प्राणायाम
Pranayama
prāṇāyāma
In simple words
Pranayama means working consciously with the breath: slowing it, pausing it, balancing it. Yoga traditions see the breath as a bridge between body and mind.
What is it?
Prana is the life-force, most tangibly the breath; ayama means extension or restraint. In Patanjali's Yoga, pranayama is the fourth limb, a regulation of inhalation, exhalation and retention that prepares the mind for concentration. Hatha Yoga texts develop elaborate techniques and link them to channels (nadis) and the awakening of kundalini. The Gita mentions breath-control as one of several forms of inner offering (yajna).
Scholar’s note
YS 2.49–53 treat pranayama as following asana and leading to fitness of the mind for dharana. Hatha texts (Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita) list named kumbhakas and connect pranayama to ida, pingala and sushumna. The Upanishads already speak of the five pranas (prana, apana, vyana, udana, samana). Tantric sources treat breath and consciousness as intertwined, as in several practices of the Vijnana Bhairava.How its meaning differs
The fourth limb: regulated breath thins the covering over the mind's clarity and prepares it for concentration.
Breath is a living expression of Shakti; working with the pause between breaths and the movement of prana becomes a doorway to recognising consciousness.
The Upanishads treat prana as a principle of life, sometimes as a symbol of Brahman, and discuss the several vital airs.
Mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati) observes the breath rather than forcibly controlling it, as a basis for calm and insight.
Where it appears in the Gita
अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे।
दूसरे (कितने ही) प्राणायामके परायण हुए (योगीलोग) अपानमें प्राणका (पूरक करके) प्राण और अपानकी गति रोककर (कुम्भक करके) (फिर) प्राणमें अपानका हवन (रेचक) करते हैं; तथा अन्य (कितने ही) नियमित आहार करनेवाले प्राणोंका प्राणोंमें हवन किया करते हैं। ये सभी (साधक) यज्ञों द्वारा पापोंका नाश करनेवाले (और) यज्ञोंको जाननेवाले हैं।
5.27स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश्चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भु्रवो:।
बाहरके पदार्थोंको बाहर ही छोड़कर और नेत्रोंकी दृष्टिको भौंहोंके बीचमें (स्थित करके) (तथा) नासिकामें विचरनेवाले प्राण और अपान वायुको सम करके जिसकी इन्द्रियाँ, मन और बुद्धि अपने वशमें हैं, जो (केवल) मोक्षपरायण है (तथा) (जो) इच्छा, भय और क्रोधसे सर्वथा रहित है, वह मुनि सदा मुक्त ही है।
8.12सर्वद्वाराणि संयम्य मनो हृदि निरुध्य च।
(इन्द्रियोंके) सम्पूर्ण द्वारोंको रोककर मनका हृदयमें निरोध करके और अपने प्राणोंको मस्तकमें स्थापित करके योगधारणामें सम्यक् प्रकारसे स्थित हुआ जो साधक ‘ॐ’ इस एक अक्षर ब्रह्मका (मानसिक) उच्चारण (और) मेरा स्मरण करता हुआ शरीरको छोड़कर जाता है, वह परम गतिको प्राप्त होता है।
Where else it appears
Follow this idea
Trace the idea from one source to the next.
- 1Gita verseBhagavad Gita 4.29The Gita counts breath regulation among forms of inner offering.
- 2Gita verseBhagavad Gita 5.27Evening the in- and out-breath as part of the sage's inner discipline.
- 3Textयोगसूत्रYoga Sutras of PatanjaliPranayama as the fourth of eight limbs.
- 4Textहठयोगप्रदीपिकाHatha Yoga PradipikaThe classic manual of hatha breath techniques.
- 5Textविज्ञानभैरवतन्त्रVijnana Bhairava TantraTantric contemplations that begin from the breath.
- 6Conceptध्यानDhyanaWhere breath practice is meant to lead.
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