The Knowledge of Nadis

2 years ago By Yogi Anoop

The Knowledge of Nadi Tantra in Yogic Philosophy

Usually, people associate nadis with nerves and veins and often confuse them for one another. However, from the yogic point of view, there is a vast difference. For example, about every couple of hours or so, one would notice that there is a change in the intensity of breathing in one nostril. It rarely happens that both nostrils help one breathe about the same amount of air. However, this phenomenon does not mean that the airway gets compromised in any way, it all depends on the mechanism of nadis, we will learn more about it ahead. 

Nadis, their mechanism, blockages in them, et cetera, can be understood and affected by the means of our breath. Hatha yogis call them Pingala and Sushumna nadis. These affect and regulate the minutest activities of our body. This gets impacted by the brain and its behaviour, it is precisely why Raj Yoga lays great stress on the significance of Yama Niyam and Abhyasa. However, in Hatha Yoga, the functioning of nadis can be affected through the regular practice of yoga, pranayama and meditation. 

That is why Hatha yogis emphasised the practice of only those asanas and pranayama which can speed up the weak pulse and make it better. As per a Hatha Yogi, by working on the nadis, the highest state in nature can be brought and a healthy body can be achieved. 

It is worth noting here that the nasika or the nasal passage is just the external part which can be easily felt, there are many other parts of the body which operate in the same way. Since water and air have maximum dependence in the body, these elements can be easily felt inside the nose.

The process of closure of both nostrils one after the other is governed by the pattern of the brain. The part of the brain that is more active, the nostril opposite to that gets active. Let us understand this with the help of an example. 

If the left brain becomes more active, then the right nostril automatically opens completely and the breath starts flowing in and out very easily. Simultaneously, as soon as the right nostril opens completely, blockage starts to arise in the left nostril. That is, the breath almost stops flowing through the left nostril. Similarly, when the left nostril is fully opened, the right brain becomes active and at the same time, it almost shuts the right nostril. Although we are not able to pay attention to this process of nadis while doing daily activities, this happens to everyone.

This theory proves that the movement of any one part of the brain on the right or left side affects the breathing pattern. If studied more deeply, one will notice that it is governed by the nature of the mind and the needs of the body. As the process of thinking and mental activity increases, the nadis get impacted accordingly.

These nadis also run according to the physical requirement, like, after eating food, the right nostril automatically starts moving in intensity and the movement of breath from the left nostril becomes very less. And also when the person is going into a deep sleep then only the left nostril gets awakened. Left nostril activity means activation of the Ida nadi.

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