—think hybrid classes mixing breath drills, chakra talk and postural flows—mirror that eclectic approach. In a post-pandemic world where Instagram reels flash frenetic asana sequences, dipping back into these classical voices offers a welcome reminder: yoga isn’t just about how bendy the body gets, but how deeply awareness can settle.