5 Pranas

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great piece

much appreciated.

 

Gemini wrote:

> The 5 Pranas

[Guest guest]

The 5 Pranas

 

 

There are five pranas--prana, apana, samana, udana, vyana. These are,

however, vayus or vital airs. Pranas are the vayus that carry out the functions

of life. They are distinct from the body. Like vitalism, Indian philosophy

maintains that life is something different from mere matter. Life is maintained

by various pranas. Breath is the most palpable and concrete expression of prana.

Prana is a comprehensive word covering all the functions of life. It is,

however, divided itno various divisions according to various functions. Roughly,

prana is the vital vayu that goes out, apana is the vital vayu that goes in

downwards towards the anus. Samana is the vital vayu that is said to be located

in the interior of the body. It helps in assimilation of food, etc. hence it is

known as samana. Vyana means going in all directions. It is everywhere in the

body. Udana means 'going upward'. The various vayus are the functions of the

various shaktis of the same name.

 

By means of prana, apana and samana shaktis, one becomes a bound soul (pashu);

by means of udana and vyana shaktis one becomes freed, becomes pati.

 

 

Udana and Vyana--The Freeing Shaktis

 

Udana Shakti--It is the shakti which appears when prana and apana become equally

balanced. Udana then becomes active, moves up through the madhya-dhama or

sushumna* and brings about the turiya* or fourth state of consciousness.

 

 

*Normally the prana and apana shaktis alone are active. When, however, through

the practice of yoga, prana and apana currents are equilibriated (equal inward

and outward breaths) the sushumna nadi becomes open, and the udana current flows

through it and brings about the turiya state of consciousness.

 

*Turiya is the fourth state in which one has Unity-Consciousness and the sense

of difference disappears. When turirya awareness is established, the habit of

manas, that is, of knowing thing in parts or snippets, of departmentalization in

awareness is reduced. Turiya is a consciousness which is aware of all the three

states; waking, dream, and deep sleep. It is not under the influence of maya

which brings about a sense of difference. This consciousness is full of bliss.

 

Vyana Shakti--Macrocosmically it pervades the entire universe and

microcosmically it pervades the entire body when the kundalini becomes awakened,

and brings about the turyatita* condition.

 

*Turyatita means transcending the fourth state. It is a state beyond the turiya.

Turiya is fourth in relation to the three states of waking, dream and deep

sleep; but in turiyatita, the above three states as separate states disappear.

Hence when the three states have disappeared, turiya can no longer be called

turiya. It is called turyatita in which the turiya or fourth state has been

transcended. It is a state where pure consciousness is like an ocean without any

ruffle whatsoever, and is full of bliss. It is the consciousness of Shiva

himself or one who has reached that stage in which the entire universe appears

as his Self.

 

In turiya, manas beomes attenuated; in turyatita it is dissolved in shakti. When

the turiya state becomes fully developed and reaches perfection, it is

transformed into turyatita state. In this state, everything appears to the

individual as Shiva or Self.

 

Sources: Pratyabhijnahrydayam pp144-146.

 

Mahabhakti

M