Chapter Three: The Madhura Disposition in India's Inner (Esoteric) Religious Disciplines

The cited verse continues: “Holding Sri and the lotus, and burning what is subtle and gross through Madana, the lord of yogis, continually meditating with a mind beyond every ordinary conception, attains perfection in accordance with their proper dignity.”

Because embodied birth is accomplished through the woman in the form of the skull-woman, this practice is called Kapalika and its practitioners Kapalikas. In place of Buddhism's famous Three Jewels—Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—Vajrayanis regarded vajra, lotus, and Madana as the three jewels. A woman's assistance was necessary in Kapalika practice. The modern Nath path contains the seal called Vajroli, and there too the presence of a woman was held indispensable.

Vajroli, Sahajoli, and Amaroli¹

The Haṭha-yoga-pradīpikā describes the three seals as follows.

Vajroli. One should slowly and properly practise upward contraction through the urinary passage. A man or a woman may attain Vajroli. By gradually blowing through a smooth tube into the vajra cavity, the movement of air is trained. Through practice a woman should raise upward the bindu falling within her generative organ; a man should draw up and preserve his own displaced bindu. By thus uniting the two bindus, the knower of yoga conquers death.

Sahajoli. Sahajoli, Amaroli, and Vajroli are in principle one. Ash produced from well-burned cow dung is collected. Following intercourse performed through Vajroli, the man and woman sit at ease after the activity has ceased and apply the ash to their own limbs. This is called Sahajoli and should always be trusted by yogis. It is an auspicious yoga that bestows liberation even while joined to enjoyment.

Amaroli. One discards the first stream, which is excessive in bile, and the last, which is without essence; the cool, pure middle stream is Amaroli in the Kapalika doctrine. One who drinks amarī every day, takes it nasally from day to day, and properly practises Vajroli is said to practise Amaroli. The lunar fluid issuing from the practice is mixed with sacred ash and applied to the finest parts of the body while one maintains divine vision.