PRANA - YOUR BODY
Your body is mostly space with atoms and molecules vibrating to form you. In that space is prana vibrating spinning through the nadis (energy centers or fine subtle channels) creating the activity of the five senses, thoughts, desires each being particular expressions of prana vibrating each on certain frequencies flowing through the 72,000 nadis. In this network of 72,000 nadis or channels the most important is the shushumna nadi which correlates to the spinal cord in the physical body. As prana positive energy moves upward and apana negative energy moves downward the two unite at the muladara charka at the base of spine (charka - larger energy wheels of which there are 7 from the base of the spine through the top of the head).
Usually, the energy does not flow through Sushumna nadi as the entrance to this nadi is normally closed. In persons not practicicing any spiritual exercises the Kundalini (cosmic energy coiling like a snake) lays dormant in the Muladhara charka and the energy circulates through the two secondary spinal nadis called Ida (comfort) is a nadi assosciated with lunar energy and Pingala (tawny) assosciated with solar energy.
When the kundalini is awakened it starts to move up the shushumna nadi, through the seven chakras toward higher states of consciousness uniting the base charka to the sahasrāra chakra (crown chakra). As long as a you do not perceive and understand correctly the flow of energy through Ida and Pingala and as long as the energy is not directed through Sushumna nadi, you will not have control over the mind and the prana.
There are five Pranas (vital currents) that sustain individual physiological processes that are confined to the body and have specific functions to animate it. These vital currents of subtile energy are generated currents that control all the biological processes governing all types of movement in the body including restraing and impelling mental activity; enabling and coordinating all the senses in the experiencing of their objects; holding together different parts of the body; promoting speech; generating emotions; stimulating digestion; expelling waste from the body; creating the gross and subtle channels in the body; molding the shape of the embryo; determining the length of the life span and absorbing the three humors (temperaments) Satva (balance and harmony), Rajas (active) and Tamas (inertia). The five Pranas are:
1-Prana : Responsible for breathing and the heart beat. Prana enters the body through the breath and is sent to every cell of the circulatory system.
2-Apana : downward moving energy it is responsible for the actions of all pelvic organs, elimination of waste products from the body through the lungs, skin, lymph and excretory systems.
3-Udana : upward movement from naval-diaphragm responsible for producing sounds through the vocal cords, including speaking, singing, laughing, and crying as well as the conscious energy required to produce the vocal sounds corresponding to the intent of the being. Hence Samyama (sixth, seventh, and eighth of the eight rungs of Yoga or stages of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: dharana (concentration), dhyana( meditation), and samadhi (enlightenment) giving the higher centers control over the body and mind.
4-Samana : is balance responsible for bringing digestive juices from the tissues into the hollow organs for digestion of food and for cell metabolism(the repair and manufacture of new cells and growth) including the heat regulating processes of the body. Auras are projections of this current. Meditational practices gives one the ability to see auras of light around every being. Yogis who do special practise on samana can produce a blazing aura at will.
5-Vyana : Responsible for the expansion and contraction processes of the body, such as the voluntary muscular system and is responsible for the circulation of blood filled with nutrients obtained from food to all the cells of the body.
by Nykol West 2004 Copywright 2006 all rights reserved
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