Präëäyäma

The Vedic Gift for health, healing and beyond

Yogäcärya S Sridharan

Who invented Yoga? This is a question that crops up often now, particularly at the
international forums or as a subject for research. Yoga traces its origin to Vedas on which there
is no dispute. But when it centers around the tools of Yoga such as Äsana, Präëäyäma and
Dhyäna it becomes a matter for speculation. Traditionalists are settled that Vedas are ancient
and beyond time and authorship. They accept a cyclical calendar which has millions of years
of the existence of the Universe, which evolves through transformation and to resolve back to
the origin only to evolve again. In this cycle while everything loses its identity, four things
remain. They are the Supreme Self, Individual Souls, Universe in its unmanifest form and the
Vedas. Therefore, Yoga also takes the position of eternity. The principles remain eternal, the
users appear and disappear, and the continuity is maintained by the Supreme knowledge. The
Vedas which are numerous has been losing the number of branches due to non-continuity of
use. However, number of branches continue to be maintained in their pristine pure form by
passing on the knowledge through an unbroken lineage of teaching. The Vedas, in all, have
two aims; one, to give a code of conduct, to the humanity, to live a healthy and happy life and
when needed to find the solution for suffering permanently by understanding the true nature
of one self. In this process, they are divided into broad segments one ‘Action part’ (Karma
Kända) and the other ‘Knowledge part (Jïäna Kända). The ‘Action part’ has numerous rituals
which uses Mantras of the Vedas. These rituals have elaborate procedures which have been
detailed in minute details by the great Seers who have brought out manuals (Småtis). The
manuals give the various Mantras to be used, the oblations and certain physical postures for
the Master (Yajamäna) for whose benefit the ritual is performed. This Master has to be in a
body position (Äsana). Performance of every ritual will itself be a ‘Dhyänam’. All rituals will
have Präëäyämas interspersed. Thus, the various Yogic tools take their origin to Vedas and
thus are handed over through generations of teachers. Over centuries they continue to be
maintained in the original pure form. However, they have also been elaborated for meeting
the requirements of humanity by modifications and adaptations.

Präëäyäma has a special role in the Vedic rituals. It has two purposes. One, it cleanses the
Mind and make one ready for focus into the activity. Otherwise the performance of the rituals
will become mechanical and will not yield the desired results. The Master of Vedic Rituals
should be internally and externally clean. Präëäyäma gives the required internal cleanliness.
How does Präëäyäma gives the internal cleanliness? Internal cleanliness involves cleaning
the internal organ, i.e. the Mind. While the parts of the body are involved, it is the Mind which

1|Page
has premier role to play. Whether it is recitation of Mantras, reflection of the meaning, or even
involving the gross part of the body Mind has an important part.

2|Page