Pancha Prana:

                                    Pancha Prana:

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

Prana shakti, the one sustaining force, assumes these five fields to enable the body to accomplish its various functions

The 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.

In human beings they are created during the first four months of development in the womb.

During the first and second month, the foetus lives on the prana of the mother.

By the third month the foetus has its own battery installed.

By the fourth month, the five physical pranas become active with the formation of the body, and the soul enters the new body as a result of this pranic activity

The five pranas maintain the balance between the physical and mental levels.

Sthoola Prana: First of the pancha pranas

Physical Level: 

- Sthoola prana refers to the energy currents located in the thoracic region between the diaphragm and the base of the neck.

- It is the centre of circulation of life energy

- This force maintains the heart and lungs, and all the activities in the chest region such as breathing, swallowing and circulation of blood.

- Among the fivefold pranas, it occupies the pivotal position and controls the other four.

- When sthoola prana is strong, the heart does not become weak; one does not suffer from high or low blood pressure, and thus lives longer.

Subtle level:

- Prana energizes all the koshas and is active all the time. 

- It pervades the region from anahata up to vishuddhi chakra.

- By enhancing this prana, the yogis reach the soul.

- When meditating on the heart centre, the identification with prana is most intense; one feels as if one has become prana.

 2) Apana

Physical Level: 

- operates in pelvic region between navel and perineum

- sustains functions of kidneys, bladder, bowels, excretery and reproductive organs

- responsible for expulsion of gas, wind, faeces, urine, semen, ova

- nourishes the foetus and expels it from uterus at the time of birth

- Apana is experienced in the form of light particles moving downwards from the navel to the perineum

- Due to the presence of the earth and water elements in this region, apana is felt as a heavy force

Subtle Level:

- Swadhishtana, mooladhara are in the range of apana

- Kundalini lies in the periphery of apana, and assists in awakening kundalini

- is control of sexual instincts and instilling brahmacharya

- removes negative thoughts and emotions

Indications of Imbalance:

- depression, negativity, pulled down by gravity

Samana:

Physical Level:

- Operates between navel and diaphragm

- Saman - means equal. It acts as a balancer or equalizer for the two opposite forces of prana and Apana

- Activates and maintains digestive organs and secretions and responsible for metabolism.

- It is associated with digestive fire, jatharagni

- Samana is experiences as sideways movement of light , like the swinging of pendulam

- responsible for manipura experience of vitality and dynamism

- There are six major organs of digestion: liver, stomach, duodenum, spleen, and the small and large intestines, and all fall within the field of samana. The body receives its life support and healthy nourishment by the agency of samana. The distinctive feature of samana is that although it is a single force, it is capable of different activities in all these different organs.

Subtle Level:

- It is subtle in comparision to Apana, gross in comparision to Prana.

- helps digesting mind stuff

Indications of Imbalance:

- Samana is disturbed whenever one's peace and harmony are disturbed, 

- poor assimilation of food is a result of samana imbalance, causing build of toxins

Upana:

Physical level:

- responsible for all karmendriyas, jnanendriyas

- coordinates and controls the movement of the legs, arms and neck and directs the activities of the brain and sensory organs that are in head region x`

- Udana also assists prana in inhalation and exhalation, intake of food and drink, as well as vomiting, spitting and swallowing saliva.

- All the functions of the throat and mouth are sustained by udana and its influence begins from the region of vishuddhi chakra.

- It also maintains the pranic link between the heart and the brain.

- The force of udana keeps the body upright; it is responsible for anti-gravitational activities of the body

Subtle Level:

- Udana allows one to perform positive mental work.

- It is responsible for sweet, melodious and impressive speech.

- It maintains the relationship between the gross, subtle and causal bodies

- Udana pervades ajna, bindu and sahasrara chakras

- When the yogi fixes his attention on udana, he becomes free from hunger, thirst, sleep and drowsiness

- The activity of udana becomes extremely slow and subtle during meditation and samadhi.

Indications of Imbalance:

- An irregular udana causes breathing troubles

- inability to think clearly or express oneself

- uncoordinated speech, weakened will and lack of cheer

Vyana:

- Pervades the whole body and acts as reserve energy

- It helps all the other pranas when they require an extra boost.

- When one overexerts and feels extremely tired, a rush of energy comes, which enables one to continue.

- Vyana also regulates and coordinates all the muscular move-ments, aids in sending impulses to different parts of the body,

- Vyana causes all the pranas, major and minor, to function by being their accessory like mother in a house

Subtle Level:

- It is the vehicle of consciousness through the body

Indications of Imbalance:

- there is lack of coordination, tremors, inability to reach out to people, and the mind is erratic.

Density and colour of pranas

High to lower to density

Udana -> Prana -> Samana -> Apana

Vyana - average of the other four

The ionic fields of the pranas may be visualized as swirling clouds of differing colours and hues, capable of expanding and contracting.

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In the practice of yoga the direction or movement of prana and apana are changed. The upward flow of prana is directed downward and the downward flow of apana is directed upwards. In this way they both move towards one another and meet at samana. At this meeting point the energy of yogagni, fire of yoga, arises.

When siddhasana is practised and the inspired breath is taken to the region of samana, prana and apana unite at this centre.

A shatkarma like nauli kriya also creates union between prana and apana

The union of prana and apana is one of the most important aims of yoga.

Five Minor Pranas:

- Along with the five major pranas, there are five minor or upa pranas, actually called pancha vayus.

- Naga, Koorma, Krikara, Devadatta, dhananjaya

Naga:

- causes belching (trenupu) and hiccups (ekkillu)

- When the air element is agitated, naga becomes active and tries to throw the agitated air out of the stomach, causing vibrations in udana, prana and samana.

- Naga remains inactive as long as the diet and digestion are healthy.

Koorma:

- causes the blinking of the eyes and keeps the eyes healthy, moist and protected.

- When koorma is under control, the yogi can keep the eyes open for hours, performing trataka.

- Although koorma operates in a small area, it has a lot of force and during meditation it    makes concentration firm and deep.

Krikara:

- causes yawning, hunger and thirst, and assists in respiration.

- When krikara is controlled with practice, sloth and sleep are overcome, hunger and thirst 

   are controlled, and sweet secretions begin to flow in the mouth.

- helpful during fasting and samadhi.

Devadatta:

- This field causes sneezing and aids in respiration.

- In its subtle state, devadatta enables the practitioner to experience divine smells.

Dhananjaya:

- This field pervades the whole body and is related to the organ of touch

- It influences the work of the muscles, arteries and veins, and the skin

- Swelling during injury is becaz of this

- last to leave when we die, responsible for decomposition of the body