Ayurved
Our past, present, future and pride
Pranayam (प्राणायाम)
Today, almost all human beings in the whole world are suffering from one or the other disease. The truth is that because of our mistakes we have made our beautiful and pleasing body ugly and an instrument of sorrow. This our conduct is against the Vedas. In fact, we have done our own harm by not knowing, not understanding, not putting knowledge of Vedas into practice. Due to the neglect of Vedic science, we have made this priceless body the basis of happiness, hell or the house of sorrow. The body itself becomes the means of attainment of all pleasures and the means of all righteous deeds. In Ayurved it is said that-
🌷सर्वमन्यत् परित्यज्य शरीरमनुपालयेत्। तदभावे हि भावानां सर्वाभाव: शरीरिणाम्।। (Charak Samhita, Ni.6/7)
That is, The protection of the body should be followed first by leaving all the other works of the world. That is, first it should be kept healthy, because with the absence of the body, there is an absence of all other things.
Yog is the best method to make the body healthy. About Pranayam, a part of Yog, we will talk about how one can make one's body completely healthy and beautiful by practicing Pranayam properly. There is so much power in Pranayam that it can eliminate all the disorders and defects of our body and make this body a means of happiness.
General information about Pranayam (प्राणायाम के बारे में सामान्य जानकारी)
According to the teachings of the Yogis, there is no disease of any kind by practicing Pranayam. The practice of Pranayam leads to progress and helps in attaining Yog.
According to the tradition of Yog practice, the filling of air inside the body through the nostrils is called Purak and the name of exhaling the air from the body is Rechak. The name of keeping the air inside after taking in the breath is Abhyantar Kumbhak and the name of stopping the breath by taking breath out is called Bahari Kumbhak. Rechak, Purak and Kumbhak are the three main parts of Pranayam. Breathing stops in Kumbhak. Kumbhak is not natural, but it has to be practiced specially. Aalong with respiration, the soul's Rechak-Purak happens naturally always. But at the time of Yog practice, it is beneficial to violate this simple rule and following the rules mentioned in the Yog Shastra and break the speed of natural breath and do inhale and exhale with a special method. Along with Pranayam, meditation is also done in the Bhrumadhya (Agya Chakra).
Bandh - Moolabandh is the name of contraction of stool, urinary organs. The name of joining the stomach with the back by taking out the breath is Udayanbandh and touch the chin to the neck after taking the breath in is called Jalandharabandh. By doing Pranayam with Moolabandh, Udyanbandh and Jalandharabandh, the Pran(life force) is quickly controlled. When the practice of Moolabandha and Udayanabandha is accomplished, the concentration of the mind begins to increase.
According to Yog Darshan, there are four types of Pranayam - Bahya, Abhyantar, Stambhvritti and Bahyabhyantar Vishaykshepi. This Pranayam is simpler and more beneficial and is completed quickly.
Bahya Pranayam - The name of stopping the breath after exhaling is Bahya Pranayam. Due to this, there are benefits of blood purification, pulse purification, increase of digestive power, feeling of unbroken sound, increase of memory power and stability of mind etc.
Abhyantar Pranayam - To inhale in small pieces, filling it in as much as the capacity and hold it as much as possible is called Abhyantar Pranayam. This makes a man very strong. Amazing power is gained.
Stambhvritti Pranayam - Stambhvritti Pranayam is the name of keeping the breath as it is. Due to this the mind becomes stable wherever it is desired.
Bahyabhyantar Vishaykshepi Pranayam - When you are taking the Pran(breath) in, then after filling it try to pull more and more inward again and again and even if the breath is completely exhaled, exhale by pushing more and more with effort. When the Pran wants to go in, then on the contrary hold it outside with more effort and when the Pran wants to go out, then on the contrary hold it inside with more effort. This is called the Bahyabhyantar Vishaykshepi Pranayam. By this increase of Pran in the body is achieved.
Differences of air in the body (शरीर में स्थित वायु के भेद)
There are five main and five minor distinctions of air in the body.
Main Vayu(air) -
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Pran - This air remains active in the throat, chest and tongue through the nasal passages. With its power, the nose, speech, heart, lungs, alimentary canal etc. work.
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Apan - This air remains active from below the navel to the toes. Due to its strength, all the organs below the navel like bladder, uterus, large intestine, thighs, stool-urinary gate etc. work. The process of excretion of excreta and urine can also be done with the help of this Apan Vayu.
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Vyan - This air is pervasive throughout the body. All the parts of the body operate with its force. This has an effect on all the joints.
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Saman - This air remains active from the chest area down to the navel. Due to its power the liver, spleen, pancreas and digestive system work.
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Udan - This air remains active from the navel upwards to the throat and head. Due to its power, the speech and the organs above the throat, eyes, ears, nose are operated. And this air gives energy and physical strength, color and aura to the face.
Secondary air (Upapran) -
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Nag - This is the Upvayu/Upapran of Pran Vayu. Its place is the mouth. Its main function is to induce burping and hiccups.
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Kurm - It is the Upvayu of Apana Vayu. Its place is in the eyelids of the eyes. Its main function is to blink, open the eyes.
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Krikal - It is the Upvayu of Saman Vayu. Its place is the navel and its main function is to generate hunger and thirst.
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Devadatt - This is the Upavayu of Udan Vayu. Its place is in the windpipe and throat. Its main function is to induce sneezing and yawning.
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Dhananjay - This is the Upavayu of Vyan Vayu. Its place is in the blood, flesh, skin, bones, hair, nerves and the whole body. Its main function is to nourish the body and work by being pervasive throughout the body.
Pranayam is done only to control all these Pran and Upapran and run it smoothly. Due to the imbalance of these Pran and Upapran , many diseases are born.
Things to keep in mind in Pranayam (प्राणायाम में ध्यान रखने योग्य बातें)
Duration of Pranayam - Winter is the best time for Pranayam. By the way, Pranayam should be done every morning and evening only. The stomach also remains empty in the morning, due to which the lungs get enough space to expand. Similarly, do Pranayam in the evening after finish defecation etc. Although the abdomen is not completely empty in the evening, yet the stomach remains empty. By doing Pranayam in the morning, the absence of breath in the night is fulfilled and the body remains healthy throughout the day and the mind remains calm and happy. Similarly, by doing Pranayam in the evening, the lack of air during the day is completed and at night the body remains healthy and the mind remains calm and happy, due to which sleep comes very well.
Place of Pranayam - Pranayam should always be done in a pure and peaceful place. For this, a water bank, a garden, a green field, a garden or a place flavored with the aroma of Agnihotra is best. If you want to do Pranayam in your home, then Pranayam should be done in an open space, in a room with open windows or on an open terrace. Doing Pranayam at such places is very beneficial. Pranayam should not be done in an impure, polluted, disturbed and closed room. This causes loss.
laying seat - While doing Pranayam, a seat of an insulator i.e. cotton, woolen or Kusha(grass) should be placed under you. Due to this the energy waves of the body do not reach the ground.
Cleanliness of body holes - Before doing Pranayam, the throat, nose etc. should be cleaned properly and there should be no impulse of stool, urine and vomiting etc.
Prohibition of Pranayam - People suffering from fever, pain, diarrhoea, cough etc. and tired people should not do Pranayam and should do Pranayam after more than four hours after the meal.
Pleasure of mind - While doing Pranayam, the mind should be happy, calm and concentrated. The mind should be kept free from worry, grief, stress, sorrow etc.
Breathing - Apart from Pranayam like Sheetali etc., while doing Pranayam, the breath should always be taken through the nostrils, not by mouth. Due to this, the foreign elements present in the air are destroyed by staying in the nostrils only.
Praising and meditating on God Before Pranayam, one should praise God, that is, praise should be done. By meditating on God before starting the practice of Pranayam, the mind immediately becomes calm, questioned and fixed in God. Even after Pranayam, one should give thanks to God.
Om's meditation Even while doing Pranayam, one should constantly meditate on Om in the mind.
No physical stress While doing Pranayam, there should not be any kind of tension in the body, that is, there should not be any tension on the eyes, nose, eyebrows, forehead etc. and all the parts of the body should remain in a calm, comfortable state.
Three long breaths After each action of Pranayam, at least three long breaths should be taken and exhaled. Due to this, there is no fatigue in doing Pranayam.
speed of Pranayama Pranayam should be started and practiced slowly and happily. Never be in a hurry. The time of Pranayam should be increased gradually. Bahya Kumbhak is mandatory. Before doing various activities of Pranayam, all the air should be exhaled through the nostrils and stopped outside. This action must be done at least 3 times.
Breathing process The breath should be taken comfortably and for a long time. Full benefits can be achieved only by filling Pran in this way. Quick filling of Pran does not bring full benefits.
Concentration of mind While doing Pranayam, eyes should be closed while looking at the nostrils and the mind should be concentrated between the eyebrows.
Precautions in Pranayam (प्राणायाम में सावधानियाँ)
It is very important to take some precautions while doing Pranayam.
How should be the food - A person practicing Pranayam should always take pure, sattvik, nutritious, curative, aliphatic, juicy, little and fresh food. By taking such food, the body soon becomes healthy, strong and beautiful and virtues develop in the mind. Dry, rotten, stale, vengeful, impure, disease-causing food should never be taken. The practitioner of Pranayam should avoid excessive chili, spices, fried, roasted, sour, indigestible foods and bottled drinks and canned food. Food should be kept away from etc. Due to this the body becomes unhealthy, weak, ugly and demerits keep growing in the mind. The person practicing Yog should always eat sweet, aliphatic, cow-ghee, milk, curd, whey, juicy fruits, etc. food which nourishes all the metals, tasty and according to his nature.
Control - The practitioner of Pranayam should keep control over his mind and senses. The full benefits of Pranayam are obtained only by exercising restraint on them. If the mind remains entangled in restlessness and sinful desires and the senses are engaged in misdeeds, then there will be no benefit of Pranayam. Therefore, Pranayam should be done only after stabilizing the mind and senses in the Supreme Soul. One should not look around while doing Pranayam. One should not meditate anywhere other than God. One should not even try to listen to any sound other than the sound of Om.
Pre-preparation - To get success in Pranayam, preparation before that is very important. The meaning of this preparation is that there should not be any kind of stool, urine, phlegm etc. in the body. That is, before Pranayam, the excreta, urine etc. should be immersed from the body and along with the throat, eyes, nostrils, the whole body should be completely cleaned by water bath. Pranayam should not be done in case the body is impure, because the stool is filled inside and doing Pranayam in this state leads to loss instead of benefit. Therefore the body should be completely purified from inside and outside.
Do as much as you can - Some people, by reading in some unauthenticated book, searching on YouTube, Google etc., seeing other person doing Pranayam, by asking someone, by encouraging someone, stop the breath in and out by force or by applying excessive force they practice at a rapid pace to take the Pran in and throw it out. Some people even sit by forcefully closing the nostrils by taking the Pran out or in. In this way, human beings start doing Pranayam or any action without thinking of their power, for as long as they have seen someone else doing it. By doing Pranayam in this way, there is a possibility of harm instead of profit. Every person should do Pranayam according to his strength and ability. That is, as soon as fatigue is experienced, Pranayam should be stopped and the body should be brought to its normal state by taking long and slow breaths.
Keep the body normal, straight and even - While doing Pranayam, sit comfortably in a Asan and keep the back and neck straight. Place the upper part of the palms of both the hands on the knees and keep the front part of the thumb and forefinger together. Do not over tighten or loosen the body, that is, keep body in equilibrium.
Friendly to nature - Some activities of Pranayam increase the heat in the body, some coolness and some keep normal temperature. The practitioner of Pranayam should practice keeping in mind the cold or hot nature of his body and knowing the weather outside in summer or winter. That is, more Pranayam can be done in winter if there is a hot nature of his body. But if you do Pranayam at a fast pace in the state of hot nature in summer, then there can be harm. If there is a cold nature of the body, then coolness giving Pranayam should not be done. Moderate temperature keeping Pranayam can be done.
Do the Bandh right - While doing Pranayama, it is very important to have knowledge of the three Bandhs that should be applied in the body, do this after understanding it from a qualified guru. Here we have explained three Bandhs .
Which Asan to do? Asan(posture) has an important place while doing Pranayam. That's why you should be perfect in your Asan. One should practice one particular Asan to sit comfortably. In which one can sit for a long time without moving. Padmasan, Siddhasan, Sukhasan etc., in whichever Asan the practitioner can sit comfortably and do Pranayam, do it in that same Asan.
Fill the breath in the chest/lungs, not in the stomach - While doing Pranayam, the air should be filled only in the lungs and not in the abdomen. By inhaling, only the chest area should expand, not the stomach. If the abdomen is comes outward while inhaling Pranvayu, then instead of the benefit of Pranayam, there will be a lot of harm. This should be taken care of.
Keep in mind the strength, time and situation - There are many types of Pranayam, but it is not necessary that everyone should do all types of Pranayam. While doing Pranayam, every person should do it only after seriously considering his strength, his age, body, time, disease and situation. That means, the person should do the same Pranayam which is favorable for him, i.e. beneficial for him. The Pranayam which causes pain to the person should never be done. Not all activities of Pranayam are suitable for everyone. It is not necessary that the Pranayam which is beneficial for one person should also be beneficial for another person. Therefore, every person should do Pranayam according to his own compatibility.
At least one who has not studied Yog, Darshan, Ayurved etc. and doing Pranayam just by reading in a book, listening to someone or seeing someone do it, doing it voluntarily from TV, YouTube or any other source may result in loss instead of profit. Therefore, before doing Pranayam and meditation, Pranayam should be done by taking education from a qualified and Sadhak guru only.
Pranayam is the same as what Maharishi Patanjali has described in Yog Darshan. All other breathing methods are not Pranayam. Those are all Kriyas. Like Kapalbhati, Anulom-Vilom, Ujjayi etc. Kriyas should also be learned from a qualified guru only.
Ayurvedic terminology (आयुर्वेदिक शब्दार्थ एवं परिभाषाएँ)
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Deepak - The substance which increases the gastric fire, which opens up the appetite but does not increase the power of digestion, it is called Deepak. Like fennel. To make a Deepak means to light a fire(increases the gastric fire).
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Pachak - Digestion of the food consumed, but do not increases the gastric fire, it is called Pachak - like Nagkesar.
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Aam - The food eaten is called Aam and the organ where the food reaches through the esophagus is called the stomach or the place of Aam. When this Aam is digested, metals like juice, blood, etc. are formed.
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Grahi - The one who does both the work of digestion and increases the gastric fire is called Grahi - like dry ginger.
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Anuloman - To move downwards. After cooking the uncooked stools, the matter which is taken down and out of the body by degradation is called Anuloman - like small Harad.
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Viloman - To move upwards. When the wind gets irritated and rises upwards, it is called Viloman.
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Virechak - By diluting the cooked or undigested stools, the liquid which brings out the stool through diarrhea is called Virechak - like Triphala.
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Vamak - Expelling raw bile, phlegm or eaten food by force (by vomiting) back through the mouth, it is called Vamak - like man fruit.
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Snigdh - Smooth, mild and lubricating substances like ghee, oil etc.
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Guru - Heavy substances like Arabi.
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Laghu - Light substances such as moong.
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Rasayan - The matter which keep away diseases and old age and increase the metals and the immunity power in the body -like Harad, Amla etc.
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Vajikaran - Increase of strength, rajas, semen and sex power in the body. The substances which do Vajikaran are called Vajikarak - such as the seeds of Asagandh Kaunch etc.
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Trikut - dry ginger, Peepal, black pepper.
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Triphala - Harad, Baheda, Amla.
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Chaturjaat - Nagkesar, Tejpat, Cinnamon, Cardamom.
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Panchkol - Sonth, Peepal, Peepalmuth, Chitrak, Chavya.
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To make Kadha - The matter should be boiled in water so that the water becomes one-fourth of the water, it is called Kadha.
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Giving Bhavana - Wetting the powder of the same substance in the juice of that substance and drying it is to give a Bhavana. Wet the powder in the juice of the substance as many times as you want to give it and dry it.
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Tridosh - When Vat, Pitt, Kaph are in normal condition they are called Dhatu and when they are abnormal they are called Dosh.
