|
(The prana yoga) The importance of pranayam as an integral part
of Hatha Yoga and Raja is so great, that some have come to regard it as an
independent form of yoga in itself and have given it the name of prana Yoga. As explained already, the Ida and pingala nadis starting from svadhistan charka, the center of life- breath, run spirally round the central nadi, Sukhmana, and end in the left and right nostril respectively. Ida is influenced by the moon, while pingala is influenced by the moon, while pingala is influenced by the sun. Ida has in abundance the moisture of the moon and represents the female principle, while Pingala has the energy of the sun and represents the male principle in Nature. Both of these nadis the negative and the positive, work under the action of prakriti and purush, i.e., matter and soul combined. When the pingala Nadi, which is influence by the energy of the sun, is active motion, the food taken is easily and quickly digested. When the Ida Nadi starts, it bring in strength and vitality to the system and helps in the development of the and bodily muscles, etc. It is under the active influence of body these heavenly bodies, as operating through these nadis, that further growth takes place both in Nature and in the human species, both female and male. The moisture of the moon helps the production of raj in women , and the life –giving energy of the sun that of viraj or semen in men. During the daytime, the solar nadi (pingala) operates for most of time, and hence the food should be taken while the live energy of the sun is in active motion so it will get easily dissolved in the system and thus become the source of strength. Food taken at night after the setting of the sun is likely to increase body bulk and fats and to create digestive disorders, which may lead to disturbance in the equilibrium of the elemental constituents in the body , like Kaf (phlegm), Safra (heat ) and sauda (gaseous vibrations), etc. |