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International Journal of and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159) Volume: 6 (Suppl), November 2017

Pranamaya from the View Point of Ancient and Modern Science

Sanjib Patra Faculty, Division of Yoga and Life sciences, S- Yoga University, Eknath Bhavan, Gavipuram Circle,K.G. Nagar, Bangalore-560019; Email id: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Pranamaya kosha is filled with (vital force). It is also the principle of our life force which holds body and mind and it is quite different from breath. Prana flows when our breath becomes slow and harmonious. In the physical body we have two types of subtle energies, one of the forms is known as Prana and the other is known as mind or awareness. Modern science also believes that every organ is also governed by two varieties of force, one has a stimulating effect and other has a relaxation effect. In yoga, the concept of Prana is very scientific. When we speak of prana, it does not mean the breath, air or oxygen. Precisely and scientifically, Prana means the original life force.

Introduction The second Kosha as per Taitriya With the advancements in Biotechnology Upanishad is Pranamaya kosha which is such as Cloning, scientists are trying their the combination of three syllables viz., best to replicate the DNA. But that has not Prana (life force), (encircled with or given any output in terms of a giant sheath), Kosha (sac or compartment). success out of laboratory. This is because Therefore it is said that it is the sheath of the vital molecules like DNA are the life or vital force which is the second functional only in the proximity of Prana layer of human existence. This Kosha is and thus fail to serve their functions composed of Prana or life force and a majority of the times even in the component of cosmic life. In , laboratory where they cannot harness the again Prana is the combination of two cosmic Prana without the presence of syllables, ‘Pra’ is Prefix, ‘Ana’ is a word physical body. The body has been gifted represents to movement, motion or with a system which can utilise the cosmic vibration. Hence, ‘Prana’ is the pre- Prana available everywhere. existing force found in the body as a driving force and keeps recharging the The Taittiriya Upanishad 1 talks about the physical body. nature of human existence. According to it, the entire human existence spreads Pranic force moves throughout the whole above the conventional domain of body and life. It is not only confined to perception. It can be understood in the living being but found in micro organisms form of five sheaths known as ‘Pancha- and non-living objects like plant kingdom, ’ where each kosha is a atmosphere, oceans, mountains and rivers. manifestation of the cosmic having The core part of the atom has Prana and it different degrees of freedom. is visible and invisible also. Prana is found in the body until the last breath and it Scientific Understanding About Prana dissipates from the body either from the As per Einstein’s equation, E=MC 2, which crown of the head or from the navel when is applicable to all particles in the we die. Universe. The whole universe is made up

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International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159) Volume: 6 (Suppl), November 2017 this subtle energy. When the Prana in the The way electricity moves in electrical body is disturbed, there will be a depleting fibers, the same way Prana moves through effect in the Prana in cosmos because each the Nadis from an instrument called as individual shares the same Cosmic Prana 2, ‘’. The literal meaning of Chakras 3. Every atomic and sub atomic particle is are called whirlpools or vicious circle formed with same cosmic energy called filled with concentrated Prana. In other Prana. According to the law of words they act like a Biological Thermodynamics, energy can neither be transformer in both step up and step down created nor destroyed and by splitting an mode. It becomes step up when the atom, we may have the impression that the concentration of Prana is less in the source energy may be depleted but in principle (food, light and atmosphere) and it this does not happen, rather the energy becomes step down when it is found to be remains same. So, we can say that increase less in source. Through the nadis, they or decrease of Prana cannot be made move from various systems and sub possible in any atom or sub atomic systems from the Chakras. In our body particles. In no time, the energy of the sub there are about Six Chakras and seventy atomic particle communicates with each two thousand nadis to carry out this other and also that is the same energy that function. communicates within itself. The entire universe is an infinite vibrating energy Prana is found in different forms. Its direction changes and becomes upward at The energy in the body is Prana. Through face, from the throat, found in another voluntary control of the motion of lungs form called Udana. It becomes and other respiratory organs, we can unidirectional and moves horizontally at control the movement of Prana that is the region of chest in the form of Prana 5. vibrating within. By control of Prana, the In the area of abdomen it becomes speed of the mind can be easily controlled, bidirectional and dynamic called Samana because the mind is governed by Prana, and probably that is the reason why our like fuel to a fire. Just as the intensity of stomach is able to produce strong acid fire increases as we pour fuel in it and its Hydrochloric like acid (HCl) from the intensity gets minimized without it or Parietal cell. Below navel its direction pouring a less quantity. In this case also becomes downward called Apana. Many our mind is like fire and Prana is like food downward physiological functions like or fuel for the mind. Activity of Prana is urination and defecation are governed by maximum during arousal or wakeful state Apana and upward functions are governed and it keeps moving in various parts of the by Udana like vomiting, coughing and body and enters into a vessel or a closed sneezing. Its movement becomes spiral pot, during deep sleep in which the activity throughout the whole body and its takes of the body is found to be negligible. care of the vital functions like circulation, immunity and endocrine functions. How does our prana move in the body? The movement of Prana is possible only How its impaired circulation is noticed? through its channels and they are called Its impaired circulation is noticed in the ‘Nadis’. When we look into its deeper form of Ajirnatvam (indigestion), aspect of it, the syllable ‘’ is derived Kujirnatvam (poor digestion) and from the Sanskrit word ‘Nad’ which Atirjirnatvam 6 (over digestion) as quoted means to flow 4. Thus we can say that these in Yoga Vasistha. Correlating each one of are channels that make our Prana to flow the dysfunction in the digestive system, we throughout the whole body. They are can say that less flow of Prana through the neither the blood vessels nor nerve fibers. nadis leads to poor digestion; negligible

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International Journal of Yoga and Allied Sciences (ISSN: 2278 – 5159) Volume: 6 (Suppl), November 2017 flow causes the manifestation of Pingala, carrying Prana which is warmth indigestion and over digestion due to or hot. The idea between practicing oversupply. If we try to understand it balancing is to bring harmony deeply, we can say that the constriction of between these two and awaken the most the nadis lead to less flow of Prana and its important nadi called Sushumna and the dilation lead to excess flow. It is also awakening of Sushumna is absolute health implied that the diseases of various organs and well being. may be due to either less flow of Prana due to constriction and over supply due to Summary dilation. Prana is a force of your total composition and should also be dealt with in Yoga. If How does pranayama help for the the are agitated or there is eradication of diseases ? imbalance in Prana, there is imbalance Pranayama is the combination of two everywhere in the body. The Pranas are in syllables viz., Prana – life force and the atmosphere in the form of positive and Ayama – expansion 7. It can be said that it negative ions, which keep on bouncing, is a technique that makes the Prana to migrating and reintegrating. In addition to expand everywhere in the body or with this it is found in other sources like food, uniform circulation throughout the body. sun light. It keeps on fluctuating as we are For the correction of its flow, have predominated with our thoughts and designed three categories of Pranayama, emotions. Negative thoughts and emotions heating, cooling and balancing. The exhaust the Prana and make us sick and objective of heating Pranayama is to dilate positive thoughts and emotions make us the nadis so that the supply of Prana can be healthy and harmonious. made uniform, similarly the cooling Pranayama regulates the excess flow of Acknowledgement Prana through the nadis and balancing I hereby acknowledge Ms. Rasika pranayama to establish an equilibrium Dandekar and Mr. Anirudha for their state between the two vital nadis viz., Ida 6 contribution in preparing this theoretical that carries the Prana which is cool and manuscript.

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