PRANA- The Vital Force

  Animation, activation, is caused by infusing vital force, prana, in to the body, the jiva. The Great principle (mahat tattva) is: "Having  created, He entered into it". When the Lord created jiva in His own image it was not functioning; so He entered into it through an aperture, whole in the head (brahma randhra) and established Himself in the heart, hr'daya. Hence, chaitanaya brahmn \ pranam brahma | tad srushtva tadevanupravishat | vyavasthitaa shikhaya madhye (Purusha sukta, Rk Veda Mandala X  sukta 90).

  This makes the problem clear. The jiva is The Lord's own creation and He, the Lord only runs it! But for Him, there is nothing. He, the Lord, entered the jiva as prana, as chaitanya. He is called mukhya prana antargata VishnoH HatiH | He is also called Hari sarvottama and vayu jivottama | This is Vaishnava principle. In the Shaiva Agama Shastra (Kashmir Shaivism), "Shiva only is the jiva".

  Vayu is the elemental God in Rk Veda. He is also Mitra Varuna, friend of Rain-God. Gods in Rk Veda are Forces, Energy, Light, Life-force.  This prana-deva is also attributed to Hanuman, Vayu putra. We worship Prana Deva Hanuman as a symbolic presentation of Life-force within us!

   Ahirbudhnya Samhita gives a detailed account of the nervous system and the energy transmitted through nerves and neurons. The place of the root of the nadis is the navel, nabhi chakra. All nerves have their root here. There are 72,000 nadis and the two main nadis branching out here are- alambusa and sushumna. The sushumna nadi at the one end is reaching the brain centre and appears as a Lotus bud bent downward, while the other end is  closed at the bottom, coiled up like a snake, kundalini. More about this will come up later. The two other- Ida and the pingala carry on with the function of taking the air in and out of the body.The technique of controlling the movement of this air is a very complex one, and much more complex is the activating kundalini and opening up the Lotus bud in the head!.

 As far as the circulation of vital force (prana shakti) here, it is important to note the fact that the entire body is sustained by the constant supply of oxygen. Unfortunately, the ordinary mortals, as we are, do not know the significance of proper breathing techniques. We scarcely breath deep and long enough to supply the much needed fresh dry air with sufficient oxygen to all parts of our body. 80 per cent of our lung space is toxic gases-laden and scarcely evacuated by deep out-breath. The Lungs are often filled with dust, moisture, and other substance that cause diseases such as Tuberculosis, asthma, etc. Most of the physical ailments can be cured by simple breathing exercises like deep inhale and exhale; but, care must be taken not to do any breathing exercises during the rainy periods, and in industrial areas and areas where traffic create lots of air pollution. Open air, preferably near about hills and dales, valleys, and along river courses, lake-sides and gardens are the best places.

(to be contd.)