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'''Prāṇa''' (devanāgarī: प्राण) is the [[Sanskrit]] word for "vital life" (from the root ''prā''). In [[Vedanta|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 [[nāḍi|nāḍis]].
#REDIRECT [[Prana]]
 
In the [[Theosophy|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.<ref>Rammurti S. Mishra, ''Yoga Sutras: The Textbook of Yoga Psychology'' (New York: The Julian Press Inc., 1987), 272-273</ref> They are:
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+Prāṇas
!Prāṇa
!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 ==
 
[[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Mme. Blavatsky]] defines prāṇa as follows:
 
<blockquote>"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.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Key to Theosophy'', (London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1987), 176.</ref></blockquote>
 
== Notes ==
 
<references/>
 
==Further reading==
 
*[http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=Prana# Prana] at Theosopedia
 
 
[[Category:Sanskrit terms]]
[[Category:Theosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Hinduism]]
[[Category:Hindu concepts]]

Latest revision as of 19:29, 26 July 2017

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