Practice Guides

Before You Begin

Shivambu is a serious practice with a long tradition. Before beginning, consider:

• Research thoroughly. Read the scripture, understand the tradition, know what you are undertaking.
• Assess your health. If you have active infections, kidney disease, or take medications that concentrate in urine, consult a knowledgeable practitioner.
• Prepare mentally. The initial aversion is normal. Work with it rather than against it.
• Adjust your diet. Begin eating cleaner before starting the practice. What you consume affects what you will drink.

The Basic Method

According to the Damar Tantra, the fundamental practice is straightforward:

1. Timing

The traditional time is Brahma Muhurta — approximately 3:00-5:00 AM, the most spiritually auspicious period. In modern practice, first thing in the morning is acceptable.

2. Collection

Stand or sit facing east. Use a clean vessel — glass or food-grade stainless steel are modern equivalents of the traditional recommendations. The Damar Tantra recommends earthen pots as optimal.

Collect midstream only. The text compares the first and last portions to "the mouth and tail of the serpent" — let them pass. The middle stream is the portion to collect. This is the same technique used in medical urinalysis.

3. Drinking

Drink immediately while fresh. The text says to drink "quite willingly and cheerfully." Your mental state matters.

For those who wish, recite the traditional mantras:

• While collecting: Om Hrim Klim Bhairavaya Namaha
• While drinking: Om Shrim Klim Uddamaneshwaraya Namaha

4. After Drinking

Wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else. Use this time for meditation or quiet reflection. The traditional sequence is: Shivambu first, then meditation.

Beginner Protocol

For those new to the practice, a gradual approach is recommended:

Week 1: Preparation

• Reduce or eliminate processed foods, alcohol, and heavy spices
• Increase water intake
• Read the scripture and research materials
• Set your intention

Week 2: External Use Only

• Begin with external application — massage a small amount onto your skin
• Observe how your body responds
• This helps overcome the psychological barrier

Week 3: First Taste

• Start with just a few drops on the tongue
• Work up to a small sip (one tablespoon)
• Notice your reactions without judgment

Week 4 and Beyond

• Gradually increase to a full glass (150-200 ml)
• Establish a consistent daily practice
• Continue refining your diet

Dietary Guidelines

The Damar Tantra is specific about diet during practice. Foods to avoid:

• Pungent foods (hot spices, raw onion, garlic)
• Salty foods
• Sour foods
• Heavy, starchy foods
• Alcohol
• Processed foods (modern addition)
• Medications when possible (consult your doctor)

Foods that are recommended:

• Light, easily digestible meals
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains (in moderation)
• Clean water in abundance
• Sattvic foods in general

Remember: you are crafting your own medicine. A cleaner diet produces cleaner, more palatable urine.

External Applications

The Damar Tantra describes extensive external use of Shivambu:

Skin Massage

For external application, the text specifies aged urine — collected and stored until reduced to one-fourth of its original volume through evaporation. This concentrate is then used for full-body massage.

Warning: "Urine which has not been boiled down to one fourth its volume should never be applied to the body for massage; if done so, it makes the body weak and invites ailments." (Verse 50)

Modern practitioners often use fresh urine for localized applications (face, hands) or diluted with water. The aged method is for full-body treatment by dedicated practitioners.

Nasal Application

"If in the early morning the practitioner nasalizes his own Shivambu, the ailments arising out of Kapha, Pitta, and Vata will vanish." (Verse 85)

This corresponds to the Ayurvedic practice of nasya (nasal administration). A few drops in each nostril.

Ear Drops

Traditional texts mention warm urine drops for ear conditions.

Eye Wash

Some traditions use diluted fresh urine as an eye wash. If attempting this, use freshly collected, filtered urine diluted with distilled water.

Advanced Practice: Fasting

The most intensive protocol is the urine fast, famously practiced by John W. Armstrong, who cured himself of tuberculosis with a 45-day fast on urine and water alone.

The Method

According to Armstrong and traditional sources:

• Consume only your own urine and pure water
• All urine passed should be consumed
• Massage the body with urine "at given intervals for two hours at a stretch"
• Duration varies: Armstrong reports fasts of 5 to 45 days

The Purification Process

Morarji Desai described what happens during a urine fast:

"If you drink all your urine (urine fast), in just a few days the body becomes purified. By the third day your urine is without any color or any smell or any taste and it will be pure almost like water."

Caution

Extended fasting should not be undertaken lightly. Traditional guidance recommends:

• Prior experience with shorter fasts
• Established daily Shivambu practice
• Guidance from an experienced practitioner
• Proper preparation and breaking of the fast
• Attention to any health conditions that contraindicate fasting

Seasonal Adjustments

The Damar Tantra provides specific herbal combinations for each season. This reflects the Ayurvedic understanding that our bodies' needs change with the seasons:

• Spring (March-April): Haritaki with honey and dry ginger
• Summer (May-June): Haritaki and pepper with unrefined sugar
• Monsoon (July-August): Haritaki, rock salt, and pepper root
• Autumn (September-October): Haritaki, crystal sugar, and Bibhitaki
• Early Winter (November-December): Dry ginger, Amla, and Haritaki
• Late Winter (January-February): Pepper, Haritaki, and dry ginger

These herbs are taken with Shivambu to enhance its effects according to seasonal needs.

What to Expect

Initial Period (Days 1-7)

• Psychological resistance is normal
• Taste will vary based on diet
• Some experience mild detox symptoms
• Energy may fluctuate

First Month

The Damar Tantra states: "If this method is followed for one month, one's body will be internally cleansed and purified."

• Resistance typically diminishes
• Clearer skin often reported
• Improved energy
• Better digestion

Three Months and Beyond

"If this method is followed for three months, all types of ailments will disappear and all miseries will evaporate."

Long-term practitioners consistently report deepening benefits — physical, mental, and spiritual.

Common Questions

Does it taste bad?

It depends on your diet. With clean eating and adequate hydration, urine is mild — slightly salty at most. Heavy foods, dehydration, and medications make it stronger. Sarah Miles described it as tasting "like every lavatory you've ever smelt" — but she was also honest that "you couldn't do it if you had a bad lifestyle."

Is it safe?

Fresh urine from a healthy person is sterile. The practice has been followed safely for millennia. Contraindications include active infections, certain medications, and specific health conditions.

How much should I drink?

Traditional texts suggest drinking all morning urine — typically 150-300 ml. Start small and increase gradually.

Can I continue taking medications?

Many medications concentrate in urine. Consult with a knowledgeable practitioner. This is not medical advice.

Final Note

Shivambu practice is not a casual experiment. It is a commitment to transformation. The tradition teaches that benefits unfold over months and years of dedicated practice.

If you feel called to this path, approach it with seriousness, reverence, and patience. The Water of Shiva reveals its gifts to those who persist.