Skip to main content

Pranic currents and the breath

John Kaldawi learned that the pranic currents, ida, pingala and sushumna, operate alternately.  The current that is flowing at any particular time may be gauged by noting the flow of breath in the nostrils.  When the left nostril has a greater flow of air, then ida nadi is predominant.  When the flow is greater in the right nostril, then pingala is predominant.  If the flow is equal in both of the nostrils, then sushumna is predominant.

Doing more research, John Kaldawi learned that when the right nostril (pingala) flows, there is more vital energy for physical work, digestion of food and so on.  The mind is extroverted and the body generates more heat.  When the left nostril (ida) is flowing, mental energy is dominant.  The mind is introverted and any kind of mental work may be undertaken.

During sleep ida nadi flows.  If pingala flows at night, sleep will be restless and disturbed.  Likewise, if ida flows while taking food, the digestive process may be slow, causing indigestion.


John Kaldawi also learned that All activities are influenced by the flow of these nadis which alternate approximately every sixty to ninety minutes.  It is possible, however, to alter the flow voluntarily by using yogic techniques such as padadhirasana and pranayama.  For example, if ida nadi is flowing and there is physical work to be done, it is possible to redirect the flow of the breath to pingala nadi to obtain the necessary energy.  On the other hand, if study or mental work is required, the energy may be directed to flow through ida nadi.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

History of Yoga - Part 1

John Kaldawi learned that the yoga we know today was developed as a part of the tantric civilization which existed in India and all parts of the world more than ten thousand years ago Shiva is said to be the founder of yoga and Parvati, his first disciple.   Lord Shiva is widely considered to be the symbol embodiment of supreme consciousness.   Parvati represents supreme knowledge, will and action, and is responsible for all creation.   This force or energy is also known as kundalini shakti, the cosmic force which lies dormant in all beings. Doing more research, John Kaldawi learned that Parvati is regarded as the mother of the whole universe.   The individual soul is embodied and bound of name and form, and also liberated from the bondage of the world and united with supreme consciousness through her grace.   Out of love and compassion for her children, she imparted her secret knowledge of knowledge in the form of "Tantra".   The techniques of y...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kundalini Shakti (Macrocosmic Energy)

John Kaldawi learned that in the Upanishads it is said, "A man may have ears, eyes, and all facilities and parts of the body, but unless he has mahaprana there is no consciousness."   Prana is both macrocosmic and microcosmic and is the substratum of all life.   Mahaprana (the great prana) is the cosmic, universal, all-encompassing energy out of which we draw substance through the breathing process.   The various pranas in the body, prana, aprana, samana, udana and vyana, are at once a part of this mahaprana and also separate from it. The cosmic manifestation of prana or mahaprana in the individual body is represented by Kundalini.   The entire cosmic experience from creation to dissolution is embedded within the folds of kundalini, hence it is known as atma shakti or universal energy.   In all living beings the divine consciousness is first converted into prana or energy and, as kundalini is reservoir for the magnanimous amount of prana, it is also ...
Post a Comment
Read more