The Tri-Shiki-Brahmana Comprehensively describes the evolution, position, functioning, and course of Prana and the rules, procedure, outcomes, and destruction of diseases through Pranayama were explained as the fourth step of Astanga Yoga.

1. Concept of Prāṇa and Prāṇāyāma in Tri-Shiki-Brahmana Upanishad
CHITIKILA SAIBABA
RESEARCH SCHOLAR
DEPT. OF YOGA &
CONSCIOUSNESS
ANDHRA UNIVERSITY
csaibaba31@gmail.com

2. Aim & objectives
To explore and elucidate the Concepts of Prana & Pranayama in
Tri-Shiki- Brahmana Upanishad
 Evolution of Prana
 Rules to Pranayama
 Concept of Kundalini
 Nadis and Vayus
 Place and Time
 Techniques of Pranayama
 Symptoms of Pranayama Siddhi
 Destruction of Disease
 Knowing of life span through the course of Prana

3. Introduction
Prana
 Prana means Vital force or Life.
 Prana is the root cause for all the creation, which breaths and does not.
(A.V. 11.2.4.10)
 Controlling the prana, the mind is also restrained likes as the shadow
disappears when the object is removed. (Y.V 150)
 Prana and Food are two entities which are the root cause of the
creation in multifarious ways. (P.U. I.4)
Pranayama
 Pranayama is derived from Prana (vital force or Breathing)and Ayama
(control), which means control of the Breath or Vital force.
 Pranayama is said to be combination of Rechaka, Puraka and
Kumbhaka.

4. Tri-Shiki Brahmana Upanishad
 It is one of the Yoga Upanishads and forty-fourth of 108 Upanishads.
 It is a part of Sukla-yajur-veda.
 Conversation between the Sun God and three tufts Brahmana
 What is the Deha, the Prana, the Karana and the Atman
 The creation and dissolution of the Universe, Jnana through Yoga,
Astanga yoga and knowledge of Brahman

5. Discussion
Evolution of Prana:
Either
Vayu
Vahni
Aap
Pruthvi
Samana
Udana
Vyana
Apana
Prana
Ahtahkarna, Manas, Buddhi,
Citta and Ahamkara
Jnanendriyas
Subtle Elements
Karmendriyas
Yoga Jnana : Restrain Mind and Prana through Astanga Yoga

6. Rules to Pranayama:
 यमैश्च नियमैश्चैव आसिैश्च सुसंयतः ।
िाडीशुद्धं च क
ृ त्वादौ प्राणायामं समाचरेत् ॥ ५३॥
(Should mastery over Yama, Niyama, Asana, and purification of Nadis then
0nly should Practice the Pranayama.)
 The height of Prana is 108 angulas, which can normalizes or shortens with the
fire in body through the practice of Yoga and he is the knower of Brahman.
Kundalini:
 It is above the Navel, eight constituents, eight foils around and side of the
navel.
 By perflating the vital airs, it leads to orifice, which leads to the opening of
Brahmarandhram.
 It will arouse when the vital air mingle with fire at the time of Yoga.

7. Name of Nadi Termination
Susumna Brahmarandhra
Ida Left nostril
Pingala Right nostril
Gamdhari Left eye
Hastijihva Right eye
Pusa Left ear
Yasasvini Right ear
Alambusa Root of anus
Subha Tip of the genital
Kausiki Big toes
Vayu Circulation Functioning
Prana
Mouth, Nose, Heart,
Navel, Big toes
Separation of
Water & Food
Apana Genitals, Thighs, Knees Evacuation
Samana Entire body Nourishing body
Udana Joints of Legs & Hands Raising Upward
Vyana
Ears, Thighs, Hips,
Ankles, Shoulders &
Throat
Actions of Prana
& Apana
Naga
Skin and Bones etc.
Belching
Kurma Closing of Eye
Krkara Twinkling of Eyes
Devadatta Sleeping
Dhanamjaya
Swelling of Dead
body

8. Place and Time:
 The Yogi should choose Secular spot, wooden seat twice as broad as its
height, Darbha, Kusa grass,Skin of black Antelop.
 He should practice up to eighty Kumbhakas at a time, four times daily at
dawn, mid-day, evening, and midnight.
Techniques of Pranayama:
 Rechaka, Puraka, Kumbhaka(Sodhanam) and Rechaka are said to be
Pranayama.
 Alternate Nostril Breathing, starts with Right nostril exhalation.
 Rechaka (R); Puraka (L) -16; Kumbhaka-64; Rechaka (R)-32.

9. Symptoms of Pranayama Siddhi:
 Profuse sweat: all Sins & Ailments – Inferior
 Tremor of the Body: all Sins, Ailments and Incurable diseases –
Medium
 Levitation: light body, reduces urine & faecal, Moderate food, ever
alert over sense organs, vision of past, present & future, and own
self.
 Only Kevala at all the three samdhyam, will there nothing beyond
his reach.

10. Destruction of Diseases:
 By projecting Prana and Mind at the navel, tip of nose and big
toes, will get rid of all the diseases and fatigue.
 One the Navel: Disease of belly
 On tip of Nose: longness and lightness
 For three months of practice accomplishment of speech
 For six months of practice destruction of great disorders.
 By holding vital airs over diseased limb can be cured.

11. Knowing of life span through the course of Prana:
 A Yogi can observe the signs of vibrations at his limbs and he can predict
even his time of death.
 Knowing his lifetime by observing the above signs, go for his final prayer,
meditation for the attainment of the final merger with Paramatman.
Throbbing of Prana Period of life span
Big toes and Thumbs of hands atleat one year
Ankles and Wrist only six month
Elbows only three months
Armpits and parts of genital one month
In the Belly ten days
Radiance such as fire fly five days
Not able to see the tip of the tongue three days
Seeing the Flame two days

12. Conclusion
 Thus, It Comprehensively describes the evolution of Prana,
Pranayama as the fourth stage of Astanga yoga, rules, concepts of
Kundalini, Nadis and Vayus, which are related to the Practice of
Pranayama.
 It also elaborated the place, time, procedure, symptoms of
Pranayama siddhi, destruction of diseases and life span.
 By Practicing the Pranayama in well controlled manner at all the
sandhyas only leads to the above signs and outcomes.
 It describe only one technique of Pranayama.

13. References
1. BhavananiAB. Pranayama: Its therapeutic and spiritual potential. Integral Yoga Magazine
2010;1:12-51.
2. Keehu KR. From Prana to Pranayama: Ancient sources, modern interpretations (Doctoral
dissertation, [Honolulu]): [University of Hawaii at Manoa]; 2013 Aug.
3. Richard Shepard. One Hundred Eight Upanishads (The order as given in the Muktika
Upanishad). International-Gita-Society, Indonesia, 2009.
4. Nagendra H R. Pranayama the Art and Science. Vivekananda Kendra Yoga Prakashana
Bangalore, 1998.
5. Valerie J R. The Upanishads. Penguin Group, London,2003.
6. Swami Niranjanananda S. (2002). Yoga Darshan: Vision of the Yoga Upanishads. Yoga
Publications Trust, Munger, Bihar.
7. Upanishad Brahma Yogin. (1920). The Yoga Upanishads. The Theosophical society, Adyar,
Madras.
8. Srinivasa Ayyangar T R. (1952). The Yoga Upanishads. The Theosophical society, Adyar,