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Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations)

by Makarand Gopal Newalkar | 2017 | 82,851 words | ISBN-13: 9780893890926

This page relates ‘Pranayama (the concept of Prana)� of the English translation of the Yoga-sutras of Patanjali: an ancient Indian tradition spanning over 5000 years old dealing with Yoga:—Meditating the mind on the Atma leading to the realization of self. This study interprets the Yogasutras in light of both ancient and modern commentaries (e.g., Vyasa and Osho) while supporting both Sankhya and Vedanta philosophies.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

ʰṇ峾 (the concept of ʰṇa)

Swāmī Vivekānanda explains ṇ峾,[1]

ʰṇ峾 is not, as many think, something about breath; breath indeed has very little to do with it, if anything.Breathing is only one of the many exercises through which we get to the real ṇ峾. ʰṇ峾 means the control of ṇa.�

According to the philosophers of India, the whole universe is composed oftwo materials, one of which they call ś.It is the omnipresent, allpenetrating existence.

Āś, is thus the principle of matter.

By what power is this ś manufactured into this universe? By the power of ṇa.Just as ś is the infinite, omnipresent material of this universe, is this ṇa the infinite, omnipresent manifesting power of this universe.At the beginning and at the end of cycle everthing becomes ś and all the forces that are in the universe resolve back into the ṇa;in the next cycle,out of this ṇa is evolved everything that we call energy,everything that we call force. It is the ṇa that is manifesting as motion;it is the ṇa that is manifesting as gravitation,as magnetism.It is the ṇa that is manifesting as the actions of the body,as the nerve currents,as thought force.From thought down to the lowest force,everything is but the manifestation of ṇa. The sum total of all forces in the universe,mental or physical,when resolved back to their original state is called ṇa.

ʰṇa is thus the principle of energy.

The importance of ṇa has been explained in ԻDzⲹ-貹Ծṣa[2] in the following story.Once five sense organs and the mind started arguing as to who is the greatest among them. But when ṇa started leaving the body,they knew they cannot survive without ṇa.

Further it is also said in ʰԲDZԾṣa,[3]

ʰṇa himself resides in the eyes, ears, mouth and nose; Բ is located in the organs of reproduction and excretion; Բ abides in the stomach and governs digestion. Out of these emerge the seven flames.

The self (ٳ) abides within the heart; from here emerge one hundred main ḍi, each branch into one hundred ḍi and these branch into seventy-two-hundred ḍi and branch into seventy-two thousand minor ḍi. In these ḍi, Բ moves.

Բ resides in the ḍi passing through the centre of the spine. If ܻԲ is in the higher part due to virtuous deeds, a virtuous world will be attained after death; if in a lower part due to sinful works, a sinful world will be reached; and if there is a combination of both elements, the human world will be returned to.

ʰԲDZԾṣa says,[4] all that exists within the three worlds is ruled by you. O ṇa, grant us prosperity and knowledge, and care for us like a mother.Many people think that ṇ峾 is only breathing exercise, but this is a misconception. ʰṇ峾 is control over ṇaśakti.

ṇasya āyāma� ṇ峾� |

ʲٲñᲹ has wriiten 5 ūٰ on ṇ峾.

[1) First one is the definition of ṇ峾.]

[2-3) Second and third are the techniques]

[4-5) Last two give the effects of ṇ峾.]

Footnotes and references:

[back to top]

[1]:

Vivekananada, op.cit,January 2016, p.33-34

[2]:

ԻDzⲹ-貹Ծṣa, Gita Press, Gorakhpur,1993,V-I-6-14

[3]:

Praśna 貹Ծṣa, III-5,III-6,III-7.‰...

[4]:

Praśna 貹Ծṣa, XXIV-13‰...

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