Pranavayu, Prāṇavāyu, Prana-vayu: 8 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Pranavayu means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botany

Prāṇavāyu (प्राणवायु):—A Sanskrit technical term referring to “respiration”, it is one of the five upadoṣa (sub functions) of Vāta or Vāyu (one of the three doṣas). A doṣa is a basic component of life. The compound Prāṇavāyu is composed of the words Prāṇa (‘life’) and Vāyu (‘breath’). It is also known as Prāṇavāta. These terms are used throughout Ayurvedic literature such as the Caraka-saṃhitā and the Suśruta-saṃhitā. Āyurveda is India’s classical science of medicine.

Source: archive.org: Sushruta samhita, Volume II

The Vāyu, that courses in (governs) the cavity of the mouth, is called the Prāna, its function being to force down the food into the cavity of the stomach, and to assist the different vitalising principles of the body (such as the internal heat or fire etc.) in discharging their functions in life, and to contribute to the general sustenance of the body. A deranged condition of this particular kind of Vāyu (Prāna) is usually followed by hiccough, dyspnœa and other kindred distempers.

The Prāna Vāyu is identical with the energy of the nerve centre in the medulla ;

Source: archive.org: Sushruta samhita, Volume I

In the Mahābhārata the Prāna-vāyu is described as a force, akin to electricity. It is somewhat like a flash of lightning. This fact at once shows the errors of confounding Prāna-vāyu with an effete material—with gases generated during the processes of digestion.

Sushruta describes it as a force, which sets the whole organism into motion. Self-evolved, it acts as the principal factor that determines the genesis, continuance and disintegration of the living body. It is the primary cause—an all-in-all that governs our organic as well as our cognitive faculties. Its special feature is that the vibration, that is produced in it, instead of travelling like light in a transverse direction, takes a course as the controller of the correlative functions of the system. It maintains an equilibrium between the Pittam and Shleshmā which are said to be inert, But for this adjustment the living body would stand in imminent danger of being consumed like fuel by its internal heat or fire.

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

Prāṇavāyu (प्राणवायु):—One of the five subtypes of Vāta (Vāyu) that is seated in head. It performs the functions like controlling the intellect, heart, sensory and motor organs and mind. It also regulates the activities like respiration, spitting, sneezing, belching and swallowing.

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Prāṇavāyu (प्राणवायु) refers to the “breath”, according to the Śivayogadīpikā by Sadāśivayogīśvara: a text dealing with Śaivism and Haṭhayoga in two hundred and eighty-nine verses.—Accordingly, while describing Haṭhayoga techniques: “Mantrayoga is natural [prāṇāyāma], Layayoga is modified [prāṇāyāma], Haṭhayoga is called Kevalakumbhaka and Rājayoga is the no-mind [state]. The first is the Yoga of the so'ham mantra, and [the second] is the absorption of the breath in the [internal] resonance. After that, [Haṭhayoga] is steadiness of the mind and breath, and the fourth [Rājayoga] is the absence of mental activity. The fourth is obtained through the cessation of the breath (prāṇavāyu). Therefore, you should become an adept of [this] practice and one devoted to prāṇāyāma”.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

In Ayurveda, tantra and Tibetan medicine "praṇā vāyu" is the basic vāyu (wind, air) from which all the other vāyus arise. It is analogous to qi.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

prāṇavāyu (प्राणवायु).—m (S) The breath of life,--the first and chief of the five vital airs. See under prāṇa.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Prāṇavāyu (ಪ್ರಾಣವಾಯು):—

1) [noun] oxygen, the most essential thing for a living being.

2) [noun] one of the five vital winds in the human body.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 31 books and stories containing Pranavayu, Prana-vayu, Prāṇa-vāyu, Prāṇavāyu; (plurals include: Pranavayus, vayus, vāyus, Prāṇavāyus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 6 - The Story of Uddālaka < [Chapter V - Upaṣānti-prakaraṇa]

Part 4 - The Story of Prahlāda < [Chapter V - Upaṣānti-prakaraṇa]

Part 3 - The Story of Karkaṭī < [Chapter III - Utpatti-prakaraṇa]

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Analysis of Prāṇa (Pratīhārī / Dauvārika) < [Chapter 6 - Dramatic aspects of the Jīvanandana Nāṭaka]

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Story of Parāvaha

Story of Nāḍīcakra

Story of Dharmavyādha

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Verse 1.5.48 < [Chapter 5 - Priya (the beloved devotees)]

Verse 1.4.41 < [Chapter 4 - Bhakta (the devotee)]