Monday, 15 July 2013

Prana –In Science and Myth

Scientific Perspective

From a modern scientific perspective, conventional scientific research today describes prana as a complex amalgamation of several forces or energies, such as the magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic, photonic, thermal and mental forces or energies.

In Myth

There is a story from the Upanishads that goes: “Once all the deities that reside in the body - air, fire, water, earth, ether, speech and mind - had an argument. Each claimed that it was superior to all others, declaring, "I sustain this perishable body." Prana was listening to this debate, and ultimately said to them, "Do not delude yourself. It is I, having divided myself into five parts, who supports and sustains this body." The deities did not believe him. Indignantly, Prana began to withdraw from the body. Instantly, all the other deities found themselves withdrawing too. When Prana again settled in the body, the deities found that they had assumed their respective places. Convinced of Prana's superiority, all now paid obeisance to Prana.”

This story affirms the Prana is the source of everything in manifestation and it is also the start of creation and it is something that sustains everything. Just as the myth says if there were no prana there would be no creation.


Note, as an aside, there seems to be modifications and types or sub-types of prana. However, the first type of prana, called mahaprana which is the Sanskrit word for cosmic prana, was the prana that came into being at the dawn of creation.

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