Nāda Yoga

Meaning

Nāda Yoga (नाद योग) is the yoga of inner sound — meditation on the subtle sound that arises spontaneously when the senses are interiorized. Nāda means sound, vibration or flow; it is the current of consciousness underlying all manifestation.

The HYP presents it as one of the most direct methods toward samādhi (4.66):

“Of all methods, nāda is the best, in my opinion, for achieving laya.”

Laya means dissolution — the mind is absorbed in sound until only pure consciousness remains.

The two types of nāda

Āhata nāda (struck sound)

Sounds produced by contact of objects: music, vocalized mantras, bells, Tibetan bowls. These are external sounds, useful as preparation but not the final goal.

Anāhata nāda (unstruck sound)

The sound that arises without external cause — the sound of silence. This is the goal of nāda yoga. The term anāhata (also the name of the heart chakra) means precisely “without strike”. This sound is always present; we only need the right conditions to perceive it.

Foundation in the texts

The Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā dedicates almost 40 verses to nāda yoga (4.64-102). It describes:

HYP 4.81:

“The yogī in siddhāsana, practicing śāmbhavī mudrā, will hear with focused mind the sound in the right ear.”

HYP 4.67-68:

“Seated in mukta-āsana, practicing śāmbhavī, he will hear in the right ear the inner sound. Covering the ears with the hands, nose and mouth, a clear sound will appear in suṣumṇā.”

The Nāda Bindu Upaniṣad details a progression of ten increasingly subtle sounds.

Technique: Nāda anusandhāna

Nāda anusandhāna (exploration of sound) is the main practice.

Preparation

1. Choose a quiet place, preferably at night
2. Sit in siddhāsana or padmāsana
3. Practice some rounds of nāḍī śodhana to calm the mind
4. Body stable, breath gentle

Ṣaṇmukhī mudrā (seal of the six gates)

The traditional position for nāda yoga:

1. Raise hands in front of face
2. Place thumbs in ears, closing them gently
3. Index fingers over closed eyelids (no pressure)
4. Middle fingers at sides of nose
5. Ring fingers on upper lip
6. Little fingers on lower lip

Simplified variant: use only thumbs in ears, hands resting on knees with index and thumb forming a circle that rises to cover ears.

Practice

1. Close ears completely
2. Direct attention to right ear (traditionally)
3. Listen. At first there may be apparent silence
4. Gradually you will perceive subtle sounds: buzzing, whistling, tinkling
5. Don’t analyze — simply listen
6. When multiple sounds appear, focus on the subtlest
7. Let your attention be completely absorbed

The ten nādas

Tradition describes a progression of sounds:

1. Cini — like an insect
2. Cinicini — like distant bells
3. Bell — large bell sound
4. Conch — like ocean in a shell
5. Vīṇā — stringed instrument
6. Cymbals — Tibetan cymbals
7. Flute — sweet continuous sound
8. Mṛdaṅga — drum
9. Bheri — deep trumpet
10. Megha — distant thunder

Not everyone experiences these sounds in this order; they are indicative, not prescriptive.

Progression

HYP 4.80-81 describes four stages:

1. Ārambha — beginning: prāṇa breaks brahma granthi, sounds like bells
2. Ghaṭa — vessel: prāṇa enters viśuddha, sounds like drums
3. Paricaya — familiarity: mahā-vādya drum sound in ājñā
4. Niṣpatti — culmination: flute or vīṇā sound, yogī establishes in sound and reaches samādhi

Benefits according to texts

HYP 4.91-92:

“As long as sound is heard, there exists the notion of space. When that notion disappears, it is called the supreme state, turīya.”

“The sound coming from the source is the Lord himself. When the mind merges in it, that is viṣṇu-padam (the abode of Viṣṇu).”

Practical effects:

• The mind, fascinated by sound, stops agitating
• Pratyāhāra (interiorization) occurs naturally
• Leads to spontaneous dhāraṇā (concentration)
• Can lead directly to samādhi (absorption)

Important notes

• Patience: The inner sound may take sessions to manifest clearly
• Don’t force: If there is no sound, remain in attentive silence
• Tinnitus: If you have medical tinnitus, this practice may not be suitable — consult an instructor
• Environment: External silence facilitates internal listening
• Best time: Deep night or early morning (brahma muhūrta)

HYP 4.103 concludes:

“Everything heard in the form of sound is śakti. The final dissolution of tattvas is formless. That is the Supreme Lord (parameśvara).”

Nāda yoga is considered one of the safest paths: sound guides the mind without violent effort. The practitioner simply follows, ever deeper, to the very source of sound — which is silence.