Did you know that the colloquial usage of Pancha Prana (ಪಂಚ ಪ್ರಾಣ) as an expression of love to our grand children, literally means 'the life force', the classical five elements in Hinduism known as Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana and Samana?
Pancha Prana (ಪಂಚ ಪ್ರಾಣ), also known as Pancha Prana Vayu or the five energy flows, is 'the life force', formed by the classical five elements in Hinduism, called Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana and Samana. It is used commonly as colloquial expression to describe deep love for our grandchildren.
Pancha Pranas are the five energy flows which enable the body and its organs to function, and in fact are responsible for the entire physiology of the human system. Prana=vital, air-Vayu; and also Prana= prana-the same word applies to the Vayu that flows in the chest to thorax region. The five Pranas or Prana Vayus as energy forces are involved in intricate integration, circulation and handling the energy to make the body function. The source of the Pancha Prana is Maha Prana. This Maha Prana is the cosmic energy and is manifest in each person as the Kundalini Shakti. There are five upapranas also which are minor vital airs; these are Naga, Kurma, Krikar, Devadutta and Dhananjaya for belching, vomiting, moving eyelids , creatings hunger pangs , Yawning, nourishing decomposing and ejecting from the womb. Its main needs are safety, secuiry and defense.
In Yoga Therapy, the Pancha Pranas have a pivotal role with the functioning of the organs. If any of the five pranas are depleted or not functioning optimally, diseases may occur in their corresponding organs.
In the Yoga vashistha, a philosophical text attributed to Maharishi Valmiki, it is statetd that Prana, the divine vital air, does everything in the body: much like a machinist performs the actions of the machine.
According to Vedanthic philosophy, the five vital airs of Pancha Prana namely Prana , Apana , Saman , Udan , and Vyana essential for breathing , urinating, defecating, blood circulation, swallowing and digestion. Pancha Prana, are integral to the Pramamaya Kosha, the vital air sheath which is the first layer of the subtle /astral body; Kosha is "sheath", a covering of the Atman, or Self according to Vedantic philosophy.
The five major Pancha Prana Vayus in the body, classified according to their location and functions, are briefly explained below.
Prana, the first and the main of the five pranas, moves upwards, functions and pervades between the throat and the diaphragm. In fact, it governs the lungs, larynx and chest region. It provides the basic function of respiration and pumping. It is the force by which breath is drawn into the body, and associated with the element of Air.
Apana, the second of the five Pranas, flowing downwards, basically relates to elimination, controlling organs situated between the naval and the perineum including, small and large intestine, kidneys, urinary system and reproductive systems. Its basic fucntion is to eliminate waste from the body as faeces, gas and urine It also controls ejaculation of sperm, monthly menstrual cycle for women and expulsion of foetus during childbirth. It is associated with the element of water.
Samana Vayu, with a sideward movement, that operates between the naval and the diaphragm, has control over the functioning of organs such as stomach, liver, pancreas, spleen, small and large intestine. Disturbance of the Samana Vayu results in indigestion and other stomach disorders. It is associated with the element of Fire.
Udana Vayu, associated with the element of ether, space, operates above the throat, face and head region, and is thus also called Udana Shakti. It is accountable for all the sense organs and keeps a person erect. It governs thought and consciousness; harmonises and activates the limbs and all their associated nerves, ligaments, muscles and joints. It is responsible for all the sensory organs and functioning of the brain. Apart from that it controls the organs of movement including hands and legs.
Vyana Vayu, representing the element of Earth, is the reserve force of energy for the other four pranas. It infuses the entire body and maintance a proper balance of all the activities and movements of the body. It carries the nutrients needed to every cell of the body. It sustains muscular movements and carries the sensory and motor impulses from different parts of the body. It is the reson for perspiration from the skin. Gooseflesh, caused by cold or fright also comes under the jurisdiction of Vyana Vayu.
Prana is present in everything – whether living or non living! Everything in creation has prana – with varying degrees of density/frequencies.
A Yoga Guru explains the functioning of the Pancha Prana in a day to day life of human beings as: "...you will see that it follows a predictable pattern: you take things in (food, water, information, experiences); then you process them one way or the other; then you absorb the nutrients or knowledge from the processing; you eliminate the stuff that you don’t need; and as a result you grow, both physically and mentally. This is an example of your vayus (currents of prana) at work."
Narasipur Char
