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INTRODUCTION
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Pranayama
is an exact science. It is the fourth Anga or limb of Ashtanga Yoga. Tasmin
Sati Svasa prasvasayorgativicchedah Pranayamah Regulation of
breath or the control of Prana is the stoppage of inhalation and exhalation,
which follows after securing that steadiness of posture or seat, Asana. Thus is
Pranayama defined in Patanjali Yoga Sutras. |
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‘Svasa’
means inspiratory breath and ‘Prasvasa’ is expiratory breath. Breath is
external manifestation of Prana, the vital force. Breath like electricity, is
gross Prana. Breath is Sthula, gross. Prana is Sukshma, subtle. By exercising
control over this breathing you can control the subtle Prana inside. Control of
Prana means control of mind. Mind cannot operate without the help of Prana. The
vibrations of Prana only produce thoughts in the mind. It is Prana that moves
the mind. It is Prana that sets the mind in motion. It is the Sukshma Prana or
Psychic Prana that is intimately connected with the mind. This breath
represents the important fly-wheel of an engine. Just as the other wheels stop
when the driver stops the fly-wheel, so also other organs cease working, when
the Yogi stops the breath. If you can control the fly-wheel, you can easily
control the other wheels. Likewise, if you can control the external breath, you
can easily control the inner vital force, Prana. The process by which the Prana
is controlled by regulation of external breath, is termed Pranayama.
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Just as
a goldsmith removes the impurities of gold by heating it in the hot furnace, by
strongly blowing the blow-pipe, so also the Yogic student removes the
impurities of the body and the Indriyas by blowing his lungs, i.e., by
practicing Pranayama.
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The
chief aim of Pranayama is to unite the Prana with the Apana and take the united
Pranapana slowly towards the head. The effect or fruit of Pranayama is Udghata
or awakening of the sleeping Kundalini.
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What
is Prana?
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He who
knows Prana knows Vedas is the important declaration of the Srutis. You will
find in Vedanta Sutras: For the same reason, breath is Brahman. Prana is
the sum total of all energy that is manifest in the universe. It is the sum
total of all the forces in nature. It is the sum total of all latent forces and
powers which are hidden in men and which lie everywhere around us. Heat, light,
electricity, magnetism are the manifestations of Prana. All forces, all powers
and Prana spring from the fountain or common source, ‘Atman’. All physical
forces, all mental forces come under the category ‘Prana’. It is force on every
plane of being, from the highest to the lowest. Whatever moves or works or has
life, is but an expression or manifestation of Prana. Akasa or ether also is an
expression of Prana. The Prana is related to mind and through mind to will, and
through will to the individual soul, and through this to the Supreme Being. If
you know how to control the little waves of Prana working through the mind,
then the secret of subjugating universal Prana will be known to you. The Yogi
who becomes an expert in the knowledge Of this secret, will have no fear from
any power, because he has mastery over all the manifestations of powers in the
universe. What is commonly known as power of personality is nothing more than
the natural capacity of a person to wield his Prana. Some persons are more
successful in life, more influential and fascinating than others. It is all due
to the power of this Prana. Such people manipulate everyday, unconsciously of
course, the same influence which the Yogi uses consciously by the command of
his will. There are others who by chance tumble unaware of this Prana and use
it for lower purposes under false names. This working of Prana is seen in the
systolic and diastolic actions of the heart, when it pumps the blood into
arteries in the action of inspiration and expiration during the course of
breathing; in the digestion of food; in the excretion of urine and fecal
matter; in the manufacture of semen, Chile, chime, gastric juice, bile,
intestinal juice, saliva; in closing and opening of the eyelids, in walking,
playing, running, talking, thinking, reasoning, feeling and willing. Prana is
the link between the astral and physical body. When the slender thread-link
Prana is cut off the astral body separates from the physical body. Death takes
place. The Prana that was working in the physical body is withdrawn into the
astral body.
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This
Prana remains in a subtle, motionless, unmanifested, undifferentiated state
during the cosmic Pralaya. When the vibration is set up, Prana moves and acts
upon Akasa, and brings forth the various forms. The macrocosm (Brahmanda) and
microcosm (Pindanda) are combinations of Prana (energy) and Akasa (matter). |
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That
which moves the steam-engine of a train and a steamer, that which makes the
aeroplanes fly in air, that which causes the motion of the breath in lungs,
that which is the very life of this breath itself, is Prana. I believe, you
have now a comprehensive understanding of the term Prana about which you had a
very vague conception in the beginning.
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By
controlling the act of breathing you can efficiently control all the various
motions in the body and the different nerve-currents that are running through
the body. You can easily and quickly control and develop body, mind and soul
through breath-control or the control of Prana. It is through Pranayama that
you can control your circumstances and character and can consciously harmonise
the individual life with the cosmic life.
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The
breath, directed by thought under the control of the will, is a vitalising,
regenerating force which you can utilise consciously for self-development; for
healing many incurable diseases in your system; for healing others and for
other various useful purposes.
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It
is within your easy reach at every moment of your life. Use it judiciously.
Many Yogins of yore, like Sri Jnanadeva, Trailing Swami, Ramalinga Swami and
others, had utilised this breath, this force, the Prana, in a variety of ways.
You can also do so, if you practise Pranayama by prescribed breathing
exercises. It is Prana that you are breathing rather than the atmospheric air.
Inhale slowly and steadily with a concentrated mind. Retain it as long as you
can do it comfortably. Then exhale slowly. There should be no strain in any
stage of Pranayama. Realise the occult inner life-powers which underlie the
breath. Become a Yogi and radiate joy, light and power all around you.
Pranavadins or Hatha Yogins consider that Prana Tattva is superior to Manas
Tattva, the mind-principle. They say, Prana is present even when the mind is
absent during sleep. Hence Prana plays a more vital part than the mind. If you
go through the parables in Kaushitaki and Chhandogya Upanishads, when all the
Indriyas, mind and Prana fight amongst themselves as to their superiority, you
will find that Prana is regarded as the highest of all. Prana is the oldest,
for it starts its functioning from the very moment the child is conceived. On
the contrary, the organs of hearing, etc., begin to function only when their
special abodes, viz., the ears, etc., are formed. Prana is called Jyeshtha and
Sreshtha (oldest and best) in Upanishads. It is through the vibrations of
psychic Prana that the life of the mind, Sankalpa or thinking is kept up and
thought is produced. You see, hear, talk, sense, think, feel, will, know, etc.,
through the help of Prana and therefore Srutis declare: Prana is Brahman.
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Seat
of Prana
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The
seat of Prana is heart. Though the Antahkarana is one, yet it assumes four
forms, viz., (i) Manas, (ii) Buddhi, (iii) Chitta and (iv) Ahamkara according
to the different functions it performs. Likewise, though Prana is one, it
assumes five forms viz., (1) Prana, (2) Apana, (3) Samana, (4) Udana and (5)
Vyana according to the different functions it performs. This is termed as
Vritti Bheda. The principal Prana is called Mukhya Prana. The Prana, joined
with Ahamkara, lives in the heart. Of these five, Prana and Apana are the chief
agents.
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The
seat of Prana is the heart; of Apana, the anus; of Samana, the region of the
naval; of Udana, the throat; while Vyana is all-pervading. It moves all over
the body.
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