Within the Gheranda Samhita, the shatkarmas are presented as foundational purificatory disciplines that prepare the aspirant for the higher limbs of practice. Six such cleansing methods are enumerated. These are: Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Trataka, Nauli (also referred to as Lauliki), and Kapalabhati. Together, they address different regions and functions of the body, from the digestive tract and colon to the nasal passages, eyes, abdomen, and the subtle relationship between breath and the frontal region of the head. The text treats them not as mere physical hygiene, but as systematic means to refine the bodily instrument for spiritual endeavor.

Dhauti is described as a group of internal cleansing practices. It encompasses methods such as Antar Dhauti, which employs various internal washing techniques, Danta Dhauti for dental cleansing, Hrid Dhauti for purifying the heart or chest region, and Mula Shodhana for anal cleansing. Through these, the digestive and upper internal pathways are gradually purified. Basti, in contrast, focuses specifically on the colon, using water or air in a yogic enema to cleanse the lower intestines. Both Dhauti and Basti demonstrate the text’s emphasis on thorough internal purification as a prerequisite for steadiness in practice.

Neti is prescribed for cleansing the nasal passages and the head region. The Gheranda Samhita describes two principal forms: Jala Neti, in which water is passed through the nostrils, and Sutra Neti, in which a thread is gently drawn through the nasal passages. These practices are said to purify and clear the pathways of breath, supporting both physical health and mental clarity. Trataka, by contrast, is not a washing in the ordinary sense, but a cleansing through concentrated gaze. Fixing the eyes steadily on a point—often a small object or flame—until tears arise is held to purify and strengthen the eyes while stabilizing attention.

Nauli, also known as Lauliki, is the art of isolating and churning the abdominal muscles. This dynamic movement massages the internal organs and supports the health and purification of the digestive system. It is both a powerful physical exercise and a subtle internal cleansing, demanding considerable control and awareness. Kapalabhati, literally “skull-shining,” is a breathing practice characterized by forceful exhalations with passive inhalations. It is said to cleanse the frontal region of the head and the respiratory passages, linking breath, brain, and subtle vitality in a single, rhythmic act of purification.

Taken together, these six shatkarmas form a coherent ladder of purification in the Gheranda Samhita’s sevenfold path. Each addresses a particular dimension of embodiment—gross and subtle—so that the practitioner may approach subsequent disciplines such as asana, pranayama, and meditation with a body that is not a hindrance but a refined support. The text thus portrays bodily cleansing not as an end in itself, but as a sacred preparation, aligning the physical sheath with the deeper aspirations of yoga.