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Creation of praaNa (vital air)From
a combination of the rajas aspect of the five subtle elements, is
produced praaNa, or vital air.
This has five divisions, according to the function performed. These are
described in the Bhaashya on Pras’na Upanishad.3.5, thus:--- He (praaNa) places apaana, a
division of himself, in the two lower apertures, as engaged in the work
of ejecting the excreta . praaNa himself,
who occupies the position of the sovereign, resides in the eyes and the
ears and issues out through the mouth and nostrils. In the navel is samaana,
which is so called because it assimilates all that is eaten or
drunk, distributes them equally in all parts of the body and effects
digestion. udaana,
another division of praaNa,
moves throughout the body and functions upwards. It leads the soul
out of the body at the time of death and takes it to other worlds
according to one’s puNya and
paapa. vyaana regulates praaNa
and apaana and is the
cause of actions requiring strength. (See also Br.up.1.5.3.S.B). Br.up.3.9.26.S.B.—The
force called praaNa would go
out (through the mouth and nostrils) if it were not held back by apaana.
The force called apaana would
also depart (through the lower orifice) if it were not held back by vyaana.
All these three forces would go out in all directions, if they were not
fixed to udaana. All these
four forces rest on samaana. taitt.up.2.2.S.B.
–praaNa is that aspect which
goes out through the mouth and nostrils.
Vedaantasaara—Paras
84 and 85---According to Saankhya, there are five more vital forces
known as naaga, kuurma, kr.kala,
devadatta and dhananjaya.
Their functions are, respectively, causing vomiting, winking, creating
hunger, producing yawning and nourishing the body.
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