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Sub-Pranas
and Their Functions
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| Naga,
Kurma, Krikara, Devadatta and Dhananjaya are the five sub-Pranas.
The function of Prana is
respiration; Apana does excretion; Samana performs digestion; Udana does
deglutition (swallowing of the food). It takes the Jiva to sleep. It separates
the astral body from the physical body at the time of death. Vyana performs
circulation of blood.
Naga does eructation and hiccup.
Kurma performs the function of opening the eyes. Krikara induces hunger and
thirst. Devadatta does yawning. Dhananjaya causes decomposition of the body
after death. That man is never reborn, whenever he may die, whose breath goes
out of the head, after piercing the Brahmarandhra.
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The
Colour of Pranas
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| Prana
is said to be of the colour of blood, red gem or coral. Apana which is in the
middle, is of the colour of Indragopa (an insect of white or red colour).
Samana is of the colour between that of pure milk or crystal or of oily and
shining colour, i.e., of something between both Prana and Apana. Udana is of
Apandura (pale white) colour and that of Vyana, resembles the colour of archil
(or that of ray of light).
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The
Length of the Air-Currents
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| This
body of Vayu is 96 digits (6 feet) in length as a standard. The ordinary length
of the air-current, when exhaled is 12 digits (9 inches). In singing, its
length becomes 16 digits (1 foot), in eating it comes to 20 digits (15 inches),
in sleeping 30 digits (22 1/2 inches), in copulation 36 digits (27 inches) and
in doing physical exercise it is much more than that. By decreasing the natural
length of the expired air-currents (from 9 inches), life is prolonged and by
increasing the current, duration of life is decreased.
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The
Centering of the Prana
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| Inhaling
the Prana from outside, filling the stomach with it, center the Prana with the
mind, in the middle of the navel, at the tip of the nose, and at the toes,
during the ‘Sandhyas’ (sunrise and sunset) or at all times. Thus the Yogi is
freed from all diseases and fatigues. By centering this Prana at the tip of the
nose he obtains mastery over the elements of the air; by centering at the
middle of his navel, all diseases are destroyed; by centering at the toes, his
body becomes light. He who drinks air through the tongue destroys his fatigue,
thirst and many other diseases. For him who drinks the air with his mouth,
during the two Sandhyas and the last two hours of the night, within three
months, the auspicious Sarasvati (Goddess of speech) is present in his Vak
(speech), i.e., he becomes eloquent and learned. In six months he is free from
all diseases. Drawing the air at the root of the tongue, the wise man thus
drinking nectar enjoys all prosperity.
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The
Lungs
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will not be out of place here to mention a word on lungs and their functions.
The organs of respiration consist of two lungs, one on either side of the chest
and the air passages that lead to them. They are located in the upper thoracic
cavity of the chest, one on each side of median line. They are separated from
each other by the heart, the greater blood vessels and the larger air-tubes.
The lungs are spongy, porous and their tissues are very elastic. The substance
of the lungs contains innumerable air-sacs, which contain air. After
post-mortem, when it is placed in a basin of water, it floats. They are covered
by a delicate serous membrane called the pleura which contains serous
fluid to prevent friction of the lungs, during the act of breathing. One wall
of the pleura closely adheres to the lungs. The other wall is attached to the
inner wall of the chest. Through this membrane the lungs are fixed to the wall
of the chest. The right lung consists of three lobes. The left lung contains
two lobes. Each lung consists of an apex and a base. The base is directed
towards the diaphragm, the muscular septum, the dividing wall between throat
and abdomen. The apex situated above, near the root of the neck. It is the base
that gets inflamed in Pneumonia. The apex of the lung which does not get proper
supply of oxygen gets affected by consumption. It affords favourable nidus or
breeding ground for Tubercle Bacilli (T.B.). By the practice of Kapalabhati and
Bhastrika Pranayamas and deep breathing exercises, these apices get good supply
of oxygen and thus phthisis is obviated. Pranayama develops the lungs. He who
practices Pranayama will have a powerful, sweet, melodious voice.
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air-passage consists of the interior of the nose, pharynx or throat, larynx or
the wind box, or sounding box, which contains two vocal cords, trachea or
windpipe: right and left bronchi and the smaller bronchial tubes. When we
breathe, we draw in the air through the nose and after it has passed through
the pharynx and larynx, it passes into the trachea or windpipe, thence into the
right and left bronchial tubes, which in turn, subdivide into innumerable
smaller tubes called bronchioles, and which terminate in minute subdivisions in
the small air-sacs of the lungs, of which the lungs contain millions. The
air-sacs of the lungs when spread out over an unbroken surface, would cover, an
area of 1,40,000 square feet.
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| The
air is drawn into the lungs by the action of the diaphragm. When it expands,
the size of the chest and lungs is increased and the outside air rushes into
the vacuum thus created. The chest and lungs contract, when diaphragm relaxes
and the air is expelled from the lungs.
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| It
is through vocal cords that are located in the larynx that sound is produced.
Larynx is the sounding box. When the vocal cords are affected by too much
straining, as in singing and continuous lecturing, the voice becomes hoarse. In
females these cords are shorter. Hence they have a sweet melodious voice. The
number of respiration per minute is 16. In pneumonia it is increased to 60, 70,
80 per minute. In Asthma, the bronchial tubes become spasmodic. They contract.
Hence there is difficulty in breathing. Pranayama removes the spasm or
constriction of these tubes. A small membranous flat cap covers the upper
surface of larynx. It is called Epiglottis. It prevents the food particles or
water from entering into the respiratory passage. It acts the part of a safety
valve.
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a small particle of food tries to enter the respiratory passage, cough comes in
and the particle is thrown out.
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| Lungs
purify the blood. The blood starts in its arterial journey, bright-red and
rich-laden with life-giving qualities and properties. It returns by the venous
route, poor, blue-laden with the waste matter of the system. Arteries are tubes
or vessels that carry pure oxygenated blood from the heart towards the
different parts of the body. Veins are vessels or tubes that carry back impure
blood from the different parts of the body. The right side of the heart
contains impure venous blood. From the right side of the heart the impure blood
goes to the lungs, for purification. It is distributed among the millions of
tiny air-cells of the lungs. A breath of air is inhaled and the oxygen of the
air comes in contact with the impure blood through the thin walls of the
hair-like blood-vessels of the lungs called pulmonary capillaries. The walls of
the capillaries are very thin. They are like muslin cloth or sieve. Blood oozes
out or exudes readily. Oxygen penetrates through the walls of these thin
capillaries. When the oxygen comes in contact with the tissues a form of
combustion takes place.
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blood takes up oxygen and releases carbonic acid gas generated from the waste
products and poisonous matter, which has been gathered up by the blood from all
parts of the system. The purified blood is carried by the four pulmonary veins
to the left auricle and thence to the left ventricle. From the ventricle it is
pumped into the biggest artery, aorta. From aorta, it passes into the different
arteries of the body. It is estimated that in a day 35,000 pints of blood
traverses the capillaries of the lungs for purification.
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the arteries the pure blood goes into the thin capillaries. From the
capillaries the lymph of the blood exudes, bathes and nourishes the tissues of
the body. Tissue respiration takes place in the tissues. Tissues take up the
oxygen and leave the carbon dioxide. The impurities are taken by the veins to
the right side of the heart.
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| From
the arteries the pure blood goes into the thin capillaries. From the
capillaries the lymph of the blood exudes, bathes and nourishes the tissues of
the body. Tissue respiration takes place in the tissues. Tissues take up the
oxygen and leave the carbon dioxide. The impurities are taken by the veins to
the right side of the heart.
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| Who
is the creator of this delicate structure? Are you feeling the invisible hand
of God behind these organs? The structure of this body bespeaks undoubtedly of
the omniscience of the Lord. The Antaryamin or the Indweller of our hearts
supervises the working of the inner factory as Drashtha. Without His presence,
heart cannot pump blood into the arteries. Lungs cannot carry out the process
of purifying the blood. Pray. Pay your silent homage to Him. Remember Him at
all times. Feel His presence in all the cells of the body.
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