Prana (vital force) and its mastery

The vital forces are five in number viz., prana, apana, vyana, udana and samana. As these vital forces are very famous, Vivaranakara does not give much explanation on this. The well known order (as shown above) of these vital forces is 229

neglected by Vyasa-bhashya and Patanjala-yogasutra-bhashya-vivarana The order in Vyasa-bhashya and Patanjala-yogasutra-bhashya-vivarana is- prana, samana, apana, udana, and vyana. 261 Prana moves through the mouth and nose and manifests itself up to the region of heart. Samana is so called because it distributes food equally to all parts of the body (samam nayanat samanah), and it extends up to the navel. Apana manifests itself from the region of navel and extends up to the region of the soles of feet. It removes the waste of the body, like urine, faeces, etc. (mutrapurisadinam apanayanat apanah). Udana is so called because it carries the body upward (urdhvam sarirasya nayanat udanah). Its activity starts with the soles of feet and extends up to the top of head. That which pervades the entire body (samasta-sarira-vyapi vyanah) is called vyana. 262 Among these five vital forces, prana is the prominent one. Vivaranakara also points out that, if one conquers prana, he can gain victory over all the others like apana etc. In Yogasutra of Patanjali, Vyasa-bhashya, and Patanjala-yogasutra-bhashya-vivarana, the description is on only about the mastery over two of these vital forces viz., udana and samana. 263 Through mastery over udana one will not ever suffer from the evil effects of water, mud or thorn. Vivaranakara 230

also mentions that by conquering udana, the tip of a sword etc. will not affect the yogin. The upward movement or utkranti, which takes place at the time of death, only occurs by yogin's own free will with the mastery over udana. Through mastery of samana there is an arousal of the fire of udana which has its location in samana. By doing so, the yogin can kindle the internal fire (jathara).