Prāṇa

Prāṇa (devanāgarī: प्राण) is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root prā). In Vedantic philosophy, prana is the notion of a vital, life-sustaining force of living beings and vital energy, comparable to the Chinese notion of Qi. In human beings, it flows through a network of fine subtle channels called nāḍis.

In the Theosophical literature prāṇa is the third (sometimes second) principle of human beings, usually referred as "life principle" or "vital principle."

In Hinduism

According to Hindu philosophy there are five pranas or vital currents that sustain physiological processes. They are:

Prāṇas

Name	Function
Prāṇa	Beating of the heart and breathing. Prana enters the body through the breath and is sent to every cell through the circulatory system.
Apāna	Elimination of waste products from the body through the lungs and excretory systems.
Uḍāna	Sound production through the vocal apparatus, as in speaking, singing, laughing, and crying.
Samāna	All metabolic processes from digestion of food to cell metabolism. Samana also includes the heat regulating processes of the body.
Vyāna	Expansion and contraction of cardio-vascular system and muscles in general.

In Theosophy

Mme. Blavatsky defines prāṇa as the "Life Principle, the breath of life". Although it is normally considered as the second principle in human beings, strictly speaking it is not a human, but a universal, principle:

"Prana," or "Life," is, strictly speaking, the radiating force or Energy of Atma -- as the Universal Life and the ONE SELF, -- ITS lower or rather (in its effects) more physical, because manifesting, aspect. Prana or Life permeates the whole being of the objective Universe; and is called a "principle" only because it is an indispensable factor and the deus ex machina of the living man.

Although the student can no longer look on Prâna as one of the Seven Principles, since it is the Universal Life, he must not forget that it vivifies all, as Prânic energy. Every Principle is a differentiation of Jîva, and the life-motion in each is Prâna, “the Breath of Life.” It is Nephesh: and Jîva becomes Prâna only when the child is born. . . . As an example, a sponge may be immersed in an ocean; the water in the sponge’s interior may be compared to Prâna; the water outside is Jîva. Prâna is the motor-principle in life. The Body leaves Prâna, Prâna does not leave it. Take out the sponge from the water, and it becomes dry––thus symbolizing death.

The activity of prana in human beings is said to be septenary, as anything else in the universe:

For Prâna (or life) has, strictly speaking, two vehicles . . . Linga-Śarîra, or astral body, is the vehicle of the life principle, or spirit life; while Kâma-rûpa is the vehicle of the physical or material essence. In other words, the three higher principles of the septenary of Prâna reside in the astral body, while the four lower principles have their seat in Kâma-rûpa. . . . Therefore, as Kâma-rûpa is the vehicle of the grossest of that form, that Prâna the astral body has got, is a vehicle of the spirit of the life principle, because it is connected with the higher principles of the triad and not with the quaternary.

Leadbeater's view

C. W. Leadbeater talked about a "vitality globule" composed of seven atoms charged with prāna, which are seen by the clairvoyant as having different colors (violet, blue, yellow, green, rose, orange, and red). When the globule is absorbed by the body, it is decomposed in the spleen in its original seven atoms, and five different streams or rays are produced (violet-blue, yellow, green, rose, and orange-red). These streams flow through the different chakras and circulate around the body, giving energy to the various organs. Leadbeater associates the five streams with the five prānas in Hinduism as follows: Prāna (yellow), Apāna (orange-red), Udāna (violet-blue), Samāna (green), and Vyāna (rose).

Online resources

Articles

• Prana at Theosopedia
• The Life Principle by H. P. Blavatsky