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{{Short description|Sanskrit meaning "life force" or "vital principle"}} | |||
'''Prana''' ({{lang-sa2|प्राण}}, {{IAST1|prāṇa}}) is the ] for "]" (from the root ''{{IAST|prā}}'' "to fill", cognate to Latin ''plenus'' "full"). | |||
{{for-multi|the clothing company|Prana (brand)|the band|Prana (band)}} | |||
It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. ''prana'' "breath", '']'' "speech", ''caksus'' "sight", ''shrotra'' "hearing", and '']'' "thought" (nose, mouth, eyes, ears and mind; ]. 2.7.1). | |||
In ], ], and ], '''prana''' ({{lang|sa|]}}, {{IAST|prāṇa}}; the ] word for breath, "]", or "vital principle")<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/prana|title=Prana |publisher=Dictionary.com |access-date=2015-04-22}}</ref> permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Sacred journey: living purposefully and dying gracefully |last=Rama |first=Swami |date=2002|publisher=Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust|isbn=978-8188157006|location=India|oclc=61240413}}</ref> In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as originating from the ] and connecting the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1982/emay82/prana582.shtml |title=Prana: the Universal Life Force |author=Swami Satyananda Saraswati |author-link=Satyananda Saraswati |publisher=Bihar School of Yoga |website=Yoga Magazine |date=September 1981 |access-date=31 July 2015}}</ref> | |||
In ] philosophy, it is the notion of a vital, ]-sustaining force of living beings and ], comparable to the Chinese notion of ]. Prana is a central concept in ] and ] where it is believed to flow through a network of fine subtle channels called ]. The ''Pranamaya-kosha'' is one of the five ]s or "sheaths" of the ] | |||
{{Contains special characters|Indic}} | |||
Prana was first expounded in the ], where it is part of the worldly, physical realm, sustaining the body and the mother of thought and thus also of the ]. Prana suffuses all living form but is not itself the ] or individual soul. | |||
Five types of prāṇa, collectively known as the five '']s'' ("winds"), are described in Hindu texts. ], ] and ] all describe ''prāṇa vāyu'' as the basic vāyu from which the other vāyus arise. | |||
'''Prana''' is divided into ten main functions: The five Pranas – Prana, Apana, Udana, Vyana and Samana – and the five Upa-Pranas – Naga, Kurma, Devadatta, Krikala and Dhananjaya. | |||
], one of the ], is intended to expand conscious awareness of prana. | |||
==Etymology== | |||
] provides fourteen different meanings for the ] word ''{{IAST|prāṇa}}'' ({{lang|sa|प्राण}}) including breath or ];<ref name="Apte 1965">{{Citation | last=Apte | first=Vaman Shivram | year=1965 | title=The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary | place=Delhi | publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers | edition=4th | isbn=81-208-0567-4 |page=679}}</ref> the breath of life, vital air, principle of life (usually plural in this sense, there being five such vital airs generally assumed, but three, six, seven, nine, and even ten are also spoken of);<ref name="Apte 1965"/><ref>For the vital airs as generally assumed to be five, with other numbers given, see: Macdonell, p. 185.</ref> energy or vigour;<ref name="Apte 1965"/> the spirit or soul.<ref name="Apte 1965"/> | |||
Of these meanings, the concept of "vital air" is used by Bhattacharyya to describe the concept as used in Sanskrit texts dealing with ], the manipulation of the breath.<ref>Bhattacharyya, p. 311.</ref> Thomas McEvilley translates ''prāṇa'' as "spirit-energy".<ref>]. "The Spinal Serpent", in: Harper and Brown, p. 94.</ref> The ] is understood to be its most subtle material form, but is also believed to be present in the ], and most concentrated in ] and ].<ref>Richard King, ''Indian philosophy: an introduction to Hindu and Buddhist thought''. Edinburgh University Press, 1999, p. 70.</ref> | |||
Scholars are divided on the original meanings of ''prana'' and ''apana''. Some, like ], argue that originally ''prana'' meant inbreathing, while ''apana'' meant outbreathing. Others, like Deussen, claim the opposite, stating that ''prana'' meant outbreathing and ''apana'' meant inbreathing. However, they agree that in later times, these two terms came to refer to air located in different parts of the body, with ''prana'' associated with the upper parts and ''apana'' with the lower parts.{{sfn|Brown|1919}} | |||
==Early references== | |||
The ancient concept of prāṇa is described in many Hindu texts, including ] and ]. Prāṇa is typically divided into constituent parts, particularly when concerned with ]. While not all early sources agree on the names or number of these divisions, the most common list from the '']'', the Upanishads, Ayurvedic and Yogic sources includes five classifications, often subdivided.<ref name="Sivananda">{{cite book |last1=Sivananda |first1=Sri Swami |author-link=Swami Sivananda |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=9OCLDgAAQBAJ}} |title=The Science of Pranayama |date=2008 |publisher=BN Publishing |isbn=978-9650060206}}</ref>{{Page needed |date=December 2016}} This list includes ''prāṇa'' (inward moving energy), ''apāna'' (outward moving energy), ''vyāna'' (circulation of energy), ''udāna'' (energy of the head and throat), and ''samāna'' (digestion and assimilation). | |||
Early mention of specific prāṇas often emphasized prāṇa, apāna and vyāna as "the three breaths". This can be seen in the proto-yogic traditions of the Vratyas among others.{{sfn|Eliade|Trask|White|2009|p=104}} Texts like the ''Vaikānasasmārta'' utilized the five prāṇas as an internalization of the five sacrificial fires of a ] ] ceremony.{{sfn|Eliade|Trask|White|2009|pp=111–112}} | |||
=== Vedas and Upanishads === | |||
One of the earliest references to prāṇa is from the 3,000-year-old '']'', but many other Upanishads use the concept, including the '']'', '']'' and '']s''. The concept is elaborated upon in great detail in the literature of ],<ref name="Mallinson">{{cite book |last1=Mallinson |first1=James |author-link=James Mallinson (author) |title=The Shiva Samhita: A Critical Edition and an English Translation |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=hlQRnDOr178C}} |date=2007 |publisher=YogaVidya.com |location=Woodstock, New York |isbn=978-0971646650 |edition=1st}}</ref> ], and ]. | |||
The '']'' describes prāṇa: 'When they had been watered by Prana, the plants spake in concert: 'thou hast, forsooth, prolonged our life, thou hast made us all fragrant.' (11.4–6) 'The holy (âtharvana) plants, the magic (ângirasa) plants, the divine plants, and those produced by men, spring forth, when thou, O Prâna, quickenest them (11.4–16). 'When Prâna has watered the great earth with rain, then the plants spring forth, and also every sort of herb.' (11.4–17) 'O Prâna, be not turned away from me, thou shall not be other than myself! As the embryo of the waters (fire), thee, O Prâna, do bind to me, that I may live.' (11.4){{Citation needed|date=April 2024}} | |||
The Upanishads, particularly the Yoga Upanishads, discuss various breaths with specific names and functions. ''Prana'' is consistently regarded as the primary breath, akin to breath in English, while ''apana'' is associated with carrying off excrement. The '']'' first described ''prana'' governing upper body functions and ''apana'' controlling lower functions, based on the concept of distinct airs or gases governing bodily functions. '']'' also support this division of breaths, associating ''prana'' with the nasal region and ''apana'' with the abdominal region.{{Sfn|Brown|1919}} | |||
=== Bhagavad Gita === | |||
The '']'' verse 4.27 describes the ] of self-control as the sacrifice of the actions of the senses and of prāṇa in the fire kindled by knowledge.{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|p=25}} More generally, the conquest of the senses, the mind, and prāṇa is seen as an essential step on the yogin's path to ], or indeed as the goal of yoga.{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|p=47}} Thus, for example, the ''Malinivijayottaratantra'' 12.5–7 directs the seeker "who has conquered posture, the mind, prāṇa, the senses, sleep, anger, fear, and anxiety"{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|p=60}} to practise yoga in a beautiful, undisturbed cave.{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|p=60}} | |||
==Vāyus== | |||
] | |||
One way of categorizing prāṇa is by means of vāyus. ''Vāyu'' means "wind" or "air" in Sanskrit, and the term is used in a variety of contexts in ]. Prāṇa is considered the basic vāyu from which the other vāyus arise, as well as one of the five major vāyus. Prāṇa is thus the generic name for all the breaths, including the five major vāyus of prāṇa, apāna, uḍāna, samāna, and vyāna.{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|pp=128, 173–174, 191–192}} The ''Nisvasattvasamhita Nayasutra'' describes five minor winds, naming three of these as nāga, dhanamjaya, and kurma;{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|pp=191–192}} the other two are named in the '']'' (181.46) and '']'' (37.36) as devadatta and krtaka.{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|p=174}} | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|+ Vāyus, according to the ''Nisvasattvasamhita Nayasutra'' (6th–10th century) | |||
! Vāyu | |||
! Location | |||
! Responsibility{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|p=191}} | |||
|- | |||
| Prāṇa | |||
| Head, lungs, heart | |||
| Movement is inward and upward, it is the vital life force. Balanced prāṇa leads to a balanced and calm mind and emotions. | |||
|- | |||
| Apāna | |||
| Lower abdomen | |||
| Movement is outward and downward, it is related to processes of elimination, reproduction and skeletal health (absorption of nutrients). Balanced apāna leads to a healthy digestive and reproductive system. | |||
|- | |||
| Udāna | |||
| Diaphragm, throat | |||
| Movement is upward, it is related to the respiratory functions, speech and functioning of the brain. Balanced udāna leads to a healthy respiratory system, clarity of speech, healthy mind, good memory, creativity, etc. | |||
|- | |||
| Samāna | |||
| Navel | |||
| Movement is spiral, concentrated around the navel, like a churning motion, it is related to digestion on all levels. Balanced samāna leads to a healthy metabolism. | |||
|- | |||
| Vyāna | |||
| Originating from the heart, distributed throughout | |||
| Movement is outward, like the circulatory process. It is related to circulatory system, nervous system and cardiac system. Balanced vyāna leads to a healthy heart, circulation and balanced nerves. | |||
|} | |||
==Nadis== | ==Nadis== | ||
{{ |
{{Further|Nadi (yoga)}} | ||
] of Indian philosophy, showing the three major ] or channels, the Ida (B), Sushumna (C), and Pingala (D), which run vertically in the body.{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|pp=172–173}}]] | |||
In ], the three main channels of Prana are: the ], the ], and the ]. Ida relates to the left side of the body terminating at the left nostril and pingala to the right side of the body terminating at the right nostril. In some practices, alternate nostril breathing balances the prana that flows within the body. When prana enters a period of uplifted, intensified activity, the ] tradition refers to it as '''Pranotthana'''.<ref>Sovatsky, Stuart (1998) ''Words from the Soul: Time, East/West Spirituality, and Psychotherapeutic Narrative''. Suny Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology, New York: State University of New York Press.</ref> | |||
] describes prana flowing in ] (channels), though the details vary.{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|pp=172–173}} The '']'' (2.I.19) mentions 72,000 nadis in the human body, running out from the heart, whereas the '']'' (6.16) says that 101 channels radiate from the heart.{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|pp=172–173}} The ''Vinashikhatantra'' (140–146) explains the most common model, namely that the three most important nadis are the Ida on the left, the Pingala on the right, and the ] in the centre connecting the ] to the ], enabling prana to flow throughout ].{{sfn|Mallinson|Singleton|2017|pp=172–173}} | |||
==The Five Pranas== | |||
In ], the Prana is further classified into subcategories, referred to as ''pranas''. According to Hindu philosophy these are the vital principles of basic energy and subtle faculties of an individual that sustain physiological processes. There are five pranas or ''vital currents'' in the Hindu system:<ref>Rammurti S. Mishra ''Yoga Sutras : The Textbook of Yoga Psychology''</ref> | |||
When the mind is agitated due to our interactions with the world at large, the physical body also follows in its wake. These agitations cause violent fluctuations in the flow of prana in the nadis.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sridhar |first=M. K. |date=2015 |title=The concept of Jnana, Vijnana and Prajnana according to Vedanta philosophy |journal=International Journal of Yoga: Philosophy, Psychology and Parapsychology |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=5 |doi=10.4103/2347-5633.161024|doi-access=free|s2cid=147000303 }}</ref> | |||
#'''Prana''' : Responsible for the beating of the ] and breathing. Prana enters the body through the breath and is sent to every ] through the ]. | |||
#'''Apana''' : Responsible for the elimination of waste products from the body through the lungs and excretory systems. | |||
#'''Udana''' : Responsible for producing sounds through the vocal apparatus, as in speaking, singing, laughing, and crying. Also it represents the conscious energy required to produce the vocal sounds corresponding to the intent of the being. Hence ] on udana gives the higher centers total control over the body. | |||
#'''Samana''' : Responsible for the ] of food and cell ] (ie. the repair and manufacture of new cells and growth). Samana also includes the heat regulating processes of the body. ]s are projections of this current. By meditational practices one can see auras of light around every being. Yogis who do special practise on samana can produce a blazing aura at will. | |||
#'''Vyana''' : Responsible for the expansion and contraction processes of the body, eg. the voluntary muscular system. | |||
==Pranayama== | == Pranayama == | ||
{{Main|Pranayama}} | |||
] is the practice in which the control of prana is achieved (initially) from the control of one's breathing. According to Yogic philosophy the breath, or air, is merely a gateway to the world of prana and its manifestation in the body. In yoga, pranayama techniques are used to control the movement of these vital energies within the body, which is said to lead to an increase in vitality in the practitioner. | |||
The practice of these techniques is not trivial, and Kason (2000)<ref>Kason, Yvonne (2000) ''Farther Shores: Exploring How Near-Death, Kundalini and Mystical Experiences Can Transform Ordinary Lives''. Toronto: HarperCollins Publishers; Revised edition. | |||
Prāṇāyāma is a common term for various techniques for accumulating, expanding and working with prana. Pranayama is one of the ] and is a practice of specific and often intricate breath control techniques. The dynamics and laws of Prana were understood through systematic practice of Pranayama to gain mastery over Prana.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Pranayama, The art and science |last=Nagendra |first=H. R. |publisher=Swami Vivekananda Yoga Prakashana |year=1998 |location=Bangalore, India }}</ref> | |||
</ref> mentions circumstances where pranayama techniques might disrupt the balance of a person's life. | |||
Many pranayama techniques are designed to cleanse the ], allowing for greater movement of prana. Other techniques may be utilized to arrest the breath for ] or to bring awareness to specific areas in the practitioner's subtle or physical body. In ], it is utilized to generate inner heat in the practice of ].<ref>{{cite book |author=Ra Yeshe Senge |title=The All-Pervading Melodious Drumbeat: The Life of Ra Lotsawa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ycTsBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT242 |year=2015 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-698-19216-4|pages=242 see entry for Tummo}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Dharmakirti |title=Mahayana tantra: an introduction |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MdQKAAAAYAAJ |year=2002 |publisher=Penguin Books |pages=126–127|isbn=9780143028536 }}</ref> | |||
In ] and therapeutic yoga, pranayama is utilized for many tasks, including to affect mood and aid in digestion. ] stated that the physical goals of pranayama may be to recover from illness or the maintenance of health, while its mental goals are: "to remove mental disturbances and make the mind focused for meditation".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mohan |first1=A. G. |author1-link=A. G. Mohan |last2=Mohan |first2=Indra |title=Yoga Therapy: A Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Yoga and Ayurveda for Health and Fitness |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=H8YMAAAACAAJ}} |date=2004 |publisher=Shambhala Publications |location=Boston |isbn=978-1590301319 |page=135 |edition= 1st}}</ref> | |||
According to ], the ultimate aim of pranayama is the suspension of breathing, "causing the mind to swoon".<ref>{{cite book | last=Bernard | first=Theos | author-link=Theos Casimir Bernard | title=Hatha Yoga: The Report of A Personal Experience | publisher=Harmony | year=2007 | isbn=978-0-9552412-2-2 | oclc=230987898 |page=57}}</ref> ] writes, "The real meaning of Pranayama, according to Patanjali, the founder of Yoga philosophy, is the gradual cessation of breathing, the discontinuance of inhalation and exhalation".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yogananda |first1=Paramahansa |author-link=Paramahansa Yogananda |title=The Essence of Kriya Yoga |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ltl1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT10 |date=2005 |publisher=Alight Publications |isbn=978-1931833189 |edition=1st |page=part10 (online)}}</ref> | |||
== Similar concepts == | |||
Similar concepts exist in various cultures, including the Latin ''anima'' ("breath", "vital force", "animating principle"), Islamic and Sufic ], the Greek ], the Chinese ], the Polynesian ], the Amerindian ], the German ], and the Hebrew ].<ref name="Feuerstein">{{cite book |last1=Feuerstein |first1=George |author-link=Georg Feuerstein |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=Ok54ngEACAAJ}} |title=The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice |date=2013 |publisher=Hohm Press |isbn=978-1935387589 |orig-year=1998}}</ref> Prāṇa is also described as subtle energy<ref name="Srinivasan2017">{{cite journal |last1=Srinivasan |first1=TM |year=2017 |title=Biophotons as subtle energy carriers |journal=International Journal of Yoga |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=57–58 |doi=10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_18_17 |pmc=5433113 |pmid=28546674 |doi-access=free}}</ref> or life force.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Rowold |first=Jens |date=August 2016 |title=Validity of the Biofield Assessment Form (BAF) |journal=European Journal of Integrative Medicine |volume=8 |issue=4 |pages=446–452 |doi=10.1016/j.eujim.2016.02.007}}</ref> | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist|30em}} | ||
==Sources== | |||
* {{Cite journal |last=Brown |first=George William |date=1919 |title=Prāṇa and Apāna |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/592721 |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume=39 |pages=104–112 |doi=10.2307/592721 |jstor=592721 |issn=0003-0279}} | |||
* {{cite book |last1=Eliade |first1=Mircea |author1-link=Mircea Eliade |last2=Trask |first2=Willard R. |last3=White |first3=David Gordon |author3-link=David Gordon White |title=Yoga: Immortality and Freedom |url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=V07l6gThaV0C}} |date=2009 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0691142036 }} | |||
* {{cite book | last1=Mallinson | first1=James |last2=Singleton |first2=Mark | author1-link=James Mallinson (author) |author2-link=Mark Singleton (yoga researcher) | title=] | publisher=Penguin Books | year=2017 | isbn=978-0-241-25304-5 | oclc=928480104 }} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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Latest revision as of 18:59, 18 December 2024
Sanskrit meaning "life force" or "vital principle" For the clothing company, see Prana (brand). For the band, see Prana (band).In yoga, Ayurveda, and Indian martial arts, prana (प्राण, prāṇa; the Sanskrit word for breath, "life force", or "vital principle") permeates reality on all levels including inanimate objects. In Hindu literature, prāṇa is sometimes described as originating from the Sun and connecting the elements.
This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.Five types of prāṇa, collectively known as the five vāyus ("winds"), are described in Hindu texts. Ayurveda, tantra and Tibetan medicine all describe prāṇa vāyu as the basic vāyu from which the other vāyus arise.
Prana is divided into ten main functions: The five Pranas – Prana, Apana, Udana, Vyana and Samana – and the five Upa-Pranas – Naga, Kurma, Devadatta, Krikala and Dhananjaya.
Pranayama, one of the eight limbs of yoga, is intended to expand conscious awareness of prana.
Etymology
V.S. Apte provides fourteen different meanings for the Sanskrit word prāṇa (प्राण) including breath or respiration; the breath of life, vital air, principle of life (usually plural in this sense, there being five such vital airs generally assumed, but three, six, seven, nine, and even ten are also spoken of); energy or vigour; the spirit or soul.
Of these meanings, the concept of "vital air" is used by Bhattacharyya to describe the concept as used in Sanskrit texts dealing with pranayama, the manipulation of the breath. Thomas McEvilley translates prāṇa as "spirit-energy". The breath is understood to be its most subtle material form, but is also believed to be present in the blood, and most concentrated in semen and vaginal fluid.
Scholars are divided on the original meanings of prana and apana. Some, like Böhtlingk, argue that originally prana meant inbreathing, while apana meant outbreathing. Others, like Deussen, claim the opposite, stating that prana meant outbreathing and apana meant inbreathing. However, they agree that in later times, these two terms came to refer to air located in different parts of the body, with prana associated with the upper parts and apana with the lower parts.
Early references
The ancient concept of prāṇa is described in many Hindu texts, including Upanishads and Vedas. Prāṇa is typically divided into constituent parts, particularly when concerned with the human body. While not all early sources agree on the names or number of these divisions, the most common list from the Mahabharata, the Upanishads, Ayurvedic and Yogic sources includes five classifications, often subdivided. This list includes prāṇa (inward moving energy), apāna (outward moving energy), vyāna (circulation of energy), udāna (energy of the head and throat), and samāna (digestion and assimilation).
Early mention of specific prāṇas often emphasized prāṇa, apāna and vyāna as "the three breaths". This can be seen in the proto-yogic traditions of the Vratyas among others. Texts like the Vaikānasasmārta utilized the five prāṇas as an internalization of the five sacrificial fires of a panchāgni homa ceremony.
Vedas and Upanishads
One of the earliest references to prāṇa is from the 3,000-year-old Chandogya Upanishad, but many other Upanishads use the concept, including the Katha, Mundaka and Prasna Upanishads. The concept is elaborated upon in great detail in the literature of haṭha yoga, tantra, and Ayurveda.
The Atharvaveda describes prāṇa: 'When they had been watered by Prana, the plants spake in concert: 'thou hast, forsooth, prolonged our life, thou hast made us all fragrant.' (11.4–6) 'The holy (âtharvana) plants, the magic (ângirasa) plants, the divine plants, and those produced by men, spring forth, when thou, O Prâna, quickenest them (11.4–16). 'When Prâna has watered the great earth with rain, then the plants spring forth, and also every sort of herb.' (11.4–17) 'O Prâna, be not turned away from me, thou shall not be other than myself! As the embryo of the waters (fire), thee, O Prâna, do bind to me, that I may live.' (11.4)
The Upanishads, particularly the Yoga Upanishads, discuss various breaths with specific names and functions. Prana is consistently regarded as the primary breath, akin to breath in English, while apana is associated with carrying off excrement. The Prashna Upanishad first described prana governing upper body functions and apana controlling lower functions, based on the concept of distinct airs or gases governing bodily functions. Aitareya Upanishad also support this division of breaths, associating prana with the nasal region and apana with the abdominal region.
Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita verse 4.27 describes the yoga of self-control as the sacrifice of the actions of the senses and of prāṇa in the fire kindled by knowledge. More generally, the conquest of the senses, the mind, and prāṇa is seen as an essential step on the yogin's path to samadhi, or indeed as the goal of yoga. Thus, for example, the Malinivijayottaratantra 12.5–7 directs the seeker "who has conquered posture, the mind, prāṇa, the senses, sleep, anger, fear, and anxiety" to practise yoga in a beautiful, undisturbed cave.
Vāyus
One way of categorizing prāṇa is by means of vāyus. Vāyu means "wind" or "air" in Sanskrit, and the term is used in a variety of contexts in Hindu philosophy. Prāṇa is considered the basic vāyu from which the other vāyus arise, as well as one of the five major vāyus. Prāṇa is thus the generic name for all the breaths, including the five major vāyus of prāṇa, apāna, uḍāna, samāna, and vyāna. The Nisvasattvasamhita Nayasutra describes five minor winds, naming three of these as nāga, dhanamjaya, and kurma; the other two are named in the Skandapurana (181.46) and Sivapurana Vayaviyasamhita (37.36) as devadatta and krtaka.
Vāyu | Location | Responsibility |
---|---|---|
Prāṇa | Head, lungs, heart | Movement is inward and upward, it is the vital life force. Balanced prāṇa leads to a balanced and calm mind and emotions. |
Apāna | Lower abdomen | Movement is outward and downward, it is related to processes of elimination, reproduction and skeletal health (absorption of nutrients). Balanced apāna leads to a healthy digestive and reproductive system. |
Udāna | Diaphragm, throat | Movement is upward, it is related to the respiratory functions, speech and functioning of the brain. Balanced udāna leads to a healthy respiratory system, clarity of speech, healthy mind, good memory, creativity, etc. |
Samāna | Navel | Movement is spiral, concentrated around the navel, like a churning motion, it is related to digestion on all levels. Balanced samāna leads to a healthy metabolism. |
Vyāna | Originating from the heart, distributed throughout | Movement is outward, like the circulatory process. It is related to circulatory system, nervous system and cardiac system. Balanced vyāna leads to a healthy heart, circulation and balanced nerves. |
Nadis
Further information: Nadi (yoga)Indian philosophy describes prana flowing in nadis (channels), though the details vary. The Brhadaranyaka Upanishad (2.I.19) mentions 72,000 nadis in the human body, running out from the heart, whereas the Katha Upanishad (6.16) says that 101 channels radiate from the heart. The Vinashikhatantra (140–146) explains the most common model, namely that the three most important nadis are the Ida on the left, the Pingala on the right, and the Sushumna in the centre connecting the base chakra to the crown chakra, enabling prana to flow throughout the subtle body.
When the mind is agitated due to our interactions with the world at large, the physical body also follows in its wake. These agitations cause violent fluctuations in the flow of prana in the nadis.
Pranayama
Main article: PranayamaPrāṇāyāma is a common term for various techniques for accumulating, expanding and working with prana. Pranayama is one of the eight limbs of yoga and is a practice of specific and often intricate breath control techniques. The dynamics and laws of Prana were understood through systematic practice of Pranayama to gain mastery over Prana.
Many pranayama techniques are designed to cleanse the nadis, allowing for greater movement of prana. Other techniques may be utilized to arrest the breath for samadhi or to bring awareness to specific areas in the practitioner's subtle or physical body. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is utilized to generate inner heat in the practice of tummo.
In Ayurveda and therapeutic yoga, pranayama is utilized for many tasks, including to affect mood and aid in digestion. A. G. Mohan stated that the physical goals of pranayama may be to recover from illness or the maintenance of health, while its mental goals are: "to remove mental disturbances and make the mind focused for meditation".
According to Theos Bernard, the ultimate aim of pranayama is the suspension of breathing, "causing the mind to swoon". Swami Yogananda writes, "The real meaning of Pranayama, according to Patanjali, the founder of Yoga philosophy, is the gradual cessation of breathing, the discontinuance of inhalation and exhalation".
Similar concepts
Similar concepts exist in various cultures, including the Latin anima ("breath", "vital force", "animating principle"), Islamic and Sufic ruh, the Greek pneuma, the Chinese qi, the Polynesian mana, the Amerindian orenda, the German od, and the Hebrew ruah. Prāṇa is also described as subtle energy or life force.
See also
References
- "Prana". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2015-04-22.
- Rama, Swami (2002). Sacred journey: living purposefully and dying gracefully. India: Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust. ISBN 978-8188157006. OCLC 61240413.
- Swami Satyananda Saraswati (September 1981). "Prana: the Universal Life Force". Yoga Magazine. Bihar School of Yoga. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
- ^ Apte, Vaman Shivram (1965), The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary (4th ed.), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, p. 679, ISBN 81-208-0567-4
- For the vital airs as generally assumed to be five, with other numbers given, see: Macdonell, p. 185.
- Bhattacharyya, p. 311.
- McEvilley, Thomas. "The Spinal Serpent", in: Harper and Brown, p. 94.
- Richard King, Indian philosophy: an introduction to Hindu and Buddhist thought. Edinburgh University Press, 1999, p. 70.
- ^ Brown 1919.
- Sivananda, Sri Swami (2008). The Science of Pranayama. BN Publishing. ISBN 978-9650060206.
- Eliade, Trask & White 2009, p. 104.
- Eliade, Trask & White 2009, pp. 111–112.
- Mallinson, James (2007). The Shiva Samhita: A Critical Edition and an English Translation (1st ed.). Woodstock, New York: YogaVidya.com. ISBN 978-0971646650.
- Mallinson & Singleton 2017, p. 25.
- Mallinson & Singleton 2017, p. 47.
- ^ Mallinson & Singleton 2017, p. 60.
- Mallinson & Singleton 2017, pp. 128, 173–174, 191–192.
- Mallinson & Singleton 2017, pp. 191–192.
- Mallinson & Singleton 2017, p. 174.
- Mallinson & Singleton 2017, p. 191.
- ^ Mallinson & Singleton 2017, pp. 172–173.
- Sridhar, M. K. (2015). "The concept of Jnana, Vijnana and Prajnana according to Vedanta philosophy". International Journal of Yoga: Philosophy, Psychology and Parapsychology. 3 (1): 5. doi:10.4103/2347-5633.161024. S2CID 147000303.
- Nagendra, H. R. (1998). Pranayama, The art and science. Bangalore, India: Swami Vivekananda Yoga Prakashana.
- Ra Yeshe Senge (2015). The All-Pervading Melodious Drumbeat: The Life of Ra Lotsawa. Penguin. pp. 242 see entry for Tummo. ISBN 978-0-698-19216-4.
- Dharmakirti (2002). Mahayana tantra: an introduction. Penguin Books. pp. 126–127. ISBN 9780143028536.
- Mohan, A. G.; Mohan, Indra (2004). Yoga Therapy: A Guide to the Therapeutic Use of Yoga and Ayurveda for Health and Fitness (1st ed.). Boston: Shambhala Publications. p. 135. ISBN 978-1590301319.
- Bernard, Theos (2007). Hatha Yoga: The Report of A Personal Experience. Harmony. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-9552412-2-2. OCLC 230987898.
- Yogananda, Paramahansa (2005). The Essence of Kriya Yoga (1st ed.). Alight Publications. p. part10 (online). ISBN 978-1931833189.
- Feuerstein, George (2013) . The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice. Hohm Press. ISBN 978-1935387589.
- Srinivasan, TM (2017). "Biophotons as subtle energy carriers". International Journal of Yoga. 10 (2): 57–58. doi:10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_18_17. PMC 5433113. PMID 28546674.
- Rowold, Jens (August 2016). "Validity of the Biofield Assessment Form (BAF)". European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 8 (4): 446–452. doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2016.02.007.
Sources
- Brown, George William (1919). "Prāṇa and Apāna". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 39: 104–112. doi:10.2307/592721. ISSN 0003-0279. JSTOR 592721.
- Eliade, Mircea; Trask, Willard R.; White, David Gordon (2009). Yoga: Immortality and Freedom. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691142036.
- Mallinson, James; Singleton, Mark (2017). Roots of Yoga. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-241-25304-5. OCLC 928480104.
External links
- Prana - A Overview as per vedic scriptures along with a hymn to Prana from Atharva Veda
- Prana – overview
- Prana – Amazing Secret To Health and Wellbeing as per Yogic Science
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