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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"
|+Names
!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>
 
=== Leadbeater's view ===
 
[[C. W. Leadbeater]] talked about a "vitality globule" composed of seven [[atom]]s 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 [[chakra]]s and circulate around the body, giving energy to the various organs.<ref>Charles Webster Leadbeater, ''The Chakras'' (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1987), 53-54.</ref> 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).<ref>Charles Webster Leadbeater, ''The Chakras'' (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1987), 61.</ref>
 
== Notes ==
 
<references/>
 
==Further reading==
 
*[http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=Prana# Prana] at Theosopedia
 
 
[[Category:Sanskrit terms]]
[[Category:Theosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Concepts in The Secret Doctrine]]
[[Category:Hindu concepts]]

Latest revision as of 19:29, 26 July 2017

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