Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 30
लघुर्द्वादशमात्रस्तु मात्रा निमिष उन्मिषः । द्विगुणो मध्यमश्चोक्तस्त्रिगुणश्चोत्तमः स्मृतः
laghurdvādaśamātrastu mātrā nimiṣa unmiṣaḥ | dviguṇo madhyamaścoktastriguṇaścottamaḥ smṛtaḥ
The ‘light’ (prāṇāyāma) is of twelve mātrās; a mātrā is measured as a blink and the reopening of the eyes. The ‘medium’ is said to be double that, and the ‘superior’ is remembered as triple.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced)
Scene: A yogin counting mātrās with a subtle finger movement or rosary-like gesture, eyelids half-closed; a visual motif of an eye blinking to indicate the mātrā unit; three stacked measures labeled 12/24/36.
FAQs
Yogic discipline is systematic; breath control is graded and measured to ensure steadiness rather than strain.
No tīrtha is praised; the verse gives technical guidance for practice.
A timing rule: laghu = 12 mātrās; madhyama = 24; uttama = 36, using nimiṣa/unmiṣa as the measure.