Khechari Mudra is considered to be the "King of Mudras" in Kriya practice and is described as the highest form of mudra by Hatha Yoga Pradipika. The term "Khechari" literally translates to "movement into space." The practice of Khechari Mudra involves several stages, starting from swallowing the tongue, controlling the breath flow in the Sushumna channel, stopping the breath, and ultimately reaching the state of Unmani where the mind is absorbed in its original cause. It is the first stage of Kriya and is critical for the awakening of the subtle body as without it the Sushumna channel remains disconnected. The ancient text, Srimadbhagvadgita, is a primary source of spiritual knowledge in Indian tradition, but there is no commentaries specifically written by a yogi. Yogi Shailendra Sharma has written a commentary, combining the knowledge passed down through his lineage of gurus and his own personal practice of yoga, to make it accessible to both laypeople and yoga scholars.
Yogiraj himself was personally summoned by the legendary Matsyendra Nath, the guru of Gorakhnath and one of the immortals, for a meeting in June of 2000. During the encounter, Matsyendra Nath, who was described as being over seven feet tall, shapely and slim, with a black beard and fair complexion, appraised Yogiraj's yoga practice and provided him with a mantra and the technique for starting a dhooni. Matsyendra Nath also requested that Yogiraj wear kundals, which he obliged, and had his ears pierced for. This meeting was a significant moment in Yogiraj's life, as it exceeded his expectations of ever meeting the great yogi in person. Subsequently, Ganganath, a Nath and a legendary figure in the Nath lineage, was sent to deliver a message to Yogiraj and arrange the meeting with Matsyendra Nath. The encounter left Yogiraj feeling like a young child in the presence of a great institute's principal. He returned and started his dhooni, and since then, has felt his life to be more spiritual. Although, he was never introduced to the two fair-complexioned, tall, and beautiful ladies who were present during the meeting and wore saris without blouses.
