Tantric origin the beginning I used to call this practice ‘yogic

After this discovery, I began studying the tantric sleep’, but

scriptures now I have become more aware of the vast
in a new light. I came across many important but potentialities of
litde yoga nidra and I think that yoga nidra is nothing but
known practices, which interested me greatly. After yoga
practising nidra. If you ask me to translate yoga nidra into
them myself, I decided to construct a new system French or
called Spanish, I will say ‘yoga nidra’. It is an
yoga nidra which would incorporate the essence of international practice.
these Experiments with yoga nidra
practices without having complicated ritualistic Since devising the practice, I have carried out many
drawbacks. experiments to validate these ideas. First I tried it
The characteristic feature of yoga nidra was the on myself
systematic and then on different people. I even succeeded in
rotation of consciousness in the body, which training
originated an Alsatian dog. Later on I experimented with some
from the tantric practice of nyasa (meaning ‘to of my
place’ or ‘to disciples and with many children, giving them
take the mind to that point’). Nyasa was practised in knowledge,
a experience and instruction while they were sleeping
sitting posture and involved the use of specific soundly.
mantras One of my most interesting experiments was with a
which were placed, felt o r experienced at different litde
parts of boy who presented himself at my ashram for
the body. First the name of the part was recited, then sannyasa. I
it was wanted to send him to school, but he flady refused.
visualized or touched, and the mantra was placed He was
there. a very naughty boy, an absolute monkey. All day
Nyasa was a means of consecrating the physical long he
body by broke things, harassed visitors and caused
instilling higher awareness or divine consciousness accidents. Finally
into the he became such a liability for the ashram that I
various parts during tantric ritual practices. For decided to
example, try yoga nidra on him.
the Angushtadi-Shadanga-nyasa' was used to place I began by chanting the 15th chapter of the Gita to
mantras him
in the hand as follows: about three minutes after he had fallen asleep. Then
• Thumb: Hram angushtabhyam namah when
• Index finger: Hrirn tarjanibhyam swaha he got up in the morning I would have him read
• Middle finger: Hrum madhyamabhyam vashat through
• Ring finger: Hraim anamikabhyam vashat the chapter, which he would do, of course,
• Little finger: Hraum kanishthabhyam. vaushat mindlessly. After
• Palm and back of hand: Hrah one week he was able to recite the whole chapter by
karatalaprishtabhyam phat heart.
In a similar manner, in the Hridayi-Shadanga-nyasa, When this succeeded I went ahead with other texts,
certain and in
mantras were placed at the various parts of the body. this way I managed to teach him Srimad
The present form o f yoga nidra, which I have Bhagawatam,
devised, Upanishads, Bible. Koran, English, Hindi. Sanskrit,
enables people who are unfamiliar with Sanskrit all that
mantras to I knew, while he was sound asleep.
Now that boy is twenty-one and I have sent him to
gain the full benefits of the traditional nyasa. It can the
be USA. He speaks eleven languages, and writes and
beneficially practised by people of any religion o r lectures
culture. In
in English better than I do, yet he has never been to
school.
All of his studies and learning took place within that
two
year period when I gave him yoga nidra, and he
does not
even remember it.