By S A Roa-Rane, Yoga therapist and Research Fellow
According to many Tantric texts, the human body contains 72,000 nadis that channel prana to every cell. Some are wide and rushing; others are a mere trickle. The word nadi comes from the Sanskrit root nad, meaning “channel”, “stream”, or “flow”. Special breathing techniques are supposed to influence the flow of prana within these nadis. Prana breath is the universal vital energy, which is literally the thing of life. For all of us who practice yoga, the major challenge for us is to harness this energy so that it can fuel our mental, physical as well and spiritual development. In order to do this, we have to look deeply into the mysteries that surround our mind as well as the subtle body. Fortunately, the Tantra’s early practitioners have voyaged into this particular inner landscape, mapping the different ways the energy in our body circulates within us. Among their most crucial discoveries were the Nadis, which are the vast network of energy channels that make us an integrated, vital, and conscious whole.
The Nadi is a Sanskrit word that comes from the root “nad”, which means the “flow”, “vibration”, or “motion”. The word itself depicts the basic fundamental nature of the Nadi, to flow like water, which finds the path of least resistance and also nourishes everything that comes in its path. The Nadis are essentially the energetic irrigation system, which, in essence, keep us alive.
In the Pranamayakosha or the energy body, there are 72,000 nadis. The 72,000 nadis spring from three basic nadis – the left, the right, and the central – the Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna. The word “nadi” does not mean nerve. Nadis are pathways or channels of prana in the system. These 72,000 nadis don’t have a physical manifestation. In the sense, if you cut the body and look in, you will not find them. But as you become more aware, you will notice the energy is not moving at random; it is moving in established pathways. There are 72,000 different ways in which the energy or prana moves. In addition to the seven chakras of the subtle body, the Tantras have described a network of subtle channels known as nadis through which the life force (prana) circulates. Nadi means “stream”. According to the tantric treatise Shiva Samhita, there are fourteen principal nadis. Of these, Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna are considered the most important.
Ida is the left channel. Ida is white, feminine, cold, represents the moon, and is associated with the river Ganga (Ganges). Originating in Muladhara, Ida ends up in the left nostril. Pingala is the right channel. Pingala is red, masculine, hot, represents the sun, and is associated with the river Yamuna. Originating in Muladhara, Pingala ends up in the right nostril. The Ida and Pingala represent the basic duality in the existence. It is this duality that we traditionally personify as Shiva and Shakti. In Muldhara, the static unmanifested Kundalini, the Shakti, is also symbolized at the spine’s base. The serpent lies blocking the Sushumna entrance along with the central channel with its mouth. Sushumna remains closed at the lower end of it as long as the Kundalini is not awakened in our body.
Within the spine, if you know its physical construction, you will know there are two holes on either side of the spine, which are like conduit pipes for all the nerves to pass. This is the Ida and the Pingala, the left and the right channels.
These two holes also facilitate good circulation, and because of their strategic location around the pelvic area, they are located where two bones connect the pelvis and are seen in people who have this genetic predisposition or appropriate-sized ligaments.
Sushumna is the central channel and is associated with the river Saraswati. Within the Sushumna nadi, there are three more subtle channels: Vajra, Chitrini, and Brahma nadi through which Kundalini moves upwards, running up the body from just below Muladhara chakra to Sahasrara chakra at the crown of the head.
The Ida and Pingala represent the basic duality in the existence. It is this duality that we traditionally personify as Shiva and Shakti. In Muldhara, the static unmanifested Kundalini, the Shakti, is also symbolized at the spine’s base. The serpent lies blocking the Sushumna entrance along with the central channel with its mouth. Sushumna remains closed at the lower end of it as long as the Kundalini is not awakened in our body.
The kanda in Muladhara chakra is the meeting place of the three main nadis and is known as Yukta Triveni (Yukta: “combined”, tri: “three”, veni: “streams”). In Muladhara, Shakti, the static unmanifested Kundalini, is symbolized by a serpent coiled into three and a half circles around the central axis Svayambhu-linga at the base of the spine.
Chakra and the Nadis System
Nadi is a pulse checking and finding the body tattvas of Vatha, Pitta, and Kapha. After that, the weakened organ can be diagnosed and treated with a suitable therapy. Also, 5 elements can be examined and find the unhealthy organ in a particular element. Similarly, the suitable diet can be prescribed. At Nadipathy™, the specialty is tracing back 7 generations of diseases and also finding past, present, and future diseases.
Nadi – the basic method of observing the pulse on the wrist – is a prominent feature in the medical field. In ancient times, these methods were practiced for examining the patient’s pulse and curing diseases by respective therapies independently, and not all therapies were available at one place. Specialists provided services in only one therapy at one place. The present invention extends an integrated and holistic approach in diagnosing and curing the disease by deploying one or a combination of several therapies, all made available under one roof.
Normally, the method involves examining the Nadi to assess the pulse rate by holding the wrist of the right hand or left hand of the patient. However, this method of ‘Nadipathy’ is different in that the Nadi can be examined anywhere in the body and not necessarily on the wrist alone, for example, the ankle, femoral artery, popliteal artery on the back side of the leg joint on the carotid artery (neck), and other areas on the human body. This Examination would disclose the root cause of the disease.
In the Vedic Era, we have done extensive research for years and adopted an ancient system of medicine by diagnosing the foreseen diseases, so that we can avoid and get treated.
The improvisation of this present method of treatment lies in
1. Finding Body tattvas (Nature of the Bodies) like Vatha, Pitta, Kapha by examining the pulse.
2. Finding 5 elements of the body and 12 organs.
When it comes to the physical level, the Pingala is the counterpart in our Parasympathetic Nervous system, while the Ida is the counterpart in the Sympathetic Nervous system. The Sushumna is in the Central Nervous system of the body.
. Masculine and feminine Nadi do not mean in terms of sex – about being male or female – but in terms of certain qualities in nature. Certain qualities in nature have been identified as masculine and identified as feminine. You may be a man, but if your Ida is more pronounced, the feminine may be dominant in you. You may be a woman, but if your Pingala is more pronounced, the masculine may be dominant in you. The moon here symbolizes the minds which have its changeable feelings, while the sun represents the intellect of the mind. Just like our emotions as well as thoughts, which keep on changing constantly, the moon is also changing its form constantly. The intellect in the mind, however, is stable as well as constant principle like the sun. Only when the harmony as well as balance prevail between the sun and the moon system, are we actually healthy as well as capable of developing both mentally as well as spiritually.
We are able to harmonize and activate the Nadis through our breath. When we breathe through the left nostril of our nose in Pranayama, we activate our Ida Nadi. The Ida Nadi cools as well as quietens, along with refreshing the body as well as the mind like the moon’s silvery light. The Pingala Nadi, however, which is influenced by breathing through our nose’s right nostril, has warming as well as activating influence, just in the same way as sunshine warms our earth along with stimulating the growth of vegetation.
Ida and Pingala begin in our brain at approximately the Pituitary gland level. Ida affects the brain’s right side, while the Pingala influences the left side of the brain. To maintain the balance, both Nadis run in just like a snake-like path from one side of our body to the other. At the points where these Nadis cross, they meet with the central Nadi, which is Sushumna. At those places where the radiance, as well as the power of the sun and the moon, meet, together with the Sushumna’s strengthening effect, the powerful energy centers in the body, which are called Chakras, are formed.
The first crossing of these Nadis at the tops of our spinal column forms the Vishuddhi Chakra or the Throat Chakra, and the last crossing at the base of our spinal column forms the Muladhara Chakra or the Root Centre. Here, the Ida Nadi flows from the left side of our body and the Pingala Nadi on our right side, and it is precisely and the actual position that our dormant consciousness of our body lies hidden.
At different places along our spinal column, these Nadis form a particular type of knot, which is called a Granthi, and each of these constitutes an essential point in the spiritual development of our mind and the body. When these knots or Granthis are “untied”, the energy which is located within these Granths gets activated and the Siddhis or the hidden powers are given to us as a type of healing powers which allows us to see the past as well as the future, along with seeing the auras as well as the other supernatural abilities.
When it comes to the other terms of the three Nadis, the Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna, they are Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarasvati, respectively. These are the names of three of the holiest rivers in India. The Ganga and the Yamuna flow at the surface of the earth, but the Sarasvati flows underground. But for a Yogi, these three main Nadis are his divine rivers as well as the eyebrow center or the Agya Chakra, where these Nadis meet, which is the only place of pilgrimage where he attains liberation and freedom.
Just like the Sarasvati, the mysterious river, only appears rarely, the Sushumna Nadi is active only for the particular short time period, for instance, at dawn and the dusk. When the three Nadis, which are the main Nadis of our body, unite, only one stream of consciousness flows, which is the spiritual energy of Sushumna Nadi. The energy also flows through this particular Nadi in deep meditation as well as in Samadhi. For as long as this Nadi, the Sushumna is inactive, we are plagued by constantly and ever-changing Chitta Vrittis, which are thoughts, worries, emotions, etc. But once the this Nadi, Sushumna, begins to flow, mind’s waves come to rest, and we actually bathe in the bliss and blessing of divine consciousness.
It is about bringing a balance between these Nadis, the Ida and the Pingala, which makes us effective in this world, and it makes us handle the different life aspects as well. Most of the people live as well as die in Ida and Pingala, while the Sushumna, which is the central space, remains dormant. But when it comes to the most significant aspect of our physiology, Sushumna is the one. When the energies enter Sushumna, only then the life really begin.
In a fundamental sense, Sushumna is more like attribute-less less which means that it has no quality of its own. It is more like a space. If there is a space, then you can easily create anything that you wish for. Once the energies enter this Nadi, the Sushumna, we can say that we have attained Vairagya, where the “Raga” means the colour and “Vairag” means no colour, which essentially means that we have become transparent. If we have become transparent, then whatever colour is behind us, we turn into that colour. If we are behind the colour blue, then we turn blue too. If we are behind the colour yellow, then we turn yellow. We become unprejudiced. Wherever we are, we become part of that particular thing, and nothing ever sticks to us. Only if we are like this, only when we are in the state of Vairag, then only we will dare to explore the different dimensions of life when we live here.
At present, we are reasonably balanced, and if because for some reason, the outside scenario or situation gets messy, we will get messy or crazy in reaction to that because this is what the nature of Ida and Pingala is. It is quite reactive to what is outside. But once the energies start to enter into Sushumna, we attain a new kind of balance, which is an inner balance where anything that happens outside to us, there is a certain space within which we can never get disturbed, which is like never getting into any kind of turmoil, and we can’t be touched by any of the outside precarious situations. Only if we create this particular stable situation within ourselves can we dare to scale the peaks of our consciousness.
Bringing a balance between the Ida and Pingala will make you effective in the world; it will make you handle life aspects well. Most people live and die in Ida and Pingala; Sushumna, the central space, remains dormant. But Sushumna is the most significant aspect of human physiology. Only when energies enter into Sushumna, life really begins.
The Three Fundamental Nadis – Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna
The technique of Kundalini Yoga consists of using Prana (the vital air), guiding its circulatory movement through Ida and Pingala down to the base of the spine into the space where Kundalini lies coiled. The vital energies of the opposite forces circulating in Ida and Pingala will be unified, and Shakti Kundalini will then awaken and rise in Sushumna, energizing the seven chakras.
From Muladhara chakra, Ida and Pingala alternate from the right to the left sides at each chakra until they reach Ajna chakra, where they meet again with Sushumna.
In the Ajna chakra, the meeting of the three main nadis is called Mukta Triveni (Mukta: “liberated”). Continuing beyond the Ajna chakra, Ida and Pingala end in the left and right nostrils, respectively.
Once the Kundalini Shakti has ascended through Sushumna to Sahasrara, the highest psychic center at the crown of the head, it is made to reverse its course and return to rest in the base center again.
Chakras relate to the organs of the body.
The positions of the seven chakras do, in fact, coincide with important glands, nerve centers, and blood vessels known to modern anatomy. However, it is crucial to emphasize that the chakras are not identical to these organs but rather intimately linked to them.
The lowest chakra, commonly known as the “root chakra”, is positioned at the base of the spine between the sexual organs and the anus. In modern anatomy, this area is called the Os sacrum, the holy bone. It is important to notice that exactly at this point, the lower branch of the parasympathetic nervous system (link) leaves the spine and contacts the sexual organ, digestive system, etc. Seen from a psychological point of view, this chakra is related to the most primitive instincts: survival, sexual energy, and fear. It is also related to the earth element and gravitational force.
Herein lies the main lingering primordial force, kundalini, described as a rolled-up sleeping female snake. When it is awakened, it will migrate up through sushumna and unite prana in the top chakra, the crown chakra, located in the brain. This will lead to enlightenment and happiness in the highest state of consciousness, which, as mentioned, is the aim of all yoga.
Vairagya
Vairagya is a Sanskrit word meaning detachment or dispassion, which is the practice of letting go of attachment to material possessions, worldly pleasures, and emotional outcomes. Fundamentally, Sushumna is attribute-less; it has no quality of its own. It is like space. If there is space, you can create anything you want. Once energies enter Sushumna, we say you attain Vairagya. “Raga” means color. “Vairag” means no color; you have become transparent. If you have become transparent, if what is behind you is red, you turn red too. If what is behind you is blue, you turn blue too. If what is behind you is yellow, you turn yellow too. You are unprejudiced. Wherever you are, you become a part of that, but nothing sticks to you. Only if you are like this, only if you are in a state of Vairag, then you will dare to explore all dimensions of life when you live here.
Right now, you are reasonably balanced, but if, for some reason, the outside situation goes crazy, you will also go crazy in reaction to that because that is the nature of Ida and Pingala. It is reactive to what is outside. But once the energies enter Sushumna, you attain a new kind of balance, an inner balance where whatever happens outside, there is a certain space within you which never gets disturbed, which is never in any kind of turmoil, which cannot be touched by the outside situations. Only if you create this stable situation within yourself will you dare to scale the peaks of consciousness. Vairagya is a state of mind that fosters inner peace, mental clarity, and spiritual growth by recognizing that desires and emotional turmoil are temporary illusions. True vairagya is not indifference or apathy, but a conscious and deliberate release from the mind’s incessant demands
