The Narration of Vāyu

The Śāntiparva of Mahābhārata describes five types of vital airs called prāṇa, apāna, vyāna, udāna and samāna. The description of it is thus, the body is protected by the brain where heat dwells. All kinds of strain are created by the vital air called prāṇa, which is within the head and heat is seen there. Prāṇa has many compliments to its credit. They are, prāṇa is said to be the living creature, the universal self, the eternal Being, mind, intellect and consciousness of all living creatures along with the objects of the senses. Thus the living creature which is mobile and filled with strain is the cause of Prāṇa. Samāna another virtue of vital air, makes each and every sense to perform. The wastes of the body like urine and excreta are carried out by the movement of urethra, belly and intestines by Apāna by the help of the heat that is in the body. Udāna which is seen in all the three vital airs that is Prāna, Sāmāna and apāna, is so called by the wise and learned. Vyāna is concerned with the joints and helps its working. Samāna is said to contain heat in it which is circulated all over the body of the living beings. The primary substances and bad humours are thus the cause of the vital airs. The food that is taken by the living creature is digested with the help of the heat of the vital air which is between the apāna and prāṇa in the navel.^[1]

A canal is found in the body of the living creatures, which starts from the mouth and ends in the extreme tip called anus. This canal has many branches to its credit. The canals help the passage of vital air which causes the form heat. The heat ushman is the prāṇa vital air, which is caused by the heat during the process of digestion. The heat thus found in the prāṇa, the vital air circulates all over the body from head to anus canal and again to the head. This is a cyclical process. The digested matter is found below the navel and the food which is taken is above this. The life which makes the body keep going on is seen in the navel.^[2]

Prāṇa, the first of the vital airs and the other nine of the ten sorts of vital air, goes through the canal, then branches out from heart carrying the liquid juices of food, in all directions, up and down and in contrary directions. The yogis, who know no fatigue and who take joys and sorrows lightly and who are known for patience, have attained the Brahma by making the soul and brain one, by utilizing the heat of the canal from mouth to the anus.^[3] The heat which like a glowing fire, which is in the vital airs is called prāṇa and apāna and others is seen in all embodied creatures. The fire which is always blazing can be compared to that of the fire in a vessel.