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In Vedic and Vedantic scriptures, Prana is far more than breath—it’s the essence of life and consciousness. The Upanishads, philosophical texts at the end of the Vedas, define Prana as the Supreme Brahman. In the Brahmana Upanishad, Prana is Purusha, the cosmic unmanifest source of all existence, manifesting as breath and the Sun (Surya), the origin of life and awareness. Here, Prana is both internal (individual spirit) and external (universal spirit), the raw material of creation, uniting the observed and the observer.
The Maitri Upanishad (Black Yajurveda) describes Prana as the self-created Paramatman, manifesting as Prana and the Sun (Aditya), with paths internal (Atma, our True Self) and external (the Universal Spirit). The Rig Veda calls Surya the soul of the universe, the source of Prana, revered by ancient seers as life’s giver—think of energizing water or fruit in sunlight to absorb Prana. Prana spans from vital energy to divine consciousness, a bridge to self-knowledge through breath observation.
Beyond breath, Prana connects to Vaikhari—speech born from Prana. In Vedanta, words materialize thoughts through Prana, a process called Prana Vritti Nivandhana. Vedic intonations, chanted for hours, reconfigure the mind and psyche, transcending duality (Kshetra)—the battlefield of opposites like fear and desire. Unlike Hatha Yoga’s Pranayama, Vedanta uses these sounds as spiritual practice, believed to shift personal and societal karma.
From the gross (vital energy) to the subtle (Brahman’s emanation), Prana sustains all. The Taittirya Upanishad and Brhaddevata affirm Prana as life, consciousness, and the knower of the body (Kshetrajña), guiding us toward self-realization.
Curious about this ancient wisdom? Dive into the Vedas and feel Prana’s transformative power.
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