Ra.

Vi.

6

6

The Subtle Channels and the Ten Vital Airs

From these main centers, subtle channels nadis: conduits of life-force or prana emerge, which exist throughout the body to provide it with deep nourishment. It is taught that there are seven hundred The text here mentions 700 main channels, though it later references the traditional 72,000 primary ones. Among these, ten channels are the most significant as they act as the pathways for the ten vital airs. I shall now name these channels and the winds that flow through them.

The ten major channels are:
1. Ida
2. Pingala
3. Sushumna
4. Gandhari
5. Hastijivhika
6. Pusha
7. Yashasvini OCR reads "ayasa," likely a corruption of Yashasvini
8. Alambusha OCR reads "paleka"
9. Kuhu
10. Shankhini

From these primary conduits, seventy thousand original: "saptati-sahasrakam," usually interpreted as the 72,000 nadis of Hatha Yoga tradition subtle channels branch out.

The Ten Breaths

The vital air manifests in ten forms within the body:

• Prana the forward-moving breath
• Apana the downward-moving breath
• Samana the balancing or digestive breath
• Udana the upward-moving breath
• Vyana the pervasive breath
• Naga responsible for belching
• Kurma responsible for blinking
• Krikara responsible for sneezing/hunger
• Devadatta responsible for yawning
• Dhananjaya which remains even after death

The movement of the Prana is clearly perceived within the center of the body. Among the channels, Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna are the third and most vital trio. Ida and Pingala carry the solar and lunar energies. Sushumna is the nature of the "Hamsa" Hamsa: literally "Swan," a mantra representing the sound of the breath, indicating the very origin of the breath's rise. With the sound Ham, the breath exits; this is the masculine/solar principle. With the sound Sah, the energy enters; this is the feminine/Shakti principle. (9)

For the practitioner, the Moon (lunar energy) flows through the left nostril original: "vama-nadi", while the Sun (solar energy) flows through the right nostril. Each of these flows possesses five "digits" or divisions kala: a unit of time or measurement, which correspond to the five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether.

The Flow of the Elements

The movement of the breath reveals which element is currently dominant:

• Earth Prithvi flows in the middle.
• Fire Tejas moves upward.
• Air Vayu moves transversely (sideways).
• Ether Akasha moves in the transition or crossover between the others.

Each element rules for a specific duration ghatika: a period of 24 minutes. Throughout a full day and night (24 hours), there are twelve such transitions of the breath.

Characteristics of the Elements

One can recognize the elements by their color, length, and shape:

• Air is perceived as blue or smoky in color original: "nila-varna".
• Fire is red in color and transformative.
• Earth is superior and yellow in color.
• Water is white in color.

Regarding their forms: Air is said to be triangular; Earth is quadrangular (square); and Water is circular. In terms of taste, Air is pungent; Fire is bitter; Earth is astringent; and Water is considered sweet.

By placing the fingers over the face—the thumbs on the ears and the fingers over the eyes and nostrils—one can contemplate these six movements of the breath and nostril transitions. Through this, the knowledge of the elements tattva-jnana arises in sequence: the yellow, the white, the red, and the dark...