.png)
Explore major and minor pranas in yogic science—functions, interplay, and their role in health, breath, and spiritual practice.
 |
| Major and Minor Pranas: Yogic Life Science |
Exploring the 5 (Five Major & Minor Pranas) Prāṇas and Upa-Prāṇas in the Context of Yoga, Ayurveda, and Subtle Energetics
- Introduction: The Essence of Prāṇa – Life's Vital Force
In the grand symphony of the universe, Prāṇa (प्राण) plays the role of the sustaining rhythm. It is the fundamental, all-pervading life energy—the animating principle of life itself. Derived from the Sanskrit root "an" (to breathe) and prefixed with "pra" (intensity or forward movement), Prāṇa transcends mere breath to symbolize the dynamic flow of energy in all living beings.
In yogic philosophy, prāṇa is not merely physiological air, but the cosmic force that underlies all life—similar to Qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine or Pneuma in Greek philosophy. When one dies, it is said, "prāṇa has left the body," even when the organs may still be biologically viable. This emphasizes that life isn’t defined by cellular activity alone but by the presence and movement of this vital energy.
- Introduction: The Essence of Prāṇa – Life's Vital Force
The Five Major Prāṇas (Mukhya Prāṇa Vāyus): The Inner Dynamics of Life-Force
In yogic philosophy, Prāṇa is not merely breath or biological energy; it is the animating intelligence of life itself. All physical motion, sensory perception, emotional response, and spiritual aspiration arise from the movement of prāṇa. Classical yogic texts describe this life-force as operating through five primary functional currents, known as the Pancha Prāṇa Vāyus—literally, the “five winds.”
These vāyus are not separate energies but distinct expressions of a single prāṇic field, each governing specific physiological, psychological, and spiritual processes. Mastery of yoga is, at its core, mastery over these five vāyus—balancing them, refining them, and ultimately uniting them within the central channel.
Overview: The Five Prāṇa Vāyus
In yogic philosophy, Prāṇa is not merely breath or biological energy; it is the animating intelligence of life itself. All physical motion, sensory perception, emotional response, and spiritual aspiration arise from the movement of prāṇa. Classical yogic texts describe this life-force as operating through five primary functional currents, known as the Pancha Prāṇa Vāyus—literally, the “five winds.”
These vāyus are not separate energies but distinct expressions of a single prāṇic field, each governing specific physiological, psychological, and spiritual processes. Mastery of yoga is, at its core, mastery over these five vāyus—balancing them, refining them, and ultimately uniting them within the central channel.
Overview: The Five Prāṇa Vāyus
Prāṇa Vāyu Primary Region Direction Core Function Prāṇa Chest, heart, lungs Inward & upward Intake of breath, perception, vitality Apāna Lower abdomen, pelvis Downward & outward Elimination, reproduction, grounding Samāna Navel region Inward toward center Digestion, assimilation, balance Udāna Throat to crown Upward Speech, growth, consciousness Vyāna Entire body Outward from center Circulation, coordination, integration
Each vāyu reflects a specific movement of consciousness, shaping both bodily health and mental orientation.
| Prāṇa Vāyu | Primary Region | Direction | Core Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prāṇa | Chest, heart, lungs | Inward & upward | Intake of breath, perception, vitality |
| Apāna | Lower abdomen, pelvis | Downward & outward | Elimination, reproduction, grounding |
| Samāna | Navel region | Inward toward center | Digestion, assimilation, balance |
| Udāna | Throat to crown | Upward | Speech, growth, consciousness |
| Vyāna | Entire body | Outward from center | Circulation, coordination, integration |
Each vāyu reflects a specific movement of consciousness, shaping both bodily health and mental orientation.
1. Prāṇa Vāyu – The Inward Breath of Vitality
Primary Center: Chest, lungs, heart, headDirection: Inward and ascendingPrāṇa Vāyu is the most recognizable of the five, as it governs breathing, oxygenation, and sensory intake. Yet its role extends far beyond respiration. It regulates how we receive life—air, impressions, emotions, and experiences.
Prāṇa Vāyu is the most recognizable of the five, as it governs breathing, oxygenation, and sensory intake. Yet its role extends far beyond respiration. It regulates how we receive life—air, impressions, emotions, and experiences.
Physiological Role
Controls inhalation and cardiac rhythm
Supports lung elasticity and oxygen exchange
Regulates sensory organs and neural alertness
Controls inhalation and cardiac rhythm
Supports lung elasticity and oxygen exchange
Regulates sensory organs and neural alertness
Psychological & Subtle Role
Governs attention, enthusiasm, and mental clarity
Connects breath to awareness
Activates Anāhata (heart) and Viśuddha (throat) chakras
Balanced Prāṇa Vāyu manifests as calm alertness, emotional openness, and vitality. Disturbance leads to shallow breathing, anxiety, restlessness, fear, or fatigue.
In yogic practice, conscious inhalation, chest expansion, and refined breath awareness stabilize Prāṇa Vāyu, making it the gateway to prāṇic mastery.
Governs attention, enthusiasm, and mental clarity
Connects breath to awareness
Activates Anāhata (heart) and Viśuddha (throat) chakras
Balanced Prāṇa Vāyu manifests as calm alertness, emotional openness, and vitality. Disturbance leads to shallow breathing, anxiety, restlessness, fear, or fatigue.
In yogic practice, conscious inhalation, chest expansion, and refined breath awareness stabilize Prāṇa Vāyu, making it the gateway to prāṇic mastery.
2. Apāna Vāyu – The Grounding and Releasing Force
Primary Center: Pelvis, lower abdomenDirection: Downward and outwardApāna Vāyu governs all processes of elimination and release, both physical and psychological. It anchors the body to the earth and ensures that waste—material or emotional—is expelled efficiently.
Apāna Vāyu governs all processes of elimination and release, both physical and psychological. It anchors the body to the earth and ensures that waste—material or emotional—is expelled efficiently.
Physiological Role
Regulates bowel movement, urination, menstruation
Supports childbirth and sexual function
Maintains pelvic stability
Regulates bowel movement, urination, menstruation
Supports childbirth and sexual function
Maintains pelvic stability
Psychological & Subtle Role
Governs letting go, grounding, emotional release
Activates Mūlādhāra and Svādhiṣṭhāna chakras
Dissolves fear stored in the lower body
Balanced Apāna provides stability, trust, and emotional lightness. When disturbed, it leads to constipation, lethargy, depression, insecurity, or obsessive attachment.
Classical yoga emphasizes that kundalini cannot rise unless Apāna is purified and stabilized, making grounding practices, cleansing techniques, and proper elimination essential.
Governs letting go, grounding, emotional release
Activates Mūlādhāra and Svādhiṣṭhāna chakras
Dissolves fear stored in the lower body
Balanced Apāna provides stability, trust, and emotional lightness. When disturbed, it leads to constipation, lethargy, depression, insecurity, or obsessive attachment.
Classical yoga emphasizes that kundalini cannot rise unless Apāna is purified and stabilized, making grounding practices, cleansing techniques, and proper elimination essential.
3. Samāna Vāyu – The Harmonizer and Digestive Intelligence
Primary Center: Navel, digestive fire (jatharāgni)Direction: Inward, toward the centerSamāna Vāyu is the integrative force that digests not only food but also experiences, emotions, and thoughts. It draws energy inward, blending Prāṇa (inward) and Apāna (outward) into equilibrium.
Samāna Vāyu is the integrative force that digests not only food but also experiences, emotions, and thoughts. It draws energy inward, blending Prāṇa (inward) and Apāna (outward) into equilibrium.
Physiological Role
Governs digestion, absorption, metabolism
Regulates enzymatic activity and nutrient assimilation
Governs digestion, absorption, metabolism
Regulates enzymatic activity and nutrient assimilation
Psychological & Subtle Role
Supports emotional digestion and mental satisfaction
Activates Maṇipūra chakra, the seat of willpower
Balances all five koshas (sheaths)
Balanced Samāna results in strong digestion, emotional maturity, confidence, and clarity of purpose. Imbalance manifests as indigestion, greed, irritability, scattered focus, or emotional volatility.
Many yogic texts consider Samāna the pivot of prāṇic harmony, because without digestion—physical or mental—growth is impossible.
Supports emotional digestion and mental satisfaction
Activates Maṇipūra chakra, the seat of willpower
Balances all five koshas (sheaths)
Balanced Samāna results in strong digestion, emotional maturity, confidence, and clarity of purpose. Imbalance manifests as indigestion, greed, irritability, scattered focus, or emotional volatility.
Many yogic texts consider Samāna the pivot of prāṇic harmony, because without digestion—physical or mental—growth is impossible.
4. Udāna Vāyu – The Ascending Current of Consciousness
Primary Center: Throat, upper chest, headDirection: UpwardUdāna Vāyu governs speech, expression, memory, growth, and spiritual ascent. It is the prāṇic force responsible for vertical movement—both biological and metaphysical.
Udāna Vāyu governs speech, expression, memory, growth, and spiritual ascent. It is the prāṇic force responsible for vertical movement—both biological and metaphysical.
Physiological Role
Controls speech, vocal clarity, swallowing
Supports memory, cognition, and nervous coordination
Controls speech, vocal clarity, swallowing
Supports memory, cognition, and nervous coordination
Psychological & Spiritual Role
Governs aspiration, willpower, self-expression
Activates Viśuddha and Ājñā chakras
Facilitates meditation, insight, and transcendence
Udāna becomes especially active during chanting, mantra, japa, and deep meditation. At the time of death, it is Udāna that guides the departure of consciousness, linking it directly to liberation.
Balanced Udāna expresses as clarity of speech, inspired thought, spiritual orientation. Disturbance leads to confusion, speech disorders, arrogance, or lack of purpose.
Governs aspiration, willpower, self-expression
Activates Viśuddha and Ājñā chakras
Facilitates meditation, insight, and transcendence
Udāna becomes especially active during chanting, mantra, japa, and deep meditation. At the time of death, it is Udāna that guides the departure of consciousness, linking it directly to liberation.
Balanced Udāna expresses as clarity of speech, inspired thought, spiritual orientation. Disturbance leads to confusion, speech disorders, arrogance, or lack of purpose.
5. Vyāna Vāyu – The Integrator and Distributor
Primary Center: Entire bodyDirection: Radial, outward from centerVyāna Vāyu is the circulatory intelligence that connects all systems. It distributes prāṇa from the core to every cell, coordinating movement, balance, and communication.
Vyāna Vāyu is the circulatory intelligence that connects all systems. It distributes prāṇa from the core to every cell, coordinating movement, balance, and communication.
Physiological Role
Regulates blood circulation and nerve impulses
Coordinates muscular movement and joint stability
Regulates blood circulation and nerve impulses
Coordinates muscular movement and joint stability
Psychological & Subtle Role
Integrates all vāyus into a unified field
Maintains embodiment and presence
Supports proprioception and energetic coherence
Balanced Vyāna creates graceful movement, coordinated thought, and embodied awareness. Imbalance can cause tremors, poor circulation, restlessness, or dissociation.
Vyāna ensures that spiritual insights are integrated into daily life, preventing imbalance between transcendence and embodiment.
Integrates all vāyus into a unified field
Maintains embodiment and presence
Supports proprioception and energetic coherence
Balanced Vyāna creates graceful movement, coordinated thought, and embodied awareness. Imbalance can cause tremors, poor circulation, restlessness, or dissociation.
Vyāna ensures that spiritual insights are integrated into daily life, preventing imbalance between transcendence and embodiment.
Integration: From Five Vāyus to One Axis
In advanced yoga, the goal is not merely balancing the five vāyus, but uniting them. When Prāṇa and Apāna merge through Samāna, and Udāna and Vyāna are refined, prāṇa naturally enters the central channel (sushumnā).
At this stage:
Breath becomes subtle
Mind becomes still
Consciousness turns inward
This union marks the transition from practice to realization.
The Pancha Prāṇa Vāyus offer a complete map of human existence—from digestion to devotion, from grounding to transcendence. To understand yoga deeply is to understand how prāṇa moves, where it stagnates, and how it can be refined.
When these five winds are balanced, the yogi does not merely live—the yogi becomes aligned with life itself.
In advanced yoga, the goal is not merely balancing the five vāyus, but uniting them. When Prāṇa and Apāna merge through Samāna, and Udāna and Vyāna are refined, prāṇa naturally enters the central channel (sushumnā).
At this stage:
Breath becomes subtle
Mind becomes still
Consciousness turns inward
This union marks the transition from practice to realization.
The Pancha Prāṇa Vāyus offer a complete map of human existence—from digestion to devotion, from grounding to transcendence. To understand yoga deeply is to understand how prāṇa moves, where it stagnates, and how it can be refined.
The Five Upa-Prāṇas – The Subtle Support System of Life
In classical yogic physiology, prāṇa is not a single force but a complex, intelligent system of vital energies governing every aspect of life—from conscious movement and respiration to involuntary reflexes and subtle mental shifts. While the five main prāṇas (pañca-mukhya prāṇas)—Prāṇa, Apāna, Samāna, Udāna, and Vyāna—receive significant attention, the Upa-Prāṇas form an equally essential yet often overlooked layer of this system.
The five Upa-Prāṇas operate beneath conscious awareness, managing reflexive, automatic, and maintenance-level functions. They ensure that the body-mind system remains responsive, alert, and energetically balanced at the most subtle levels.
Without the proper functioning of Upa-Prāṇas, even well-regulated major prāṇas cannot sustain harmony.
In classical yogic physiology, prāṇa is not a single force but a complex, intelligent system of vital energies governing every aspect of life—from conscious movement and respiration to involuntary reflexes and subtle mental shifts. While the five main prāṇas (pañca-mukhya prāṇas)—Prāṇa, Apāna, Samāna, Udāna, and Vyāna—receive significant attention, the Upa-Prāṇas form an equally essential yet often overlooked layer of this system.
The five Upa-Prāṇas operate beneath conscious awareness, managing reflexive, automatic, and maintenance-level functions. They ensure that the body-mind system remains responsive, alert, and energetically balanced at the most subtle levels.
Without the proper functioning of Upa-Prāṇas, even well-regulated major prāṇas cannot sustain harmony.
Understanding the Role of Upa-Prāṇas
The term upa means secondary or subsidiary, not inferior. Upa-Prāṇas act as supportive extensions of the primary prāṇas, executing specialized tasks that keep the organism responsive and resilient.
From a yogic perspective, they:
Regulate involuntary reflexes
Maintain sensory and neuromuscular alertness
Assist digestion, respiration, and circulation indirectly
Release excess tension, fatigue, or blockage
Bridge gross physiological functions with subtle prāṇic intelligence
They operate mostly in the manomaya and prāṇamaya kośas, linking instinctive bodily reactions with subconscious mental states.
The term upa means secondary or subsidiary, not inferior. Upa-Prāṇas act as supportive extensions of the primary prāṇas, executing specialized tasks that keep the organism responsive and resilient.
From a yogic perspective, they:
Regulate involuntary reflexes
Maintain sensory and neuromuscular alertness
Assist digestion, respiration, and circulation indirectly
Release excess tension, fatigue, or blockage
Bridge gross physiological functions with subtle prāṇic intelligence
They operate mostly in the manomaya and prāṇamaya kośas, linking instinctive bodily reactions with subconscious mental states.
The Five Upa-Prāṇas: Functions and Deeper Yogic Significance
1. Nāga Upa-Prāṇa – The Regulator of Upward Release
Primary Function:Belching, hiccups, expulsion of trapped gasesPhysiological Role:Nāga governs the upward release of air and pressure from the digestive tract. It prevents excessive accumulation of gas, bloating, and discomfort, acting as a protective mechanism for the digestive and respiratory systems.Prāṇic and Psychological Significance:Energetically, Nāga supports Samāna and Prāṇa vāyu, ensuring that digestion does not stagnate. Psychologically, suppressed emotions—especially anxiety—often disturb Nāga, manifesting as chronic hiccups or tightness in the chest.In yoga, balanced Nāga reflects:
Ease in digestion
Emotional release
Absence of internal pressure or suppression
In yoga, balanced Nāga reflects:
Ease in digestion
Emotional release
Absence of internal pressure or suppression
2. Kūrma Upa-Prāṇa – The Guardian of Sensory Stability
Primary Function:Blinking, eye movement, tear regulationPhysiological Role:Kūrma protects the eyes from dryness, strain, and overstimulation. It ensures rhythmic blinking and coordinated ocular motion, preserving vision and alertness.Prāṇic and Mental Role:Eyes are directly connected to the mind. Disturbance in Kūrma often corresponds with:Mental agitation
Insomnia
Excessive screen exposure
Nervous exhaustion
In yogic practices such as Trāṭaka, Kūrma is deliberately trained to stabilize gaze and mind simultaneously.
Balanced Kūrma indicates:
Sensory moderation
Calm visual focus
Reduced mental restlessness
Mental agitation
Insomnia
Excessive screen exposure
Nervous exhaustion
In yogic practices such as Trāṭaka, Kūrma is deliberately trained to stabilize gaze and mind simultaneously.
Balanced Kūrma indicates:
Sensory moderation
Calm visual focus
Reduced mental restlessness
3. Kṛkara Upa-Prāṇa – The Awakener and Protector
Primary Function:Sneezing, hunger, thirstPhysiological Role:Kṛkara triggers protective reflexes such as sneezing to clear nasal passages and signals hunger and thirst to maintain metabolic balance.Prāṇic Role:It supports Prāṇa and Samāna vāyu, ensuring timely intake of nourishment and oxygen.Psychological Insight:Kṛkara keeps the system awake and responsive. When disturbed, it may lead to:Loss of appetite
Chronic dehydration
Lethargy or excessive drowsiness
From a yogic standpoint, balanced Kṛkara prevents tamas (inertia) and promotes healthy biological rhythms.
Loss of appetite
Chronic dehydration
Lethargy or excessive drowsiness
From a yogic standpoint, balanced Kṛkara prevents tamas (inertia) and promotes healthy biological rhythms.
4. Devadatta Upa-Prāṇa – The Releaser of Fatigue
Primary Function:YawningPhysiological Role:Yawning oxygenates the brain, releases muscular and neural tension, and resets attention.Subtle and Psychological Function:Devadatta plays a crucial role in letting go—of exhaustion, monotony, and mental overload. It acts as a natural reset mechanism when the nervous system is fatigued.In yogic observation:
Frequent yawning during relaxation or meditation is a sign of deep prāṇic release
Suppressed yawning leads to mental dullness and irritability
Devadatta supports parasympathetic dominance, essential for healing and restoration.
In yogic observation:
Frequent yawning during relaxation or meditation is a sign of deep prāṇic release
Suppressed yawning leads to mental dullness and irritability
Devadatta supports parasympathetic dominance, essential for healing and restoration.
5. Dhanañjaya Upa-Prāṇa – The Sustainer of Life Rhythm
Primary Function:Heart valve operation, subtle circulation; last prāṇa to leave the body at deathPhysiological Role:Dhanañjaya sustains cardiac rhythm and internal pressure dynamics. Even after clinical death, it is said to linger, causing post-mortem swelling.Spiritual and Yogic Importance:Dhanañjaya is deeply linked with life-force continuity. It maintains the integrity of the body until the final dissolution of prāṇa.In yogic death-awareness traditions, mastery over prāṇa ultimately involves transcending Dhanañjaya, allowing conscious departure.
Balanced Dhanañjaya manifests as:
Steady heartbeat
Emotional resilience
Strong life-force vitality
In yogic death-awareness traditions, mastery over prāṇa ultimately involves transcending Dhanañjaya, allowing conscious departure.
Balanced Dhanañjaya manifests as:
Steady heartbeat
Emotional resilience
Strong life-force vitality
Interaction with the Five Main Prāṇas
The Upa-Prāṇas do not function independently. They act as fine-tuning mechanisms for the main prāṇas:
Nāga assists Prāṇa and Samāna
Kūrma refines Prāṇa and Udāna
Kṛkara supports Prāṇa intake
Devadatta balances Udāna and mental fatigue
Dhanañjaya stabilizes Vyāna and overall vitality
This layered system ensures that even unconscious reflexes remain aligned with the organism’s higher prāṇic intelligence.
The Upa-Prāṇas do not function independently. They act as fine-tuning mechanisms for the main prāṇas:
Nāga assists Prāṇa and Samāna
Kūrma refines Prāṇa and Udāna
Kṛkara supports Prāṇa intake
Devadatta balances Udāna and mental fatigue
Dhanañjaya stabilizes Vyāna and overall vitality
This layered system ensures that even unconscious reflexes remain aligned with the organism’s higher prāṇic intelligence.
Relevance in Hatha Yoga and Prāṇāyāma
Hatha Yoga does not ignore the Upa-Prāṇas; rather, it indirectly regulates them through:
Proper Rechaka (controlled exhalation)
Balanced prāṇāyāma
Bandhas (especially Uḍḍīyāna and Mūla Bandha)
Relaxation and meditation
For example:
Smooth rechaka calms Nāga and Devadatta
Trāṭaka stabilizes Kūrma
Regulated fasting and mindful eating balance Kṛkara
Deep relaxation harmonizes Dhanañjaya
Thus, refined breath control brings order down to the reflexive level of life.
Hatha Yoga does not ignore the Upa-Prāṇas; rather, it indirectly regulates them through:
Proper Rechaka (controlled exhalation)
Balanced prāṇāyāma
Bandhas (especially Uḍḍīyāna and Mūla Bandha)
Relaxation and meditation
For example:
Smooth rechaka calms Nāga and Devadatta
Trāṭaka stabilizes Kūrma
Regulated fasting and mindful eating balance Kṛkara
Deep relaxation harmonizes Dhanañjaya
Thus, refined breath control brings order down to the reflexive level of life.
Philosophical Insight: Why the Upa-Prāṇas Matter
Indian philosophy teaches that liberation is not achieved by controlling only the conscious mind. Transformation must penetrate even the subconscious and instinctive layers.
The Upa-Prāṇas represent:
The intelligence of the body
The wisdom of involuntary life processes
The bridge between survival and self-realization
When these subtle energies are harmonized, the practitioner experiences:
Ease in the body
Clarity in perception
Calmness in reflex and reaction
Readiness for deeper meditation
The Five Upa-Prāṇas form the silent custodians of life, ensuring that even the smallest reflex serves the greater harmony of the organism. Though subtle and often unnoticed, they are indispensable for physical health, mental balance, and spiritual progress.
In advanced yoga, mastery is not about suppressing these forces, but listening to them, refining them, and integrating them into conscious awareness.
When the Upa-Prāṇas are balanced, life moves effortlessly—from breath to thought, from reflex to realization.
Indian philosophy teaches that liberation is not achieved by controlling only the conscious mind. Transformation must penetrate even the subconscious and instinctive layers.
The Upa-Prāṇas represent:
The intelligence of the body
The wisdom of involuntary life processes
The bridge between survival and self-realization
When these subtle energies are harmonized, the practitioner experiences:
Ease in the body
Clarity in perception
Calmness in reflex and reaction
Readiness for deeper meditation
The Five Upa-Prāṇas form the silent custodians of life, ensuring that even the smallest reflex serves the greater harmony of the organism. Though subtle and often unnoticed, they are indispensable for physical health, mental balance, and spiritual progress.
In advanced yoga, mastery is not about suppressing these forces, but listening to them, refining them, and integrating them into conscious awareness.
Conclusion: Prāṇa as a Blueprint for Holistic Living
Understanding and working with the ten prāṇas—five (5) major and five minor—offers a sophisticated and integrated map of the human system. Each prāṇa corresponds to different layers of our being—physical, energetic, mental, and spiritual—and plays a crucial role in our health and evolution.
Cultivating prāṇa through conscious breathing, healthy diet, sensory moderation, and meditative practices not only supports physical wellness but opens pathways to higher consciousness and inner freedom.
In a world overwhelmed by external distractions and disconnection, the science of prāṇa invites us to turn inward—to breathe, to feel, and to live with awakened vitality.
References- Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Svātmārāma (Trans. Brian Dana Akers)
- Yoga Tattva Upanishad
- Gheranda Samhita
- Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary
- Shiva Gita – Chapter on the Prāṇic Body
- Ayurveda and Panchamahabhuta Theory – Charaka Samhita
- Contemporary research from International Ayurvedic Medical Journal (IAMJ)
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Svātmārāma (Trans. Brian Dana Akers)
- Yoga Tattva Upanishad
- Gheranda Samhita
- Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary
- Shiva Gita – Chapter on the Prāṇic Body
- Ayurveda and Panchamahabhuta Theory – Charaka Samhita
- Contemporary research from International Ayurvedic Medical Journal (IAMJ)
FAQ
Q.1 What are the 5 pranas?Ans:The yogic tradition, especially as described in the Yoga Upanishads and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, describes five primary expressions of Prāṇa known as the Pancha Prāṇa Vāyus or “five winds.” These represent specific flows and functions of energy in the body and mind.
Q.2 What are the 5 pranas and Upapranas?
Ans:The five Prāṇas are: Prāṇa, Apāna, Samāna, Udāna, and Vyāna—they govern vital bodily functions like breath, excretion, digestion, speech, and circulation. The five Upa-Prāṇas are: Nāga, Kūrma, Kṛkara, Devadatta, and Dhananjaya—they handle secondary functions like belching, blinking, sneezing, yawning, and decomposition after death.
Q.3 What are the five minor pranas?
Ans:The five Upa-Prāṇas or minor pranas are: Nāga, Kūrma, Kṛkara, Devadatta, and Dhananjaya—they handle secondary functions like belching, blinking, sneezing, yawning, and decomposition after death.Q.4 What are the 10 types of Vayu in the body?
Ans:The 10 types of Vāyu in the body are: Prāṇa, Apāna, Samāna, Udāna, Vyāna, Nāga, Kūrma, Kṛkara, Devadatta, and Dhananjaya.They regulate all vital, sensory, and involuntary actions, sustaining both physical life and subtle energy flow.Q.5 How many prana vayus are there?
Ans:There are five main Prāṇa Vāyus: Prāṇa, Apāna, Samāna, Udāna, and Vyāna, each governing core life functions.Alongside them are five Upa-Prāṇa Vāyus, making a total of ten Prāṇa Vāyus in the body.
Ans:The yogic tradition, especially as described in the Yoga Upanishads and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, describes five primary expressions of Prāṇa known as the Pancha Prāṇa Vāyus or “five winds.” These represent specific flows and functions of energy in the body and mind.
Q.2 What are the 5 pranas and Upapranas?
The five Upa-Prāṇas are: Nāga, Kūrma, Kṛkara, Devadatta, and Dhananjaya—they handle secondary functions like belching, blinking, sneezing, yawning, and decomposition after death.
Q.3 What are the five minor pranas?
Q.4 What are the 10 types of Vayu in the body?
Q.5 How many prana vayus are there?
Q.6 What are the 5 levels of prana?
.png)
