Ancient symbolic representation of the Yogic 'Nadi' model

Nadis (Sanskrit: channel or vein)(Tamil: psychic nerve) are the channels through which, in traditional Indian medicine and spiritual science, the energies of the subtle body are said to flow. They connect at special points of intensity called chakras. Nadis seems to correspond to the meridians of traditional Chinese medicine. THE TAMIL SIDDHA ALCHEMICAL TRADITION HAS EXTENSIVE RESEARCH LITERATURE ABOUT NADIS AND ALSO HAS MANY TECHNIQUES TO ENERGISE NADIS FOR ENLIGHTENMENT. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 402 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (800 × 1,194 pixels, file size: 115 KB, MIME type: image/gif) An ancient symbolic representation of the Yogic Nadi model. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 402 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (800 × 1,194 pixels, file size: 115 KB, MIME type: image/gif) An ancient symbolic representation of the Yogic Nadi model. ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... The Subtle body is a non-physical energy or psycho-spiritual body or bodies that all beings have, according to various esoteric, occult, and mystical teachings. ... For the Naruto jutsu, see Chakra (Naruto). ... The concept of meridians (Chinese: jing-luo 经络) arises from the techniques and doctrines of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including acupuncture, acupressure, and qigong. ... Traditional Chinese medicine shop in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. ...

Ida, Pingala and Sushumna

Amongst these ducts or nadis, three are of the utmost importance: the Medullar Shushumna, which interpenetrates the cerebrospinal axis from the perineum to the juncture of the lamboid and sagittal suture of the cranium, the lunar Serpentine Ida of the left side, of a pale color, negative polarity; the solar Serpentine Pingala of the right side, red color, positive polarity.^[1] Those are the main nadis, but in some tantric texts more than 72,000 nadis are cited ^[2]. They all start from the central channel of the chakras to the periphery where they gradually become thinner^{[citation needed]}. Shushumna is a Nadi in the human subtle body. ... In Mysticism, ida is a nadi or psychic nerve. ... In Mysticism, pingala is a nadi or psychic nerve. ...

The Sat-Cakra-Narupana, one of the earliest text on nadis and chakra, explicitally refer to these three main nadis, calling them Sasi, Mihira, Susumna.

In the space outside the Meru, 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; 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. ^[3]

Functions and Activities

Nadis are thought to carry a life force energy known as prana in Sanskrit, or qi in Chinese-based systems. In particular prana (active) is supposed to circulate inside Pingala, while apana(passive) is supposed to circulate inside Ida. Inside Sushumna is supposed to circulate kundalini when awakened. ^[4] The Ida and Pingala nadis are often seen as referring to the two hemispheres of the brain. Pingala is the extroverted(Active), solar nadi, and corresponds to the right hand side of the brain. Ida is the introverted, lunar nadi, and corresponds to the left hand side of the brain. These nadis are also said to have an extrasensory function, playing a part in empathic and instinctive responses. The two nadis are believed to be stimulated through different practices, including Pranayama, which involves alternate breathing through left and right nostrils, which would alternately stimulate respectively the left and right sides of the brain. The word nadi comes from the Sanskrit root nad meaning "channel", "stream", or "flow". The rythmical breathing and special breathing techniques are supposed to influence the flow of these nadis or energetic currents. According to this kind of interpretation (which is the Yoga interpretation) the breathing techniques will purify and develop these two energetic currents and will lead to breathing special exercises whose goal is to awake kundalini. Prana (, IAST: ) is a Sanskrit word meaning breath and refers to a vital, life-sustaining force of living beings and vital energy in natural processes of the universe. ... For other uses, see QI (disambiguation). ... Prana (, IAST: ) is a Sanskrit word meaning breath and refers to a vital, life-sustaining force of living beings and vital energy in natural processes of the universe. ... Pingala (पिङ्गल ) is the supposed author of the Chandas shastra (, also Chandas sutra ), a Sanskrit treatise on prosody considered one of the Vedanga. ... Apana may refer to: // In computing: The Australian Public Access Networking Association. ... Ida can mean the following: Ida of Bernicia, King of a British state. ... Shushumna is a Nadi in the human subtle body. ... Kundalini ( ) is a Sanskrit word meaning either coiled up or coiling like a snake. ... The human brain In animals, the brain (enkephalos) (Greek for in the skull), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behavior. ... Look up solar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The human brain In animals, the brain (enkephalos) (Greek for in the skull), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behavior. ... Lunar may refer to: an adjective that means having to do with or pertaining to the Moon, or to moons in general. ... The human brain In animals, the brain (enkephalos) (Greek for in the skull), is the control center of the central nervous system, responsible for behavior. ... Pranayama (Sanskrit: ) is a Sanskrit word often translated as control of the life force (prana). ... Sanskrit ( , for short ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Kundalini ( ) is a Sanskrit word meaning either coiled up or coiling like a snake. ...

Western tradition and Interpretations

Sometimes the three main nadis (Ida, Pingala and Sushumna) 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".^[5]. In this framework of mystic western esotericism welded with yoga concepts, sometimes the three nadis are related and named as alchemical sulphur and alchemical mercury ^[6][7] For the medical symbol often mistakenly referred to as a caduceus, see Rod of Asclepius. ...

"In the East, the symbol of the two serpents twisting on the rod corresponds to the two currents Pingala and Ida which coil around the Merudanda: the first is red, hot and dry, likened to the Sun and the Alchemic Sulphur; the second, Ida, is cold and wet, like the Alchemic Mercury and is correlated with the Moon for its silver pallor." ^[8]

See also

• Aura
• Chakra
• Prana
• Qi
• Meridian (Chinese medicine)
• Kundalini

Black and white Kirlian photo of a fingertip. ... For the Naruto jutsu, see Chakra (Naruto). ... Prana (, IAST: ) is a Sanskrit word meaning breath and refers to a vital, life-sustaining force of living beings and vital energy in natural processes of the universe. ... For other uses, see QI (disambiguation). ... The concept of meridians (Chinese: jing-luo 经络) arises from the techniques and doctrines of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including acupuncture, acupressure, and qigong. ... Kundalini ( ) is a Sanskrit word meaning either coiled up or coiling like a snake. ...

References

1. ^ Tommaso Palamidessi, The Occult Constitution of Man and Woman, Bio-energy and the energetic ducts
2. ^ Image of 72.000 nadis
3. ^ Sat-Cakra-Narupana, The Muladhara Cakra, transl. Sir John Woodroffe
4. ^ Arthur Avalon, The Serpentine Power (collection of yoga-tantric texts)
5. ^ C.W.Leadbeater, Chakras, Adyar, 1929
6. ^ J.Evola, La Tradizione Ermetica, 1932
7. ^ T.Palamidessi, Alchimia come via allo Spirito, ed. EGO, 1948
8. ^ Tommaso Palamidessi, The Caduceus of Hermes,ed. Archeosofica, 1969