The air (Prana) in the
body is known by different names based on their location and functions. There
are
main five pranas and five
up-pranas in the body.
Location
of five pranas and their functions
1.
Prana (Respiratory system): The air that
functions in the body from the throat (larynx) to the heart is called 'Prana'.
Function: This prana activates and energises nasal
passage, throat, larynx, tongue, oesophagus, breathing organs, lungs and heart.
2.
Apana (Excretory system): The vital
air that moves below the navel (umbilicus) up to muladhara cakra is called 'Apana'.
Function: Faeces, urine, menstrual blood, semen, flatus
and foetus are expelled by this air.
3.
Udana: The prana which moves in the
region between the larynx and the head is known as 'Udana'.
Function: It provides energy to all the organs in the
body located in the region above the larynx, viz. eyes, nose, etc. It also
lends glow and radiance to the whole face. It activates the whole brain along
with the pituitary and pineal glands.
4.
Samana (Digestive system): The prana
vayu which is active in the region between
the heart and the navel is called 'Samana'.
Function: It controls the internal functioning of the
whole digestive system along with liver, intestines, spleen and pancreas.
5.
Vyana (Circulatory system): This
vital pranic energy pervades the whole body.
Function: It regulates and controls all activities of
the body. It is the vyana prana which activates and energises the muscles, tissues,
joints, pulse and all organs of the body.
Besides these five pranas,
there are five upa-pranas in the body viz., 'devadatta',
'naga', 'krkala, kurma and 'dhananjaya' which respectively
regulate actions like sneezing, blinking, yawning, seratching the itching skin,
hiccupping, etc.
The functioning of pranas
is linked with pranamaya kosa, and pranayama is mainly responsible for keeping
these prans and pranamaya kosa clean, healthy and disease-free, hence the
highest importance and utility of pranayama. Before beginning the practice of
pranayama, it is necessary to have a comprehensive knowledge of its background.
Pranas at a Glance
Main Pranas
|
Up Pranas
|
Element
|
|||
Name
|
Location
|
Name
|
Location
|
||
Prana
|
Region
around the heart
|
Naga
|
a
little above the navel
|
Anahata
|
Air
|
Apana
|
Abdomen,
anus
|
Kurma
|
in the
eyelids
|
Muladhara
|
Earth
|
Udana
|
heart,
throat, palate, between the eyebrows and in the brain
|
Devadatta
|
upper
ends of trachea an in the throat
|
Visuddhi
|
Ether
|
Samana
|
navel
and the region around it
|
Kakala
|
above
the stomach and the edges of trachea
|
Manipura
|
Fire
|
Vyana
|
connected
with svadhisthana cakra and pervading the whole body
|
Dhananjaya
|
in the
bones, flesh, skin, blood, receptor sensors, hair, etc.,
|
Svadhishisthana
|
Water
|