Gheranda Samhita takes a distinctly hands-on, seven-limb route—cleansing (shatkarmas), postures, breathing, energy seals, withdrawal of the senses, concentration and meditation—while the Hatha Yoga Pradipika boils practice down to four limbs (asana, pranayama, mudra and samadhi) and the Shiva Samhita weaves philosophy and practice into a more narrative tapestry.

Highlights of those differences:

• Structure and Scope
– Gheranda: Presents a salon-style menu of 32 cleansing techniques, 20 postures and detailed mudras and bandhas, almost like a spa protocol.
– Hatha Pradipika: Focuses on a handful of seated and supine postures, a few breathing exercises, concise instructions—nuts and bolts of classical Hatha.
– Shiva Samhita: Balances practice with metaphysical discourse on chakras, kundalini and the nature of reality.

• Order of Practice
– In Gheranda, cleansing rituals come first, then asanas, followed by pranayama, mudras and finally meditation.
– Hatha Pradipika kicks things off with asanas and pranayama, leaving purification practices in the background.
– Shiva Samhita doesn’t insist on a strict sequence—practitioner freedom is woven into its poetic lines.

• Intended Audience
– Gheranda Samhita reads like a teacher’s manual for those craving a systematic, therapeutic regimen—perfect for today’s yoga-therapy trainings and Ayurveda-infused retreats across Kerala.
– Hatha Pradipika speaks to monastic yogis seeking liberation through disciplined practice and restraint.
– Shiva Samhita appeals to seekers who want the story behind the science, blending devotion, metaphysics and siddhis.

• Philosophical Flavor
– Gheranda: Practical, almost clinical—“leave no stone unturned” in body cleansing and energetic alignment.
– Hatha Pradipika: Emphasizes the alchemy of body and breath to still the mind.
– Shiva Samhita: Offers a cosmic context, describing yoga as an act of divine union.

• Historical Context
– Gheranda Samhita (late 17th century) arrived when classical Hatha was maturing into therapeutic systems.
– Hatha Pradipika (15th century) laid down the groundwork, shortly after the Buddha’s mindfulness ripples had reshaped South Asia.
– Shiva Samhita (probably 14th–15th century) reflects early tantric influences, long before YouTube channels made “mindful breathing” a household phrase.

Gheranda Samhita’s layered, step-by-step approach still feels like an insider’s backstage pass—an invitation to explore every nook and cranny of the body and mind.