What is Pranayama?

Tasmin sati svasaprasvasayor-gativicchedah 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.” This is the definition of Pranayama in the Yoga-sutras of Patanjali.

‘Svasa’ means inspiratory breath. ‘Prasvasa’ means expiratory breath. You can take up the practice of Pranayama after you have gained steadiness in your Asana (seat). If you can sit for 3 hour in one Asana, continuously at one stretch, you have gained mastery over the Asana. If you are able to sit from half to one hour even, you can take up the practice of Pranayama. You can hardly make any spiritual progress without the practice of Pranayama.

Prana is Vyashti, when the individual is concerned. The sum total of the cosmic energy or cosmic Prana is Hiranyagarbha who is known as the floating ‘Golden-Egg’. Hiranyagarbha is Samashti Prana. One match stick is Vyashti (single). The whole match box is Samashti. A single mango-tree is Vyashti. The whole mango grove is Samashti. The energy in the body is Prana. By controlling the motion of the lungs or respiratory organs, we can control the Prana that is vibrating inside. By control of Prana, the mind can be easily controlled, because the mind is fastened to the Prana, like the bird to the string. Just as the bird that is tied to a post by a string, after flying here and there, finds its resting place in the post, so also this mind-bird after running hither and thither, in various sensual objects, finds its resting place during deep sleep in the Prana.

Pranayama (According to the Gita)

Apane juhvati pranam pranepanam tathapare; Pranapanagatee ruddhva pranayamaparayanah (Gita, Ch. IV-29.). Others offer Prana (outgoing breath) in Apana (incoming breath) and Apana in Prana, restraining the passage of Prana and Apana, absorbed in Pranayama.

Pranayama is a precious Yajna (sacrifice). Some practise the kind of Pranayama called Puraka (filling in). Some practise the kind of Pranayama called Rechaka (emptying). Some are engaged in the practice of Pranayama called Kumbhaka, by impeding the outward passage of air, through the nostrils and the mouth, and by impeding the inward passage of the air, in the opposite direction.

Pranayama (According To Sri Sankaracharya)

“Pranayama is the control of all life-forces by realising naught but Brahman in all things as the mind, etc. “The negation of the Universe is the outgoing breath. The thought: ‘I am Brahman’ itself is called the incoming breath. The permanence of that thought thereafter is the restrained breath. This is the Pranayama of the wise, while the pressing of the nose is only for the unknowing.” (Aparokshanubhuti, 118-120).

Reference

'The Science of Pranayama' by Sri Swami Sivananda

Pran Mudra

This technique is called Pran Mudra

Purpose

This is called the Mudra of Life as it improves our vital life force and empowers our life from the inside out.

Practice

Bend the ring finger and the little finger and touch the tip of the thumb with their tips keeping the remaining two fingers stretched upward and together. Do this with both hands placing them comfortably by your side or on your lap while relaxing the shoulders.

Taking deep and complete breaths begin observing the sensations in your body. If you are feeling you need more energy, focus on extending your inhale twice the duration of your complete exhale. If you are feeling at all anxious or nervous, try elongating your exhale twice as long as your deep inhale.

Can you feel the energy between your fingertips? Do you notice some softening in any tight areas? What colors and textures does your mind’s eye see? Notice any thoughts that arise while trying not to follow any specific line of thought. Just keep returning to your Body Current™ by focusing your awareness on your breath and the sensations in your body.

You can do this anywhere, anytime for however long you wish! There are no contraindications and the side effects are great! Enjoy this simple and accessible technique whenever you need a bit more balance and ease.

Benefits

• Balances the adrenals and nervous system
• Balances the right and left hemispheres of the brain
• Calms the limbic system
• Improves fatigue

Happy Balancing to you!

Source: http://venuschild.tumblr.com/post/43720611767

Food and Breath - 2

“Now is described the discipline for inner purification by which self-knowledge is attained: When the food is pure, the mind becomes pure. When the mind is pure the memory [smriti–memory of our eternal spirit-Self] becomes firm. When the memory is firm all ties are loosened” (Chandogya Upanishad 7.26.2).

“On food rests everything—whatsoever breathes and whatsoever breathes not” (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.5.1). “From food has arisen strength [virya], austerity [tapasya], mantra, action, and the world itself” (Prashna Upanishad 6.4).

“By food, indeed, do all the breaths [pranas, life forces] become great” (Taittiriya Upanishad 1.5.4). “Man, verily consists of the essence of food” (Taittiriya Upanishad 2.1.1). So we are what we eat.

“From food, verily, are produced all creatures–whatsoever dwell on earth. By food alone, furthermore, do they live.…From food all creatures are born: by food, when born, they grow.…Verily, different from this, which consists of the essence of food, but within it, is another self, which consists of the vital breath [prana]. By this the former is filled. This too has the shape of a man. Like the human shape of the former is the human shape of the latter” (Taittiriya Upanishad 2.2.1).

“On food rests everything—whatsoever breathes and whatsoever breathes not” (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.5.1). The spiritual, astral body is drawn exclusively from food, so our food is crucial in our spiritual development.

• Food, when eaten, becomes threefold (16 parts): the grossest part becomes faeces (10 parts); the middle part flesh (5 parts) and its subtlest part mind (1 part).
• Water, when drunk, becomes threefold (16 parts): Its grossest part becomes urine (10 parts), its middle part blood (5 parts) and its subtlest part Prana (1 part).
• Fire (i.e., in oil, butter, etc.) when eaten becomes threefold (16 parts): its grossest part becomes bone (10 parts), its middle part marrow (5 parts) and its subtlest part speech (1 part). When food that is eaten is led away by water, there is hunger. When water that is drunk is led away by fire, there is thirst.

'For truly, my child, mind comes of earth, breathe of water, speech of fire.' 'That which is the subtle portion of curds, when churned, rises upwards, and becomes butter. 'In the same manner, my child, the subtle portion of earth (food), when eaten, rises upwards, and becomes the mind. That which is the subtle portion of water, when drunk, rises upwards, and becomes breath. That which is the subtle portion of fire, when consumed, rises upwards, and becomes speech.

For mind, my child, comes of earth, breath of water, speech of fire. His son Svetaketu already realizing his mistake, requests his father to tell him more and his father continues. Man (purusha), my son, consists of sixteen parts. Abstain from food for fifteen days, but drink as much water as you like, for breath comes from water, and you will not be cut off, if you drink water. Svetaketu abstained from food for fifteen days. Then he came to his father and said: 'What shall I say?' The father said: 'Repeat the Rik, Yagus, and Saman verses.' His son replied: 'They do not occur to me, Sir.' His father explains that your mind is weak and the recollection of your knowledge is difficult since you have not had food for 15 days. He asks his son to have food and realize that he can recollect his knowledge. The discussion continues this way in Chandogya Upanishad.

The traditional treatment for infertility in India even today is to give medicated cow ghee for the man of the family to eat it for 48 days. This is because semen is produced from Bone marrow as per Siddha / Ayurveda and quality of semen would improve when the good fat content (this is from Cow’s ghee) is increased in the intake.

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Food and Breath - 1

Why can we live without food for few weeks but we cannot manage without water more than few days?

We might have observed the types of food, taste and its impact on us as an individual and the society. As per ancient saying our mind gets 2 predominant inputs which keep us our mind alive. The 2 inputs for our mind are Food and Breath. In this article we would not focus on the impact on our mind based on the quality of food but we would focus on the interconnection between Food and Breath.

The following is an excerpt from Chandogya Upanishad, a discussion between Svetaketu Aruneya (the grandson of Aruna) and his father (Uddilaka, the son of Aruna). When Svetaketu returned to his father, at the age of twenty-four, having then studied all the Vedas, conceited himself to be well-read and stern. His father being a very wise man wanted to teach his son a lesson in humility and wanted to highlight that his self-conceit does not befit him.

So he starts by asking him, “Have you ever asked for that instruction by which we hear what cannot be heard, by which we perceive what cannot be perceived, by which we know what cannot be known?” When his son acknowledges his ignorance on this he starts explaining things from evolution.

He says that water is produced from fire and explains whenever anybody anywhere is hot and perspires, water is produced on him from fire alone. Water he says produces food (earth). Furthermore he says that Fire, Water and Earth are the basic elements which manifest themselves in all the loving beings.

The red colour of burning fire (Agni) is the colour of fire, the white colour of fire is the colour of water, the black colour of fire the colour of earth. Learned men knew that, Whatever they thought looked red, they knew was the colour of fire. Whatever they thought looked white, they knew was the colour of water. Whatever they thought looked black, they knew was the colour of earth. Whatever they thought was altogether unknown, they knew was some combination of those three beings.

We are not going see the entire conversation which is very interesting and can be read more from Internet or books. Tomorrow we will see the most interesting aspect of food and its manifestation.

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Breath and Tamil

Earlier we saw why the language Tamil is called so and its relation with science. We will start with that brief explanation and then lets see how Tamil is related with our breath.

As per 'Aintiram' written by Mamuni Mayan, at this early stage of manifestation of universe there are five stages. They are அமிழ்தல் (Amizhdal - Withdrawal), இமிழ்தல் (Imizhdal - Overflowing), குமிழ்தல் (Kumizhdal - Clustering round in an order), உமிழ்தல் (Umizhdal - Emitting), தமிழ்தல் (Tamizhdal - Resulting into a well-defined form).

First the throbbing Consciousness withdraws into itself. Moolam (Originating Source) consolidates itself through withdrawal called Amizhdal or converging to a point. Minute Cubical tip This Moolam then gushes or explodes outward and emerges and spreads (Imizhdal) and consolidates its self (Kumizhdal). The movement of energy in self spin (kalavisai) propels and projects this energy (Umizhdal) so that it comes out into form (Tamizdhal).

Interestingly enough, for the experience to merge into word-form the inner being has to undergo or travel through these five levels states, namely Amizhdal (“converging to a point”…withdrawal), Imizhdal (‘emerging and spreading’), Kumizhdal (coming together an consolidating’), Unizhdal (projecting or delivering) and Tamizdhal (“coming out into form”). Hence a language as rich with the sweetness of inherent order, originating from the luminosity of the Source is called Tamil. Tamil is word based on the final resultant state called Tamizhdal (தமிழ்தல்).

Tamil language has 12 vowels and 18 consonants both combine to form 216 letters (உயிர் எழுத்து - Uyir Ezhuthu (Life / Energy letters – 12 letters) and ெமய் எழுத்து - Mei Ezhuthu (Body / Matter letters – 18 letters).

We have already seen that “Yoga states that if you breathe through the right nostril (Solar breath), then it is effectively 12 angulas of breath length and if you breathe through the left nostril (Lunar Breath), then it is effectively 16 angulas of breath length”. Now we will see the correlation between this and Tamil language as given below...

• The 12 vowels correspond to 12 Angula breath of Solar / right breath. This also means all Vowels originate in our navel.
• The 18 consonants correspond to 16 Angula breath of Chandra / left breath with the addition of Manas – மனஸ் (mind) and உயிர் (life). All consonants originate in our Moooladhara Chakra.
• The combination of vowels and consonants total up to 216 alphabets in Tamil (216 =18*12) corresponds to one hundredth of 21600 breaths in day. Please note that vowels and consonants create a word with life just as much we would have a living body by the combination of left and right breath.
• This number 18 is also reflected in பதிெணன் சித்தர்கள், (18 different Siddhars) பதிெனட்டுப் புராணங்கள், (18 Puranas), ேயாக சாதன முைறகளி ஏற்படும் தைடகள் (நிைலகளும்) (18 step process of Sidha Yoga) பதிெனட்டு, அய்யப்பன் ேகாவில்படிகள் பதிெனட்டு (18 steps in Lord Ayappa temple in Kerala), பகவத்கீைதயில் பதிெனட்டு திகாரங்கைள (18 Chapters in Bhagavad Gita). There are more such significances like Mahabharatha war took place for 18 days.

Reference

1. Time = Space by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com
2. Fabric of The Universe: The Origins, Implications, and Applications of Vastu Science By Jessie J. Mercay

Why to wake up early in the morning? - 2

We will now explore this question with our breath (Prana), its location and the time of the day pattern. The breath changes its location-based on time of the day as shown below. It is important here to note that time of the day being given in ancient scripture the start time always corresponds with sunrise. Since Sunrise may vary from location to location, the breath location and its time would also vary accordingly. The start of the day is Sunrise is ancient calendars and not midnight like we have in the Gregorian calendar. This is more aligned with nature since the start of the day signifies a change in the nature (such as sunrise). Please consider 6 am as the sunrise time in the chart below.

If we add all the breath counts, it will add up to 21600 for the entire day. The breath stays at Ajna and Sahasrara from 3.47am to 6.00am. Ajna and Sahasrara are the center for meditation and are chakras which control higher consciousness in an individual. These centers are energized and the Prana is seated in these chakras between 4am to 6am. This is why Brahma Muhurtam is the right time for meditative practices. One more thing note here is the start of New Year like Uttarayan (Jan 15th) or start of every season (there are 6 seasons in a year as per Indian calendar) or time of the day or day of the week everything is special because of its effect on our breath and nothing else. These are just a remainders set about ancient forefathers to make us more aware.

As very famously put by this saying “Vinasakaale Vibhareetha Buddhi”, which means bad times start for an individual with a spoilt mind. Nature has an uncanny way of influencing our mind based on our Karma so that we do either good or bad things led by our mind. The effect of nature / macrocosm on us is actually on our Buddhi (Intellectual Mind) is very difficult to detect and control but the external signal for the state of our mind is the breath.

Breath within us is both an input ingredient and also an output indicator. When we control the breath as an input ingredient then we can control our mind and hence our health and life. At the same time when our mind is very emotional then breathe which is erratic, heavy and non-rhythmic is an output indicator. Hence by understanding the right way of breath management we can control our fate. This is a secret in ancient yogic system which is not understood by many. In Tamil there is a saying called “விதிைய மதியால் ெவல்லலாம்”. This is wrongly interpreted as “We can win over our fate by using our mind”. But the word மதி means Mind and also Moon. The secret meaning of this saying is if we control the lunar breath then we can win over our death / fate. Hope we all are now more aware about our breath and why we need wake up early in the morning.

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Know your rhythm? - 3

Now let’s see what is the use of knowing this rhythm?

When one is diseased then we can notice that this breathing pattern has out of rhythm. Typically the lunar breath would be active during times of illness.

Some yoga schools also recommend some of the following practices for health and wealth...

• Wake up at 4 am in the morning and for 2 hours ensure that the breath is on the right nostril as per the chart. Remember in our earlier article we saw how to switch the breath from one nostril to another.
• On every full moon (Pournami) – this is when the new month breaks as per Indian calendar continuously for 48 or 72 hours ensure that your breath is solar and never lunar. They teach us some ways to maintain this too. This helps us to live longer and wealthier.
• On specific days of the year like 1st of the Aadi (Mid July - Mid August) month, ensure that the entire day your breath is solar and never lunar.

Now we are not going to deep dive on them, but only see a high level view of some of the techniques and tools we still have and can be learnt from the right gurus.

Ensure that your breath is solar for any worldly activity. Even if you are walking you can switch to a solar breath just by holding something like an umbrella or a news paper under your left armpit. These are just few basics listed here to invoke your interest into self learning and you should approach an expert and take guidance before you practice.

But the important points note here are...

• Breath management is one of the fundamental concepts which we should be aware of.
• Our traditional way of life is very rich and offers secrets about us and the nature around us, let us be passionate to learn about them and be rational in accepting them.
• Every being - living or non-living confirms to a rhythm and order. Let’s always be conscious to learn and understand this rhythm and order.

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Know your rhythm? - 2

Lunar Cycle (moon’s cycle) alters every 15 days as we know - new moon to full moon and vice versa. The 2 hours rhythm between right and left nostril based on the time of day and day of the week and lunar cycle is given in this chart below. This breathing rhythm is universal and we can check just by placing our back of the palms under the nose and breathe little forcefully.

Breathing Rhythm (Waxing phase, Waning phase of Moon)

Monday, Wednesday and Friday - between 4 am to 6 am the breath is on the left side and it alternates for every 2 hours. Sunday, Tuesday and Saturday - between 4 am to 6 am the breath is on the right side and it alternates for every 2 hours. On Shukla / Waxing Thursday, the breath starts on the left side at 4 am and on the Krishna / Waning Thursday it's on the right side.

You may not need the chart as it is very simple to find out which nostril is active. Please note that as per the yoga system only one nostril is active any time and not both (most of the times). To add a word of caution that there is a school of thought which states that the breath alternates every one hour and not two as mentioned above and the reference point is 6am and not 4 am (considering it as the sunrise

Following are the suggestions...

• Please ignore the exact timings for the time being since it is more important to understand that there is a rhythm. Both the schools of thought don’t deny this and agree very much that there is a rhythm. Also the cut over from one nostril to another is not smooth. To know your breath now just blow a little forcefully on the back of your palm.
• Go with what your yoga guru tells you or listen to what the ultimate Guru in your heart tells you.
• We shall see the importance of 4 am to 6 am time slot in detail later.

The basic of pranayama is all about symmetric breathing pattern and restore the imbalance if any. The beauty about our system of knowledge is that we always saw a rhythm / order governing every aspect of nature and this was linked to the primordial rhythm.

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Know your rhythm? - 1

Everything in this universe is subject to a rhythm. This rhythm in every hebeing is linked to the primordial rhythm of the universe. When the universe is formed it is told there are five things which are linked to primordial rhythm.

• Vibration of the Space (விண்ணும்)
• Vibration of the Earth (மண்ணும்)
• Vibration of the Letters (Music) (பண்ணும்)
• Vibration of the Eyes (Eyelids) (கண்ணும்)
• Vibration of the Mind (Thoughts) (எண்ணம்)

It is also told that whoever can control any one of these, can control over the elements. Since the first two are beyond the control of an individual it is always told that if you control the vibration of Letters (Words, Music, Mantras - Sound) or the vibration of Eyes (Eyelids - Light) or the vibration of the Mind (Thoughts), then you can gain control over the elements. Most of the meditative techniques revolve around these aspects.

Vibration of mind can be controlled through the breath control techniques and the vibration of eyelid is controlled through meditation on light. Let’s understand that if we want to control our breath then we should know its rhythm. So lets explore more about our breathing rhythm now. So far we have seen that breath has an overall count, it has a periodicity and there are 2 important types of breathe viz. Solar and Lunar.

Let us understand how a rhythm is established in nature between the 2 types of breath and the time of the day and more importantly with the positions of the sun and moon. Most of us are not aware that our breath has a very rhythmic pattern unless it is disturbed by a physical activity or emotion and management of this rhythm has been linked to physical well-being, mental health, wealth, long life, spirituality etc.

The breathing rhythm within us is as follows...

• This right and left breath alternates every 2 hours between the nostrils depending on the time of the day and day of the week and linked closely to the Sun and moon cycles. This is the rhythm we need to be aware of.
• Lunar Cycle (moon’s cycle) alters every 15 days as we know - new moon to full moon and vice versa. The period when the moon is growing / waxing / between new moon to full moon is called as Shukla Paksha (in Indian Calendar). Shukla means white. Obviously the other 15 days is called as Krishna Paksha which means black / dark.
• The 2 hours rhythm between right and left nostril based on the time of day and day of the week and lunar cycle is given in this chart below. This breathing rhythm is universal and we can check just by placing our back of the palms under the nose and breathe little forcefully. We will see more details on this tomorrow.

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Solar (Right) and Lunar (Left) Breath – 4

Balanced breathe are of 2 types...

First category is when the breath flows balanced in both the nostrils. This typically happens during dawn and dusk which is when the consciousness switches over based on daily rhythm. Elders prohibit us from doing any worldly activities when the breath flows equally through both the nostrils, this spells disaster. We notice some gurus tell people to balance the breath in both nostrils throughout the day which not right.

The second category of balanced breath is there is no noticeable breathe at all because of deep meditative state. Now breathe is stationed in Ajna chakra or the eyebrow point. During this stage the sub-conscious mind is active and any thought / act during this stage becomes energized and powerful. It is recommended to maintain this state during our worldly life too which is easier said than done.

As per Sage Agasthiyar in his “Saranool Sastram” he says the following activities can be done when the left breath is active:

• Wear new clothes, Jewels, giving employment, construction of wells and ponds, marriage, buy houses or take possession / occupy new house.
• Selling things, interface with government officials, meditation, learn arts etc.
• If you are travelling South or west direction then a lunar breath is good.

As per Sage Agasthiyar in his “Saranool Sastram”, he says the following activities can be done when the right breath is active:

• Teaching, fighting, agriculture, any heavy work, taking medication, sleeping, taking bath etc.
• If you are travelling East or North direction then a solar breath is good.

In short as per our understanding, all physical activities in worldly life should be performed when the right nostril is active. If you have poor appetite, feeling very cold because of weather try switching over to right nostril. A male's magnetism increases with right nostril breathing and the female's magnetism increases with her left nostril breathing. Equal breath through both nostrils and left nostril based breathing is recommended only for meditative purposes. Please note some who do Pranayamam during Sandyavandanam, do only left nostril based breathing. This is a very special breathing technique.

When you sleep in the night it is preferable to sleep turning to your left. Though we don't have any control after we slept, but consciously training ourselves helps us with healthy life.This not only helps digestion but also is the best breath management possible while sleeping.

So to sum up, we saw that we are endowed with a natural breath count and also we have seen 2 important types of breath in our 3 nadis. It is told that the right side / solar breathing is very critical for healthy and long life and we have many examples of yogis and rishis living for many many years using these techniques. The choice is left to us if we want to accept and benefit from these techniques or not. Next week, we will look at what is the breathing rhythm which nature has endowed us and how should we manage this.

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Solar (Right) and Lunar (Left) Breath – 3

Now look at the picture of Lord Shiva as the Supreme Yogi depicting to be holding a staff as a support to his left hand. Not just Shiva any yogi doing meditation or not would always have his staff supporting his left hand and not right hand. Can you answer why?

[Lord Shiva in a meditative pose with a supporting staff in the left hand]

Let’s see the answer for this question. When you want to breathe for long and healthy life you should breathe through your right nostril. The easiest way to breathe through your right nostril is to close the left nostril or more easily press the left side of the body slightly. This can be done by leaning to the left even while sitting in a chair or by pressing the left hand on to a staff. This is what is depicted in the image of Shiva.

Any yogi would be leaning to his left or supporting his left hand with a staff or standing on his left leg highlights that he is doing effective breath management to live longer.This staff used by the yogis is called as “Vaasi Dhand”, Vaa+si means a combination of Air and Fire which is our breath. This staff is pressed against specific points in hand or armpits.

[Cuddapah Swami Sachidananda Yogeeswar]

• The quickest way to change the breathing from one right to left nostril is to sit like the Swamiji as shown above. If you want to switch from left to right then change the pose to left side with the left hand pressed on the ground.
• If you or your kids have a blockage of any nostril say right nostril is blocked, please turn to your left and sleep and you would notice that the blockage is cleared within seconds. There is no need for medication like saline and nasal drops.

Simple Do’s and Dont’s

• If you are diseased (even headaches, running low on energy) you may want to note that you may be breathing through your left nostril and not right. Try switching the breath over for a doctor-less, self-administered relief. Please note that this is not cure since the root cause is not addressed for a disease.
• Right side breathing increases the overall heat in the body and hence requires some bodily thermodynamics. It’s very important that you take the advice of a qualified yoga guru / Siddha doctor.

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Solar (Right) and Lunar (Left) Breath – 2

We will now see the explanation for 12 and 16 angulas concept based on Raguram's understanding which of course seems to be more logical.

• The overall human height is measured as 9 talas. Tala is the fundamental measure of time and space. We will see more in details about this later.

Human form – Adi Tala, Nava Tala [Courtesy: Dr. Ganapathi Sthapati]

• If the height of a human is 9 Talas (Navatala) then the torso which is neck to start of thigh is 3 talas. From neck to navel is 2 Talas and naval to start of the thigh is 1 Tala. Each Tala is 6 Angulas and hence neck to navel is 12 Angulas.
• The solar breath starts at navel / nabhi chakra and hence 12 angulas. 
• The lunar breath starts much below at Mooladhara chakra and hence 4 angulas below the nabhi chakra and hence 16 angulas. We also need to notice the distinction between nadi and breath. The Pingala nadi may still start at Mooladara but the solar breath is from the nabhi chakra. It is always better to go with what your guru says and that’s what we do.
• Some schools tell us that 16 and 12 angulas are the length of the breath from the nose when we exhale, which may not be true. One angula is 11/8th of an inch. This would not be applicable for the exhaling length of the breath outside us.

Nadis and Chakras [Book Yoga Nidra, by NC Panda]

• We would notice that the flow crisscross between our nose and brain and this is one of the reasons why our sides of the body are controlled by the opposite sides of our brain.
• The more we breathe through the right nostril the wastage is low and we would lead a long and healthy life. Alternatively when we breathe through your left nostril the breath wastage is more and they noted that it hampers long life and good health. We will see more on this tomorrow.

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Solar (Right) and Lunar (Left) Breath - 1

Irrespective of whether we consider that breathing as an activity that we perform or we identify our very existence with breathing, it is important to know the basics behind this activity. The basis of this article is  our Yoga / Siddha system. Some of the interesting aspects are given...

If you divide the human body vertically along the sternum it has 2 symmetric sides - right and left side. (have you recognized that most of the organs are symmetric along this meridian?) Right side is called as male, +ve, Yang, Surya, Pingala, Ravi and so on. Similarly left side of the body is called as female, -ve, Yin, Mathi, Ida, Chandra. These 2 aspects are bipolar yet non-dual in the sense one cannot exist without the other. The Yin-yang symbol, the Arthanareeswarar image and the Star of David conveys this same aspect.

Out of the 72000 nadis / meridians in the body there are 3 nadis which is very important. Pingala, Ida and Sushmna. All nadis carry subtle energy called Prana or Chi through our body. When we breathe through our right side and the breath that comes through the right nostril is called Pingala and left breath is called Ida. It is actually the name of the nadi and the breath is called Surya (right) or Chandra (Left). The objective of the article is not to talk about Sushmna but look at the rhythm we have between right and left nostril breathing.

Figures given above highlight the 3 Nadis and 7 chakras. You would note that the flow of nadis is different in all the pictures. There are multiple schools of thought on this.

Right breathe characterizes solar power and hence physical energy, enthusiasm, drive, health, aggression, sexual potency and long life. Left breathe characterizes humility, truthfulness, creativity, spirituality, obedience, compassion etc.

We know that every human being is endowed with ~ billion breath package and the concept of long life is based on how much breath you save and not waste. Yoga states that if you breathe through the right nostril (Solar breath), then it is effectively 12 angulas of breath length and if you breathe through the left nostril (Lunar Breath), then it is effectively 16 angulas of breath length. Ask your Yoga guru about this angula measurements, most may not be aware of it. More details on this tomorrow...

Reference

Know thy Nature by Raguram Gopalan, http://ragsgopalan.blogspot.com

Kundalini and Chakras

Kundalini

Kundalini is the serpent power or sleeping Sakti, that has 3 1/2 coils with face downwards, in the Muladhara Chakra, at the base of the spine. No Samadhi is possible without its being awakened. The practice of Kumbhaka in Pranayama produces heat and thereby Kundalini is awakened and passes upwards along the Sushumna Nadi. The Yogic practitioner experiences various visions. Then the Kundalini passes along the Six Chakras and eventually gets united with Lord Siva, seated on the Sahasrara or thousand-petalled lotus, at the crown of the head. Nirvikalpa Samadhi ensues now and the Yogi gets liberation and all the divine Aishvaryas.

One should practise control of breath with concentration of mind. The awakened Kundalini that is taken up to Manipura Chakra may drop down again to Muladhara. It has to be raised again with effort. One should become perfectly desireless and should be full of Vairagya before he attempts to awaken Kundalini. Kundalini is like a thread and is resplendent. When it is awakened it hisses like a serpent beaten with a stick and enters the hole of Sushumna. When it travels from Chakra to Chakra, layer after layer of the mind becomes open and the Yogi acquires various Siddhis (psychic powers).

Shat-Chakras

Chakras are centres of spiritual energy. They are located in the astral body, but they have corresponding centres in the physical body also. They can hardly be seen by the naked eyes. Only a clairvoyant can see with his astral eyes. Tentatively they correspond to certain plexuses in the physical body. There are six important Chakras. They are: Muladhara (containing 4 petals) at the anus; Svadhishthana (6 petals) at the genital organ; Manipura (10 petals) at navel; Anahata (12 petals) at the heart; Visudha (16 petals) at the throat and Ajna (2 petals) at the space between the two eyebrows. The seventh Chakra is known as Sahasrara, which contains a thousand petals. It is located at the top of the head. Sacral plexus tentatively corresponds to Muladhara Chakra; Prostatic plexus to Svadhishthana, Solar plexus to Manipura, Cardiac plexus to Anahata Chakra, Laryngal plexus to Visuddha Chakra and Cavernous plexus to Ajna Chakra.

Reference

The Science of Pranyama by Sri Swami Sivananda

Nadis - The Nerve Currents

Nadis

Nadis are astral tubes made up of astral matter that carry Pranic currents. They can be seen by the astral eyes only. They are not the nerves. They are 72,000 in number. Ida, Pingala and Sushumna are the important ones. Sushumna is the most important of all.

Ida and Pingala

There are the two nerve-currents one on either side of the spinal column. The left one is called Ida and the right is known as Pingala. These are Nadis. Tentatively, some take these as the right and the left sympathetic cords, but they are subtle tubes that carry Prana. The Moon moves in the Ida and the Sun in the Pingala. Ida is cooling. Pingala is heating. Ida flows through the left nostril and the Pingala through the right nostril. The breath flows through the right nostril for one hour and then through the left nostril for one hour. Man is busily engaged in worldly activities, when the breath flows through Ida and Pingala. When Sushumna operates, he becomes dead to the world, and enters into Samadhi. A Yogi tries his level best to make the Prana run in the Sushumna
Nadi, which is known as the central Brahman Nadi also. On the left of Sushumna is situated Ida and on the right is Pingala. The moon is of the nature of Tamas and the sun is that of the Rajas. The poison share is of the sun and the nectar is of the moon. Ida and Pingala indicate time. Sushumna is the consumer of time.

Sushumna

Sushumna is the most important of all the Nadis. It is the sustainer of the universe and the path of the universe and the path of salvation. Situated at the back of the anus, it is attached to the spinal column and extends to the Brahmarandhra (Crown chakra) of the head and is invisible and subtle. The real work of a Yogi begins when Sushumna begins to function. Sushumna runs along the centre of the spinal cord or spinal column.

Above the genital organs and below the navel is the Kanda, of the shape of a bird’s egg. There arise from it all the Nadis 72,000 in number. Of these, seventy-two are common and generally known. Of those the chief ones are ten and they carry the Pranas. Ida, Pingala, Sushumna, Gandhari, Hastijihva, Pusa, Yusasvini, Alambusa, Kuhuh and Sankhini are said to be the ten important Nadis. The Yogis should have a knowledge of the Nadis and the Chakras. Ida, Pingala and Sushumna are said to carry Prana and have Moon, Sun and Agni as their Devatas. When Prana moves in Sushumna, sit for meditation. You will have deep Dhyana. If the coiled-up energy, Kundalini, passes up along the Sushumna Nadi and is taken up from Chakra to Chakra the Yogi gets different sorts of experiences, powers and Ananda.

Reference

The Science of Pranyama by Sri Swami Sivananda

Prana and Lungs - Part 2

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. When a small particle of food tries to enter the respiratory passage, cough comes in and the particle is thrown out.

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.

The 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.

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.

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.

Reference

The Science of Pranyama by Sri Swami Sivananda