Pranayam -- Part iii

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The Centering of the Prana

Inhaling the Prana from outside, filling the stomach with it, centre 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.

Ida and PingalaThere are the two nerve-currents one on either side of the spinal

column. The left one iscalled Ida and the right is known as Pingala.

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 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.

KundaliniKundalini 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 beingawakened. The practice of Kumbhaka in

Pranayama produces heat and thereby Kundalini isawakened and passes upwards

along the Sushumna Nadi. The Yogic practitioner experiencesvarious 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-ChakrasChakras are centres of spiritual energy. They are located in the

astral body, but they havecorresponding 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.

NadisNadis are astral tubes made up of astral matter that carry Pranic currents.

They can be seenby the astral eyes only. They are not the nerves. They are

72,000 in number. Ida, Pingala andSushumna are the important ones. Sushumna is

the most important of all.

Pranayama is said to be the union of Prana and Apana. It is of three

kinds—expiration,inspiration and retention. They are associated with the

letters of the Sanskrit alphabet for the right performance of Pranayama.

Pranava (!) only is said to be Pranayama. Sitting in Padmasana (Lotus-posture)

the person should meditate that there is, at the tip of his nose, Devi Gayatri,

a girl of red complexion, surrounded by numberless rays of the image of the moon

and mounted on Hamsa (Swan) having a mace in her hand. She is the visible symbol

of the letter A (A). The letter U (u) has as its visible symbol Savitri, a young

lady of white colour having a disc in her hand, riding on an eagle (Garuda). The

letter M has as its visible symbol Sarasvati, an aged woman of black colour,

riding on a bull, having a trident in her hand. He should meditate that the

single letter, the supreme light—the PranavaOM(!) is the origin or source of

these letters—A, U and M. Drawing up the air through Ida

(left nostril) for the space of 16 Matras, he should meditate on the letter(A)

during that time, retaining the inspired air for the space of 64 Matras he

should meditate on the letter U (u) during that time; he should then exhale the

inspired air for the space of 32 Matras, meditating on the letter M during that

time. He should practise thus in the above order again and again.

 

To Be Continued.........................................

 

Jai Sita Ram

Divakara Tanjore <div_tan > wrote:

Dear Bhupendra, Keep it very simple and slow, give ample rest to yourbody and

start with simple steps, dont expect thingsto happen in a week or two,

Pranayama is a slow butpowerful process. if you feel uncomfortable do itslowly

and step by step. and do relaxation or savasanafter doing pranayam.If possible

join some yoga class under able guidanceof a good teacher. else study a good

book, but doexercises very very slowly, till you get a grip ofeach pranayam.

Also practice singing, singing is natural pranayama,because you hold and leave

breath in a natural waywhile singing, and thats why all singers are full

ofenergy and grace.Om namah shivaya,Divakar.--- b_jamnadas

<b_jamnadas (AT) (DOT) ca> wrote:> I will try now with the correct way. I was

trying> not to expand my

> stomach and inhale. Can see now why I ran out of> btreath very > quickly...it

is the wrong way.> > Thank you Ushaji and Divakarji.> > Sincerely,> Bhupendra.>

,> Divakara Tanjore >

<div_tan> wrote:> >> > That is not true, the stomoch should expand out>

when> > we breath in and contract in when we breath out. I> > have found this

in many sources, infact this is> the> > first step in pranayama, my yoga

teacher made us> to> > practice this for a few days as some people or> most> >

people do not do this, this is the fundamental> step in> > breathing before we

do pranayama. It is simple> natural> > concept right?> > > > --- b_jamnadas

<b_jamnadas> wrote:> > > > > I was told

once that the stomach should not> expand> > > when breathing > > > during

prayanam. And that is how I try, but run> out> > > of breath > > > shortly.> >

> > > > ,> Usha> > > Patel > > >

<usha2002a> wrote:> > > >> > > > exhale should be twice as long as inhale

but> this> > > will not happen > > > right away. In the beginning just

practice> breathing> > > correctly and > > > gradually it will happen. When

inhaling the> stomach> > > will come out > > > and when exhaling the stomach

goes in. (exactly> like> > > the newborn > > > babies breath). Once you have

done this you> exhale> > > will be longer > > > than

inhale.> > > > > > > > b_jamnadas <b_jamnadas> wrote:Dear shiva> > >

Bhakts,> > > > > > > > This question is regarding the pranayam or> breath> > >

control exercise > > > > sugegsted in Self-Inquiry posted on this group> > >

thanks to Anil. I > > > have > > > > been trying the breath control exercise

as> > > suggested here but it > > > is > > > > proofing difficult. Basically it

suggest that> > > equal amounts of > > > time be > > > > spent on inhaling and

exhaling, while twice as> > > much be spent on > > > > holding the breath. The

time measurement for> each> > > unit here is > > > roughly > > > > the amount

of time it takes to say Gayatri>

Mantra> > > once. Has some > > > tried > > > > this? I easily run short of

breath and end up> > > breathing heavily > > > after > > > > a few tries. maybe

I am not following the> right> > > appraoch here. If > > > > anyone has read

this pdf or practices> pranayam,> > > some help would be > > > > appreciated.>

> > > > > > > > > > > Regards,> > > > Bhupendra.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Lord shiva > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > Visit your group ""> on> > > the web.> > > >

> > > > To from this group, send an> email> > > to:> > > > > >

>> > > > > > > > > Your

use of is subject to> the> > > Terms of > > > Service. > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > Usha Patel> > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > Do You

?> > Tired of spam? Mail has the best spam> protection around > >

> >> > > > > > > >

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[Guest guest]

Jai Sit Ram Punnyatman,

The Six Purificatory Process

Those who are of a flabby and phlegmatic constitution only, should practise at

first these six

Kriyas to prepare themselves for the practice of Pranayama and their success

comes in easily. These six Kriyas are:

1. Dhauti,

2. Basti

3. Neti

4. Trataka

5. Nauli

6. Kapalabhati.

 

To Be continued

 

Jai Sita Ram

[Guest guest]

Hello Dharmi ji,

 

What you posting is great. Just keep it coming until you are all

done and thanks for your help and direction.

 

This is really goldmine.

 

Sincerely,

Bhupendra.

 

, Dharmi <psk_2>

wrote:

>

> Jai Sit Ram Punnyatman,

> The Six Purificatory Process

> Those who are of a flabby and phlegmatic constitution only, should

practise at first these six

> Kriyas to prepare themselves for the practice of Pranayama and

their success comes in easily. These six Kriyas are:

> 1. Dhauti,

> 2. Basti

> 3. Neti

> 4. Trataka

> 5. Nauli

> 6. Kapalabhati.

>

> To Be continued

>

> Jai Sita Ram

>