Cycle of Swaras

The Yogin attempts to understand, harness and bring about a balance between the energies of the two halves of the body. The best practical example of this concept is found in the study of the nasal cycle. The nasal cycle is an ultradian rhythm of nasal congestion and decongestion with a quasiperiodicity of 60 to 240 minutes. In Swara yoga, practices are connected with the flow of nadi in a systematic pattern with moon phases, Sun and other planets. According to the Shiva Swarodaya, the active nadi flows for two and a half ghati, which is equivalent to 60 minutes. Thereafter, sushumna functions for 1-4 minutes and then the other nadi begins to operate.

To know the exact time when ida/pingala become active, you will need to be acquainted with the moon phases. During the first 14 days (tithis) of the lunar cycle (which extends from the new moon to the full moon), the moon waxes and becomes fuller. This is called shuklapaksha or bright fortnight: shukla means white, and paksha means fortnight. On the 15th tithi the moon is full; this is called poornima. During the next 14 tithis of the cycle (i.e. between the full moon and the new moon) the moon wanes and becomes darker. This is known as the krishna paksha, krishna meaning black. On the 15th tithi, called amavasya, there is no moon. In Indian Astrology, the calculation of the Tithis starts from Pratipada (The first day in each half of the lunar month) of the Shukla-Paksha. It is said that on days 1,2,3,7,8,9,13,14,15 of the bright fortnight (the two weeks after full moon), the breath is to flow predominantly in the left nostril at sunrise and on days 4,5,6,10,11,12 it is to flow in the right nostril at sunrise. Similarly, on days 1,2,3,7,8,9,13,14,15 of the dark fortnight (the two weeks after the new moon), the breath is to flow predominantly in the right nostril at sunrise and on days 4,5,6,10,11,12 it is to flow in the left nostril at sunrise. Ida and Pingala function alternately in 1-2 hour cycle throughout the day until, at sunset left nostril begins to function on the specified days. On days  4 , 6, 10, 12, of dark fortnight (Krishna paksha) the left nostril flows at sunrise and right nostril at sunset. During shukla paksha we see the reverse. At sunrise of the first 3 days, left nostril flows and during sunset right and same alternate manner it goes on up to full moon. See the chart below. According to lunar Calander:

Day and tithi (days of moon	Shukla Paksha (Bright Fortnight)	Krishna Paksha (Dark Fortnight)
1st/prathama 2nd/dwitiya 3rd/Tritiya	chandra swara (ida)	surya swara (pingala)
4th/chaturthi 5th/panchami 6th/shashth	surya swara (pingala)	chandra swara (ida)
7th/saptami 8th/ashtami 9th/naumi	chandra swara (ida)	surya swara (pingala)
10th/dashami 11 th/ekadashi 12th/dwadashi	surya swara (pingala)	chandra swara (ida)
13th/trayodashi 14th/chaturdashi 15th/amavasya/ Purnima	chandra swara (ida)	surya swara (pingala)

Chandra swara: Left nostril

Surya swara: Right nostril

In cycle of Swara, the time of sunrise and sun set is an important consideration. In summer, the sun rises earlier then in winter, and the time is constantly changing throughout the year. The time will also differ according to the exact location and hemisphere of the continent on which one is living. In the next post I will write about tattwa. If You have any doubt, please leave in comment section. Thank you.