Introduction 

The word Shankhaprakshalana comes from two words. Shankha meaning "conch" and prakshalana meaning to wash completely. The word shankha is used to represent the entire alimentary canal from mouth to anus. This practice is also known as "varisar dhouti". This practice is also a part of kaya kalpa, which is an ayurvedic technique for physical purification and transformation, kaya means body & kalpa means transformation. Shankhaprakshalana is the process to clean the intestinal tract by removing the impurities with salty water.

NOTE - No one should try this in absence of Yoga Guru and without advice of medical practitioner.

Pre- preparation : Plenty of clean, warm water should be available, add 2 tea spoons of salt per liter to the water and 1 lemon juice per litter. Please Do not add sugar.

 Place to practice : The best place to practice Shankhapkshalana is a garden or in an open area where there's fresh air. Make sure that adequate toilet facilities are near by. The practice is best with a group of people doing together. The atmosphere should be relaxed to make

sure that there are free bowl movements.

Procedure : Start the process early in the morning at 6 to 7am. Initially drink 2 glasses of the water preparation as quickly as possible, in a sitting position. Perform the following 6 asanas dynamically 6 times each, in all 36 asanas in one round, practice 2 rounds in the correct order as explained below :  Tadasana 

1. Keep the feet apart 16-18 inches from each other.

2. Lift both the arms in front, bring it to shoulder level and interlock your fingers.

3. Take interlocked hands up and face the palms up, straighten your arms

4. Lift your heals up and stretch your body in upward direction, stay for a while and then release it

5. Repeat this asana for 6 times and then go for another asana              

 Tiriyak tadasana  

1. Take the same position as tadasana without lifting the heals.

2. Stretch the body up and bend towards left from waist and hold the position for some time.

3. Come back to pre-position and relax.

4. Bend towards right and hold for some time.

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5. come back to pre-position and release

6. Repeat it from the right side. This completes first round. Do 6 rounds continually.            

  Katti chakrasana  

1. Take distance between both the legs of about 16-18 inches

2. Raise your arms side-ways to shoulder level, palms of the hands facing downwards & parallel to ground.

3. Turn from the waist towards left, keeping the arms parallel to ground.

4. Bend Right arm in elbow and turn around your body and put the hand on the left shoulder.

5. Bend left arm in elbow and turn from back twist around the waist towards right.

6. Turn your neck towards the left and give twist to whole body towards left. Remain still for a while in this position and then

release the asana.

7. repeat this asana for 6 times and then go for another asana                   

 Tiryaka bhujangasana Pre position - prone position  

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1. Bring both hands near the chest and place palms on the ground, keep the fingers together pointing front except the thumb

drawn towards the body, Touch the forehead to the ground & raise the forehead, bend the neck backward.

2. The distance between the legs should be 10-15 inches and touch the toes on the ground by stretching backwards.

3. Bend the right hand in elbows and keeping the left hand straight from waist and give twist towards left along with neck

4. Release this position and repeat from right side and complete one round.

5. Repeat this asana for 6 times.                   

 Udarakarshan  

1. Take distance between 2 legs of about 8-10 inches, bend the knees touch the soles and sit down.

2. Put both the hands on the knees bending the elbows.

3. With the help of left hand press the left knee towards right foot but don?t lift up the right leg up in this position, give the

pressure of right thigh to left thigh

4. Remain still in this position for while and then release

5. Repeat this asana for 6 times.             

  Kakhpadasana

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1. Take the same position as udarakarshana

2. Put your left leg in front of about 1 feet and bend the right knee towards the left foot

3. Lift the right knee up and put it 1 feet forwards and at the same time left knee towards the right foot

4. In the same way move forward and walk for about 20 feet by following same steps.

            

 Drink two glass of water which is specially prepared and repeat all the asanas each 6 times. If you need to go to the toilet, go and empty your bowels if they have not yet been emptied do not strain, it is not essential at this point. Drink two glasses of water and repeat two rounds of the asanas. When you feel to go to toilet leave the particular asana and go to toilet, and then come back continue from where you had left that particular asana. Afterwards continue drinking the water, performing the asanas and going to toilet.

As pressure increases less stools and more water will be evacuated. Eventually cloudy yellow water and finally almost clear water will be evacuated, but it varies from person to person. The speed at which one completes the practice should not be compared with that of others.

Total rest for about 1 hr to 45 min is essential after the practice of shankhaprakshalan in shavasana position, one should not sleep as it may result in a cold or headache. Try to maintain complete silence because during this time the whole digestive system is given a chance to recharge itself. Passing urine at this time is perfectly normal. Special meal 2 hours after completing shankhaprakshalan the specially prepared food, khichri (rice + moong lentils), must be taken, eating this meal at correct time is essential. The 3 components of the khichri are helpful in the restoration of correct digestive function. The clarified butter (cow's ghee) is necessary to coat the intestinal walls until the body produces new lining. Rice provides simple easily digestible material in the form of carbohydrates and creates mucus, which also protects the inner lining of the alimentary canal. The lentils supplement the diet by giving the body an easily digestible source of protein, it's an all round nutritional meal and sufficient quantity of it must be eaten to help the intestines and keep the walls of the gut stretched, other wise they may cramp due to the absence of the bulk to which they are accustomed. This bulk not only maintains the lane but also aids the intestine to resume peristalsis. It is also important in order to present in digestion, diarrhea and constipation.

Further rest However, it is important not to sleep for at least 3 hours, after the initial meal Sleep during this period may lead to physical lethargy and headache; complete rest should be taken for the remaining of the day and also for the following days. During this period it is advisable to keep moan (silence) and avoid physical & mental work.

Second meal Khichri should also be prepared for the late afternoon or evening meal, about 6 hours after the first meal.  Frequency This practice should be preformed only once in 6 months.Duration The whole day should be aside for this practice and the following day for the rest.

Practice - 1st day - 1 round, an increase one round per day, for 6 days.

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Shankhaprakshalana is one of the major hatha yoga practices, coming under the heading of dhauti kriya, it is also known as varisara dhauti. Dhauti refers to 'internal washing' and vari means 'water'. Generally the term shankhaprakshalana is applied, shankha meaning 'conch', because of its resemblance to the stomach and intestines; prakshalana meaning 'cleaning'.

Shankhaprakshalana is not just a practice concerning the stomach and intestines, but is a thorough cleansing technique. It creates a repair action which affects the lungs, nervous system, skin, sinus area, the whole body, continuing while the person follows the regime of special food and asanas. In this way we see the reduction of so many disease conditions, diabetes being the most notable, and a positive step in the direction of good health.

The benefit for the serious yogic practitioner is a lighter, more flexible, physical body. The various metabolic acids and chemical wastes causing stiffness, lethargy and heaviness such as lactic acid and uric acid are washed away. A clearer and more alert mind is experienced as with fasting, but without the irritating feeling of an empty stomach.

As intake of toxic substances must be curtailed, it is at this time that many people leave cigarettes, alcohol and other habits permanently. This is a time of revision where life changes direction, new food, new habits and the foundation for a positive fresh view of life are set.

Time and place

Naturally when such dramatic changes occur within the system it is not advisable to perform shankhaprakshalana frequently. In the case of normal, healthy persons, once or twice a year around the change of season, is sufficient. This readjusts the body's temperature regulating mechanism (thermostat), ensuring a lower body temperature and sustained digestive capacity in the difficult summer and monsoon months. For those with diseases i.e. diabetes, asthma, mild constipation, it can be performed more frequently.

As can be readily observed, shankhaprakshalana is not a practice to be performed without skilled guidance. An undisturbed ashram environment with an expert guide on hand brings about confidence in the participant. After all, it is a new and wondrous experience.

Before and after the practice

Shankhaprakshalana is not just a practice which takes 3-4 hours on the weekly day off. It is actually a complete physiological overhaul. It begins from the night before the practice, when a light meal is eaten. The next morning, bath should be taken early, as no bathing is permitted during or after shankhaprakshalana, even on the hottest day.

After completing the flushing of the intestines, kunjal kriya and neti kriya should be performed, followed by a compulsory 30-45 minute rest. However sleep must be resisted, in order to avoid complete cessation of intestinal activity. After rest a liquid type khichari of rice, mung dal and a little haldi (tumeric) is taken, along with 2-3 teaspoons of ghee (clarified butter). A sufficient quantity, generally two or three full plates of khichari and ghee must be taken to reline the intestinal walls and reactivate gastric motility.

Khichari may be eaten again when hunger is felt, and a good amount of water should be consumed during that afternoon 3-4 hours after the initial intake.

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No other food, drink, sweets, etc. are permitted in any form.

During that day there should not be any movement which creates excitement, tension or change of temperature as the body is in a sensitive state and vulnerable to cough, cold or fever. Sitting in the sun, strenuous walking, bathing, sports, cinema, outings, marital relationships, work, sitting under a fan or in an air conditioned room must be avoided as again change in body temperature or excessive physiological activity will be overtaxing. Resting quietly is the best procedure. No yoga asanas should be practised for 2 days, until the tissues and processes have completely recovered.

Following the practice, when the mind and body are in a pure and tranquillised condition, there is a great opportunity to practise mouna, likhit japa or study of spiritual books. This gives the practitioner a chance to 'come back to earth' again.

If headache or vomiting sensation is felt in the afternoon, kunjal or neti kriya, followed by rest in shavasana gives correct benefit. Medicines of any type are to be avoided for at least a few days.

Food restrictions

From the following day after shankhaprakshalana a modified preferably salt less diet consisting of khichari, dal, boiled subjee (vegetables), roti, dahlia, rice and some haldi is taken. All dairy products including milk, cheese and dahi (curd) are prohibited and sweets, fruits, tea, coffee, processed and refined foods, sour, bitter, pungent and spicy foods, chilli, egg, onion, garlic, potatoes and any other underground vegetable, tomatoes and eggplant are also restricted. Other items such as alcohol, meat, khanni and tobacco are prohibited for another two weeks.

If the correct diet is strictly followed, the full effect of shankhaprakshalana is then felt during this next two week period. Any alteration in adherence to the rules generally causes a disturbance, if not immediately, then at a later date. This is because during this important period, the intestines are in a sensitive condition as they are recreating the correct internal medium, the correct acid/alkaline balance. As well, the protective cellular lining on the intestinal wall, which has been removed, must be fully restored and a suitable bacterial flora re-established. Following the initial two week period, normal diet may be resumed.

Limitations

Naturally, with such an effective and powerful practice, as with all kriyas, there are limitations as to who is fit to practise. Obviously, sufferers from ulcers, heart disease, blood pressure high or low, epilepsy or kidney failure are not permitted to do shankhaprakshalana except under medical supervision, although a shortened form of the practice, laghoo shankhaprakshalana may sometimes be prescribed. In general the practice is contraindicated during fever. A clear sunny day must also be chosen and during the monsoon season, practice is restricted to only very fine days. Otherwise there is the likelihood of cough, cold or fever due to sudden temperature changes.

Although there are many restrictions, rules and regulations, shankhaprakshalana is a practice which is certainly worth undertaking. Initially there seems to be much involved. However, when the proper preparations are made and there is a relaxed atmosphere and correct guidance during the practice, the whole process is carried out as easily and simply as performing the routine daily asana practice.

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