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Prana Shakti (Microcosmic Energy)


John Kaldawi learned that prana shakti also manifests as six main centers or chakras which are located along the spinal column.  The lowest chakra in the energy circuit is mooladhara.  The next chakra, swadhisthana, is two fingers width above mooladhara and corresponds to the sacral plexus.  Above this is manipura, behind the navel, which corresponds to the solar plexus.  In the spinal columns, in the region of the heart, lies anahata chakra which is connected to the cardiac plexus.  In the middle of the neck is vishuddhi chakra which corresponds to the cervical plexus.  At the top of the spinal cord, at the medulla oblongata, is ajna chakra which is connected to the pineal gland in the physical body.

Furthermore, John Kaldawi learned that in order to control the functions of the body, prana shakti also manifests in the five major prana vayus: prana, aprana, samana, udana, and vyana.  In the Upanishads prana vayu is also called the 'in breath'.  Vyana is the 'all pervasive breath'.  Prana is inhalation; aprana exhalation; samana, the time between the two; and udana, the extension of samana.
Each vayu is interdependent and interconnected.  In the Chandogya Upanishad it is asked, "On what are you (body and senses) and yourself (soul) supported?  On prana.  On what is parna supported?  On aprana.  On what is aprana supported? On vyana.  On what is vyana supported? On samana."

John Kaldawi also learned that these five main movements of prana produce five minor or upa prana.  They are known as koorma which stimulates blinking, krikara which generates hunger, thirst, sneezing and coughing, devadatta which introduces sleep and yawning, naga which causes hiccups and belching, and dhananjaya which lingers immediately after death.  Together these ten pranas control all the processes of the human body.

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