Pranavayu, Prāṇavāyu, Prana-vayu: 9 definitions
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 botanyPrāṇavāyu (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 IIThe 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 IIn 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 termsPrāṇavāyu (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.
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 BirchPrāṇavāyu (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”.
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).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama TextsPrāṇavāyu (प्राणवायु) refers to the “vital airs”, as discussed in chapter 7 of the Viṣṇutilakasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 3500 Sanskrit verses covering the typically “agamic” subjects which are being narrated by Brahmā to a number of sages.—[Cf. chapter 7]: [...] The orderly exposition of the pratiṣṭhā-ceremonies is all but sacrificed to the rehearsal of miscellaneous details to be seen to in the execution of sanctification procedures: [...] Preparation for prāṇapratiṣṭhā-homa is done by invoking all the vital airs [prāṇavāyu-nyāsa] (322-330), and this homa is done in order to make the vitality of the icon wax as the homa fire itself intensifies with the various offerings and accompanying meditations (the ṣoḍaśanyāsas—331-445).
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismIn 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 Dictionaryprāṇavāyu (प्राणवायु).—m (S) The breath of life,--the first and chief of the five vital airs. See under prāṇa.
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 corpusPrāṇavāyu (ಪ್ರಾಣವಾಯು):—
1) [noun] oxygen, the most essential thing for a living being.
2) [noun] one of the five vital winds in the human body.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Pranavayunyasa.
Full-text: Prana Vayu Mudra, Suryasvara, Kasaroga, Pranavayunyasa, Pranavata, Kasa, Karana, Uddiyanabandha, Cakra, Chonyid, Prana, Paravaha, Udararoga.
Relevant text
Search found 41 books and stories containing Pranavayu, Prāṇavāyu, Prana-vayu, Prāṇa-vāyu; (plurals include: Pranavayus, Prāṇavāyus, vayus, vāyus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Laghu-yoga-vasistha (by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar)
Part 6 - The Story of Uddālaka < [Chapter V - Upaṣānti-prakaraṇa]
Part 4 - The Story of Prahlāda < [Chapter V - Upaṣānti-prakaraṇa]
Part 9 - The Story of Śikhidhvaja < [Chapter VI - Nirvāṇa-prakaraṇa]
The Nervous System in Yoga and Tantra (Study) (by Ashok Majumdar)
10. The Five Vayus < [Chapter 7 - The Physiological and the Pathological concepts of Tridosha Theory]
7. Process of Brahma Granthi Bheda < [Chapter 2 - The Eight Components of Yoga]
12. The Five Kaphas < [Chapter 7 - The Physiological and the Pathological concepts of Tridosha Theory]
A study on pranavaha srotas and its mulasthana < [Volume 2, issue 5: Sept - Oct 2015]
Role of Traditional Therapy (Yoga) in Avabahuka (Frozen Shoulder) < [Volume 9, Issue 1: January-February 2022]
Diabetic retinopathy and its interpretations through ayurved < [Volume 6, Issue 2: March - April 2019]
World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research
The concept of prana in ayurveda < [2021: Volume 10, December issue 14]
Study of pranavaha srotas w.s.r. to respiratory system < [2021: Volume 10, August issue 10]
An interpretation on tamakshwasa < [2022: Volume 11, February issue 2]
The concept of Yoga according to Yoga Upanisads (by Jeong Soo Lee)
1.2. The Human Body in the Hatha-Yoga—Introduction < [Chapter 7 - Hatha, Laya, and Mantra Yoga in the Yogopanisads]
1.3. The concept of Prana (according to Yoga) < [Chapter 7 - Hatha, Laya, and Mantra Yoga in the Yogopanisads]
Jivanandana of Anandaraya Makhin (Study) (by G. D. Jayalakshmi)
Analysis of Prāṇa (Pratīhārī / Dauvārika) < [Chapter 6 - Dramatic aspects of the Jīvanandana Nāṭaka]