11/17/22, 2:38 PM Nadi (yoga) - Wikipedia

Nadi (yoga)
Nāḍī (Sanskrit: नाडी, lit. 'tube, pipe, nerve, blood vessel, pulse') is a
term for the channels through which, in traditional Indian
medicine and spiritual theory, the energies such as prana of the
physical body, the subtle body and the causal body are said to
flow. Within this philosophical framework, the nadis are said to
connect at special points of intensity, the chakras.[1] All nadis are
said to originate from one of two centres; the heart and the kanda,
the latter being an egg-shaped bulb in the pelvic area, just below
the navel.[1] The three principal nadis run from the base of the
spine to the head, and are the ida on the left, the sushumna in the
centre, and the pingala on the right. Ultimately the goal is to
unblock these nadis to bring liberation.

Contents
Overview A simplified view of the subtle body
Early references of Indian philosophy, showing the
three major nadis or channels, the
Functions and activities
Ida (B), Sushumna (C), and Pingala
Three channels (nadis) (D), which run vertically in the body.
Central channel (Sushumna)
Side channels
Left channel (Ida)
Right channel (Pingala)
Unblocking the channels
Other traditions and interpretations
Chinese
Tibetan
European
See also
Notes and references
Sources

Overview
Nadi is an important concept in Hindu philosophy, mentioned and described in the sources, some as
much as 3,000 years old. The number of nadis of the human body is claimed to be up to hundreds-of-
thousands and even millions. The Shiva Samhita treatise on yoga states, for example, that out of
350,000 nadis 14 are particularly important, and among them, the three just mentioned are the three

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most vital.[1] The three principal nadis are ida, pingala, and sushumna.[2] Ida (इडा, iḍā "comfort") lies
to the left of the spine, whereas pingala (पिङ्गल, piṅgala "orange", "tawny", "golden", "solar") is to the
right side of the spine, mirroring the ida. Sushumna (सुषुम्णा, suṣumṇā "very gracious", "kind"[3]) runs
along the spinal cord in the center, through the seven chakras. When the channels are unblocked by
the action of yoga, the energy of kundalini uncoils and rises up the sushumna from the base of the
spine.[2]

The nadis play a role in yoga, as many yogic practices, including shatkarmas, mudras and pranayama,
are intended to open and unblock the nadis. The ultimate aim of some yogic practices are to direct
prana into the sushumna nadi specifically, enabling kundalini to rise, and thus bring about moksha,
or liberation.[4]

Early references
Several of the ancient Upanishads use the concept of nadis (channels). The nadi system is mentioned
in the Chandogya Upanishad (8~6 cc. BCE), verse 8.6.6.[7] and in verses 3.6-3.7 of the Prasna
Upanishad (second half of the 1 millennium BC). As stated in the last,

3.6 "In the heart verily is Jivātma. Here a hundred and one nāḍis arise. For each of these
nāḍis there are one hundred nāḍikās. For each of these there are thousands more. In these
Vyâna moves."

3.7 "Through one of these, the Udâna leads us upward by virtue of good deeds to the good
worlds, by sin to the sinful worlds, by both to the worlds of men indeed." (PU Q3)[8][9]

The medieval Sat-Cakra-Nirupana (1520s), one of the later and more fully developed classical texts
on nadis and chakras, refers to these three main nadis by the names Sasi, Mihira, and Susumna.[10]

In the space outside the Meru, the right apart from the body placed on the left and the
right, are the two nadis, Sasi and Mihira. The Nadi Susumna, whose substance is the
threefold Gunas, is in the middle. She is the form of Moon, Sun, and Fire even water also;
Her body, a string of blooming Dhatura flowers, extends from the middle of the Kanda to
the Head, and the Vajra inside Her extends, shining, from the Medhra to the Head.[11]

Functions and activities

In hatha yoga theory, nadis carry prana, life force energy. In the physical body, the nadis are channels
carrying air, water, nutrients, blood and other bodily fluids around and are similar to the arteries,
veins, capillaries, bronchioles, nerves, lymph canals and so on.[1] In the subtle and the causal body,
the nadis are channels for so-called cosmic, vital, seminal, mental, intellectual, etc. energies
(collectively described as prana) and are important for sensations, consciousness and the spiritual
aura.[1]

Yoga texts disagree on the number of nadis in the human body. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika and
Goraksha Samhita quote 72,000 nadis, each branching off into another 72,000 nadis, whereas the
Shiva Samhita states 350,000 nadis arise from the navel center,[1] and the Katha Upanishad (6.16)
says that 101 channels radiate from the heart.[2]
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The Ida and Pingala nadis are sometimes in modern readings

interpreted as the two hemispheres of the brain. Pingala is the
extroverted (Active), solar nadi, and corresponds to the right side
of the body and the left side of the brain. Ida is the introverted,
lunar nadi, and corresponds to the left side of the body and the
right side of the brain.[12]

Three channels (nadis)

Central channel (Sushumna)

Sushumna is the central and most important channel. It connects

the base chakra to the crown chakra. It is important in Yoga and
Tantra.[13][14]
The Varaha Upanishad (13-16 cc.
CE) further describes it as follows:[5]
Side channels
"The nāḍis
Left channel (Ida) penetrate the body
from the soles of
Ida is associated with lunar energy. The word ida means "comfort" the feet to the
in Sanskrit. Idā has a moonlike nature and feminine energy with a crown of the head.
cooling effect.[15] It courses from the left testicle to the left nostril In them is prāṇa,
and corresponds to the Ganges river. the breath of life
and in that life
abides Ātman,
Right channel (Pingala)
which is the abode
Pingala is associated with solar energy. The word pingala means of Shakti, creatrix
"orange" or "tawny" in Sanskrit. Pingala has a sunlike nature and of the animate and
inanimate worlds."
masculine energy.[15] Its temperature is heating and courses from
the right testicle to the right nostril. It corresponds to the river (VU 54/5)[6]
Yamuna.

Unblocking the channels

The purpose of yoga is moksha, liberation and hence immortality in the state of samadhi, union,
which is the meaning of "yoga" as described in the Patanjalayayogasastra.[16][17] This is obstructed by
blockages in the nadis, which allow the vital air, prana, to languish in the Ida and Pingala channels.
The unblocking of the channels is therefore a vital function of yoga.[17] The various practices of yoga,
including the preliminary purifications or satkarmas, the yogic seals or mudras, visualisation, breath
restraint or pranayama, and the repetition of mantras work together to force the prana to move from
the Ida and Pingala into the central Sushumna channel.[17] The mudras in particular close off various
openings, thus trapping prana and directing it towards the Sushumna. This allows kundalini to rise up
the Sushumna channel, leading to liberation.[17][18][19]

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Other traditions and

interpretations
Other cultures work with concepts similar to nadis and
prana.

Chinese

Systems based on Traditional Chinese Medicine work

with an energy concept called qi, analogous to prana.[20]
Qi travels through meridians analogous to the nadis. The
microcosmic orbit practice has many similarities to
certain Indian nadi shuddha (channel clearing) exercises
and the practice of Kriya Yoga.

Tibetan The practices of yoga work together to force

Tibetan medicine borrows many concepts from Yoga
through the influence of Tantric Buddhism. One of the Six
Yogas of Naropa is a cleansing of the central channel
called phowa, preparing the soul to leave the body
through the sagittal suture.[21]
prana into the central Sushumna channel,
allowing kundalini to rise, leading to moksha,
liberation. The shatkarmas purify the nadis,
while the mudras trap prana, and other
practices (not shown) force the prana out of
the Ida and Pingala channels.[4]

The Vajrayana practice of Trul Khor is another practice

used to direct and control the flow of energy within the body's energetic meridians through breath
control and physical postures.[22]

European

Sometimes the three main nadis are related to the Caduceus of Hermes: "the two snakes of which
symbolize the kundalini or serpent-fire which is presently to be set in motion along those channels,
while the wings typify the power of conscious flight through higher planes which the development of
that fire confers".[23]

See also
Aura
Mudra

Notes and references

1. B. K. S. Iyengar (2010). Light on Pranayama. the Crossroad
Publishing Company. pp. Chapter 5: Nadis and Chakras.
2. Mallinson & Singleton 2017, pp. 172–173.

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3. spokensanskrit.de (http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=
DI&beginning=0+&tinput=Sushumna&trans=Translate&directio
n=AU)
4. Mallinson & Singleton 2017, pp. Chapter 6, especially pages
228–229.
5. Varaha Upanishad (http://hinduonline.co/Scriptures/Upanishad
s/VarahaUpanishad.html), c. 1200-1600 CE
6. Varahopanisad V, 54/5.
7. For reference to Chandogya Upanishad 8.6.6 and
interpretation as an early form of the occult physiology see:
McEvilley, Thomas. "The Spinal Serpent", in: Harper and
Brown, p.94.
8. Nāḍikās are small nadis.

Udâna are often translated as "out-breathing" in this context.

Perhaps a metaphor for death.
Manuscript painting of a yogin in
9. Prasna Upanishad, Question 3 § 6, 7.
meditation, showing the chakras
10. Sat-Cakra-Nirupana (http://www.bahaistudies.net/asma/7chakr and the three main channels (nadis)
as.pdf), Purnananda Swami of the subtle body. A small serpent,
11. Sat-Cakra-Narupana, The Muladhara Cakra (https://books.goo symbolising the Kundalini, climbs up
gle.com/books?id=QaN8Ix66P-EC&pg=320#v=twopage&q&f=f the central sushumna channel; she
alse), transl. Sir John Woodroffe in The Serpent Power: Being will pierce each chakra as she
the Ṣaṭ-cakra-nirūpana and Pādukā-pañcaka climbs. When she reaches the head
12. "Nadis" (https://www.yogadharma.co.uk/teacher-training/nadi she will unite with Shiva; the yogin
s/). Yoga Dharma. 5 October 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2022. will then be liberated in his body.
13. Mallinson & Singleton 2017, pp. 122, 173, 178, 187, 190, 194,
197, 202.
14. Samuel, Geoffrey (2010). The Origins of Yoga and Tantra.
Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century. Cambridge
University Press. pp. 255, 271.
15. Three fundamental nadis (http://www.ishafoundation.org/blog/y
oga-meditation/demystifying-yoga/the-three-fundamental-nadi
s/)
16. Mallinson & Singleton 2017, pp. 4–6, 323.
17. Mallinson & Singleton 2017, pp. 178–181.
18. Mallinson & Singleton 2017, pp. 228–233.
19. Arthur Avalon, The Serpentine Power (collection of yoga-
tantric texts)
20. Hankey, Alex; Nagendra, HR; Nagilla, Niharika (2013). "Effects
of yoga practice on acumeridian energies: Variance reduction
implies benefits for regulation" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p
mc/articles/PMC3573545). International Journal of Yoga.
Medknow. 6 (1): 61–65. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.105948 (http
s://doi.org/10.4103%2F0973-6131.105948). ISSN 0973-6131
(https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0973-6131). PMC 3573545 (htt
ps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3573545).
PMID 23439630 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23439630).

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21. Georgios, Halkias (October 2019). "Ascending to Heaven after

Death: Karma Chags med's Commentary on Mind
Transference" (http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/j
ournals/ret/pdf/ret_52_03.pdf) (PDF). Revue d'Études
Tibétaines (52): 70–89.
22. Chaoul, M. Alejandro (October 2003). "Yogic practices in the
Bon tradition" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080229110031/h
ttp://www.wellcome.ac.uk/assets/WTD006097.pdf) (PDF).
Wellcome History (24): 7–8. Archived from the original (http://
www.wellcome.ac.uk/assets/WTD006097.pdf) (PDF) on 2008-
02-29. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
23. C. W. Leadbeater, Chakras, Adyar, 1929

Sources

Mallinson, James; Singleton, Mark (2017). Roots of Yoga. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-241-
25304-5. OCLC 928480104 (https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/928480104).
Sandra, Anderson (2018). "The Nadis: Tantric Anatomy of the Subtle Body". Himalayan Institute.
Retrieved April 2, 2021.
"The Three Main Nadis: Ida, Pingala and Sushumna". Hridaya Yoga France. Retrieved 2021-04-
03.
"The Ida and Pingala". Yin Yoga. Retrieved 2021-04-03.

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