Names
Kapal Randhra Dhauti, Scalp Cleansing
Kapal is the Sanskrit word for head. Randhra means hole. The Kriya thus means the cleansing of the hole of the head.
If you are not aware what this means, just think of the skull of a newborn baby. It is soft and at the top, there is a kind of hole. This is the place meant to be cleaned in this Dhauti.
How to perform Kapal Randhra Dhauti
In Kapal Randhra Dhauti, you rinse the top of your head with water. Lean forward and pour water on your head with one hand while rubbing the top of the head with the other flat hand.
Use water of a pleasant temperature and wash the top of your head. Some people refer to the scriptures’ advice to use cold water for this practice.
One needs to take into consideration however that these scriptures were written in India, a generally hot country where cold water is still not freezing through the influence of the daily sun.
It is thus safe to say that water at a normal temperature is good for use.
In the next step, you massage your temples with your thumbs, both clockwise and anticlockwise.
Additionally and to have more benefit, you can place your middle fingers from both sides to the top of your nose bone, just below your eyebrow. Hold your breath and gently massage your upper nose.
When you have to exhale, stop the massage and exhale with force.
Benefits of Kapal Randhra Dhauti
This technique is very good for calming your mind and brain.
Through the massage you reduce stress and by this can reduce problems of insomnia and even bipolar because you relax your mental situation enourmously.
You clear your thoughts and thus get more and more peace in your complete system.
Problems of headache and migraine are reduced and your nervous system has a chance to calm down, too.
In this way Kapal Randhra Dhauti also helps against depression – it gives you the chance to relax and see things another way! All kinds of stress and its symptoms can disappear with regular practice. Even bipolar disorder can be treated with this relaxation of your mind.
The calming effect is also good for your blood pressure and makes the blood circulate to your head, too. This prevents dizziness and of course the oxygen is beneficial for your brain power, too.
The water opens the pores of the scalp and cleans it.
Practitioners of meditation enjoy doing this technique as it helps you go into meditation easily.
Tips and Help
Also make sure to dry your head after washing will prevent you catching cold. It is recommended to practice this in the morning.
When to avoid Kapal Randhra Dhauti
Take care not to do this cleansing technique when it is cold as you could easily catch a cold.
It is working with the Kapha region of your body and thus the practice could increase the mucus if there is cold air around the person performing it.