pranayama and siddha

Lecture on Pranayama techniques

in ancient scriptures

By

T. Sumanenthiran B.Sc, M.Sc,

Siddha Ayurveda Physician

Venue: 14th October 2014, Indian Culture Centre, Colombo

Agenda Part – 01 : understanding the concepts

Introduction to ancient system of studying & understanding Human body and Universe

Ancient models of Human system What is Prana and Pranayama Relationship of Prana with Human model and Universe Aspects of Prana Function of Prana Etc…

Part – 02 : Pranayama techniques in Ancient scriptures Questions on presentation Part – 03: Practical session

10/15/2014 (c) T. Sumanenthiran

Human Body and Universe


• "Yatha Pinde Tatha Brahmande“ it means Universe & Human Body is Homologous." in Tamil “அண்டத்தில் உள்ளவை பிண்டத்தில் உண்டு”

• What is the linking factor of Body & Universe? • That is Prana primarily as a vital energy!

96 Constituent principles of Body according to Siddaha’s

Human body

Five elements

Five objects of

senses,

Five organs of

action

Five states of the soul,

Nine doors

Five cases of

the sheaths of the soul

Ten vital airs

Seven constitue

nt elements

Six stations of the soul

Eight predomin

ant passions

Three regions

Three humours

Three principles of moral

evil

Three Impurities

Of The Soul

Ten nerves

Four intellectu

al faculties

Five organs of perceptio

n


Dynamics of 96 Constituent principles depend on three pillars!


Consciousness

Prana

Simplified understanding of Human body…


• Five fold Model – Pancha Kosha • Three fold model – Thiri Deha – Stula – Sookshma – Karana

Pancha Kosha


Links of Pancha Kosha


What is Prana?


• Prana is the vital force that sustains not only the body, but also creation at every level.

• The Sanskrit word prana is a combination of two syllables, pra and na, and denotes constancy, a force in constant motion.

• Prana exists in sentient beings as the energy that drives every action, voluntary and involuntary, every thought, every level of the mind and body.

• Definition of Prana in Upanishad “In prana all moveable and immoveable beings merge (during dissolution) and rise out of prana (during creation). (Chhandogya Upanishad (1:11:5)

Types of Prana


Universal prana: This cosmic prana, also called mahaprana, came into

being at the time of creation. This primal energy, called mahaprana, is variously known

as mahashakti, mahamaya, the cosmic creatrix or the Cosmic Mother.

Prana was never separate from consciousness; Individual prana Often the word prana is translated as breath. However,

prana is not the oxygen or the air that one breathes.

Yogis have proved that one can stop breathing for long periods of time and yet continue to live.

Level of Prana in body


Prana is the dynamic principle within everything. Everyone is born with a certain quantum of prana, but the

quantity and quality change continuously, as one goes through life.

Positive thoughts, higher feelings and yogic practices generate higher levels of prana.

At the material level one also receives prana from the environment, food, water, sun and air.

So, the quantum of prana within each individual is influenced by the quality of the elements to which one is exposed and which one ingests in the course of everyday life.

Interrelationship between Individual prana and cosmic prana


Prana is not received solely from external sources; it is also self-generated and its quality can be refined

and directed. One can work with one's own prana to enhance vitality,

will and strength, cure diseases, boost capability and efficiency, and evolve to a higher consciousness.

Working with his own prana is the is the aim of pranayama and prana vidya,

Technique of working with prana is…


The breath is the external manifestation of prana. breath is gross and prana is subtle, the two are

intrinsically connected. Yogis, Siddha’s state that prana is sustained and the

duration of life is prolonged by deliberately decreasing the distance of the exhaled air.

Based on this fact, they devised a technique to measure the prana expended during different actions.

They stated that the pranic outflow can be gauged by observing the length of the exhalation during different actions.

Length of exhaled air during different actions


The average length of exhaled air is twelve digits (nine inches).

While singing the length becomes sixteen digits (one foot),

while eating twenty digits (fifteen inches), while sleeping thirty digits (twenty-two inches), while copulating thirty-six digits (twenty-seven inches) while performing physical exercise, it is much longer.

Breath and Prana


Although the breath is gross and prana is subtle, the two are intrinsically connected.

One can influence the level of prana shakti in the body with the help of the breath.

When prana is influenced through modification of the breath, all the functions of the body, brain, mind and consciousness are affected.

The practices of pranayama raise the levels of prana by working with the breath and lead to prana vidya, inner knowledge or experience of prana.

Prana & Mind


A significant outcome of pranic awareness is that one is

able to gain control over the mind. When prana moves, the mind thinks and the senses

perceive their respective objects. By developing sensitivity to prana, one becomes more

aware of the subtle forces of the mind, Prana is grosser than the mind and hence easier to

control.

Cosmic Prana


The individual prana within each being is a part of the

cosmic sea of mahaprana, Pranayama practices activate the individual prana and raise

it to a higher frequency. Kudalini Sadhana, Upasana of deity are some of the aspect

of realizing Cosmic prana in Human body.

How cosmic prana is working in Human body


Answer is through chakras and Nadis Chakras are receive and store the cosmic prana, and act as

transformers to step down the level of energy to use by organs.

They have been seen, not by physical dissection of the body, but by psychic introspection.

six main chakras located along the spinal column are: mooladhara, swadhisthana, manipura, anahata, vishud-dhi and ajna.

Beyond the six are two other centres of awakening: bindu and sahasrara

Nadis


The word nadi means 'flow'. Nadis are pathways of pranic, mental and spiritual currents, Nadis are not physical, measurable or dissectible structures

within the body, but channels of energy which underlie and sustain life and consciousness.

Major nadis : As per the ancient texts 72,000 nadis are in the body. Out of these ten are considered to be major. Among the ten three are very significant; ida, pingala and

sushumna.

Why these three are most significant?


These three major nadis are situated in the spinal column and pass through every chakra.

Ida nadi is the mental channel, pingala nadi the vital channel and sushumna nadi the spiritual channel.

the three main channels for the distribution of energy throughout the entire pranic network.

Maximum pranic charges flow through them and they impact the entire network instantly;

In pranayama and prana vidya the practitioner works chiefly with these three channels.

Three Nadis


Pingala is also known as the surya, or solar nadi ida as the chandra, or lunar nadi Ida and pingala indicate time, while sushumna is the devourer of time, since it leads

to timelessness or eternity.


Location of Nadis

Link of Nadi flow’s with nostrils


Ida and pingala dominance is directly related to the flow of breath in the nostrils.

If one checks the flow of breath at any moment, one will usually find that one nostril is more open than the other.

Observing this phenomenon, the yogis devised breathing techniques to regulate the flows of ida and pingala (and consequently sushumna) in order to intensify the experience of the pranic body.

Functionality of Prana within Body


There are five primary forces, known as pancha prana, which operate in the physical body at all times.

Ancient seers identified these five pranas as: prana, apana, samana, udana and vyana.

The five pranas are responsible for creation and existence at the individual level.

Along with the five major pranas, there are five minor or upa pranas, These are: naga, koorma, krikara, devadatta and dhananjaya.

What is Pranayama?


Pranayama is an art & precise science which provides methods

to understand the essence of prana and to guide it within oneself as well as the rest of creation.

The medium of pranayama is the breath. According to the theory of pranayama, the involuntary

process of breathing, by which the jiva constantly moves up and down, can be made voluntary by the introduction of awareness.

It is possible to attain mastery over the breathing process and harmonize the flow of prana and apana, the two principal flows of energy in the body,

Once this harmony and control is attained through the practices of pranayama, it becomes possible to observe and transcend the gunas, and thus attain liberation.

End of Part – 01


Techniques in Ancient Scriptures


This can be classify into following types: 1. Mantra japa pranayama 2. Specification of time period in Pooraka, Kumbaka and Rechaka 3. Special visualization techniques with breathing

Mantra Japa Pranayama – 01 Gayathri Mantra japa is alone is Pranayama


"Om bhur bhuvah svah tat savitur varenyam; Bhargo devasya dheemahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat. " In the Gayatri Mantra is formed in special meter, called Gayahtri Chandas Any Gayathri Chandas mantra will protect the Prana in the body. The recitation should have five halts or stops viz. , 'Om' is the first stop; 'Bhur Bhuvah Svah' the second; ‘ 'Tat Savitur Varenyam' the third; 'Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi' the fourth; and 'Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat' the fifth. While chanting or doing Japa of the Mantra, we should stop a little at every stop or halt.

Mantra Japa Pranayama – 02 ; AUM


The Yoga Chudamani Upanishad (v. 101-102) describes Omkara or Pranava pranayama thus; “The inhalation, retention and exhalation are the Pranava itself. Pranayama should be practised like this for a number of twelve rounds. Twelve rounds through the ida and pingala nadis unfastens the net of impurities. The yogis should know this always.”

Prana pratistha in Tantra


In Tantra process called Prana pratistha is infusing prana in to Human body or Idol or Yantra, etc… Whent this process in human it called Swa Deha Prana pratistha, this will be done with the help of Beeja mantras and conscious breathing.

Special visualization techniques with breathing


Mainly this techniques was called as Vasi yogam and Shiva yogam in Tamil Siddhars & Kundalini yoga in Tantric texts.

In this techniques sadaka will first gain the control over the Prana

Sakthi by Pranayama and then with the help of mind try to establish the prana and Manas sakthi in Six chakras.

Summary


We Understood 1. What is Prana? 2. How it is working in microcosmos (body) & Marcro cosmos

(Universe) 3. Subtle structure of Human – Pancha kosha 4. Subtle storage of Prana – Chakras 5. Subtle channels of Prana – Nadi 6. Type of prana and its location in the body 7. Link of Breath and Prana 8. Some ancient techniques of Pranayama – AUM & Gayathri

Mantra

Reference


1. Tamil Siddhar songs of Agasthiya, 2. Thirumanthiram by Thirumoolar 3. Prana and Pranayama by Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati

Many thanks!

Questions?


For more article on Tamil: http://yogicpsychology-research.blogspot.com/

pranayama and siddha

Documents

sumanenthiran prana

level of prana

cosmic prana

types of prana

definition of prana

sumanenthiran universal

consciousness individual

higher levels of prana