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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.
‘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.
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.
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.
What is Prana?
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
Seat of Prana
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.
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. |
