Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Authorship

Traditional: Svātmārāma

Scholarly note: Synthesizes earlier haṭha texts (Śiva Saṃhitā, Gorakṣa Śataka, etc.).

Why it was written

Practical manual of āsana, prāṇāyāma, mudrā, and samādhi for yogīs.

Structure & length

Extent · Four upadeśas (~389 verses)

Āsana → prāṇāyāma → mudrā/bandha → rāja-yoga hints.

Key themes

• kuṇḍalinī
• nāḍī
• mudrā
• bandha

Related texts

• Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
• Gheranda Samhita
• Shiva Purana

Sources

• Hatha Yoga (Britannica)
• Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Wikipedia)